Evening star., 1961-03-21
Vital Role for Committee

1
to impress the top-ranking busi-
ness and labor leaders, who
win work with public" mem
bers, with the important role
he sees for the panel. Other
labor management committees
have failed in the past.
The President established the
committee by executive order
last month, with the broad aim
Of promoting labor-manage-
ment peace and cooperation in
the public interest. He con-
siders industrial cooperation
vital to national security and
economic growth.
Topics on the agenda for to-
days all-day meeting in the
cabinet room include industrial
relations in the defense indus
try, the deficit in the United
States balance Of payments,
competition with foreign-made
goods, employment and unem-
ployment. wage and price poll
cies and problems posed by
automation and other techno-
logical advances.
The committee planned to
conclude its first meeting with
a general discussion of future
activities, stating and other
organizational matters. Ground
rules call for closed meetings
and prohibit attendance by sub
stitutes for committee members.
The no-subStitute rule is de-
signed to preserve the commit
tees blue-ribbon character.
Another rule bars steno-
graphic transcripts Of proceed
Iings, except for the Presidents
speech. This is aimed at dis
couraging oratory by the COM
mittee members.
Research Vehicle
There are no plans for the
committee to vote or make
binding decisions, Rather, the
President sees it as a vehicle
for research, discussion, promo
ton Of labor or-management un-
derstanding and missionary
work. The committee is not ex-
pected to get into specific labor
management disputes.
Officials hope the committee
by operating away from the
lpressures Of the bargaining
table-will be able to cool off
labor-management hostility and
win point up what Secretary
Goldberg calls the "mutuality
of interest" between labor and
management.
Problems likely to come be-
fore the committee include
formulas for keeping wages and
prices in line. promotion Of ex-
ports and encouragement Of
modern chronological processes.
with due consideration for
workers who might be displaced
by abor-saving machines.
Membership
Secretary Goldberg and
Secretary Hodges win alter
nate in the craftsmanship an
nually, with Mr.. Goldberg
leading off. The five other
public" members are Ralph
McGill, editor of the Atlanta
Constitution; George w. Tay-
lor, professor Of labor rela-
tions at the University Of
Pennsylvania: Clark Kerr.
chancellor Of the University
Of California: Arthur Burns,
chairman of the National Bu-
reau Of Economic Research.
and David Cole, a leading
labor arbitrator.
The seven labor members
are George Meany. president
Of the AFL-CIO; Walter P.
Reuther, president Of the
United Auto Workers.. David
Dubinsky, president Of the
international Ladies Garment
Workers Union: George M.
Harrison, president Of the
Brotherhood Of Railway Clerks,
David j. Mcdonald. president
of the United Steelworkers of
America: Joseph D. keenan,,
secretary Of the International
Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers, and Thomas Ken
nedy, president of the United
Mine Workers.
The seven management
members are Thomas Watson,
ljr., president Of International
Business Machines; Joseph l..
Block, president of Inland
Steel Co.; Henry Ford II.
board chairman Of the Ford
Motor Co.; j. Spencer Love,
board chairman Of Burlington
Mills: John Franklin. president
Of United States Lines; Rich
lard Reynolds, president of the
Reynolds Aluminium Co., and
Elliott Bell. editor and pub