Evening Star Newspaper, April 29, 1940, Page 1

Weather Forecast Falr, slightly warmer: tonight, with minimum temperature about 48; tomor- row cloudy followed by showers at night. Temperatures today—Highest, 12, ot 2 pm.; lowest, 44, at 6 am, From the United States Weatner Bureau report. P\W details on Plltrl-!. Closing New York Markets—Sales, Page 18 88th YEAR. No. 35062, 0§ Nazis Are Reporte‘d."AdVéné’ifig On Dombas, but Beaten: Big Attack North of Steii Allied Resistance Is Increasing in Trondheim Area By the Associated Press. STOCKHOLM, April 20.—German forces were reported tonight to have occupied Kvam, 35 miles southeast of Dombas, in their drive toward Trondheim but to have been re- pelled in a violent attack on the Steinkjer front north of that Nazi- held port. The Germans earlier had been re- ported stalled at Kvam in their ' surge north toward the vital Dom- bas railroad junction, one of the British-held barriers to the Nazis’ attempted approach to Trondheim from the south. Fragmentary dispatches reaching | Stockholm newspapers gave no de- | tails of developments either there or at Steinkjer, where, they said,| German bombers supported the at- | tack. Repor#s from Narvik, on the dis- tant northern front, said fighting | there had developed primarily into | guerrilla warfare with the Brit\shl bombarding the fort periodically, ap- | rently to prevent the Germans rom sending reinforcements over the railroad terminating at Narvik. First Organized Resistance. The allies are putting up what may prove to be the first really or- ganized resistance to Germany’s ef- fort to rush troops across Norway to bolster Nazi-held Trondheim. They are holding strategically-, placed, strongly-defended macmne-‘ gun nests and light artillery posi- | tions guarding narrow mountain | roads northeast of Dombas in the| Gudbrands Valley and between | Roros and Storen in the Glomma River Valley. German troops, driving over snowy mountain tops, were reported | to have reached the vital railway linking British bases at Pombas and Storen. They were said to have en- gaged an allied force in the first phase of a battle expected to decide control of Southern Norway. The fighting was reported -sharp and some observers expressed belief | a situation had been reached in w allied troops may be-abié-to advantage of strategic defense ‘Ppositions. Much Depends on Planes. The Germans, however,- already have proved their ability to ad- vanos over tifficult moun- tain trails to outflank forces barring their way, : But this hits heen-lazgely dependent on protection from Ger- man wargianes scouring & pIM} ¢lear ‘for the motorized units and. from the allied viewpoint, much depends on their air defenses. Reports that the British have eoncentrated troops at Hjerkinnm, on the Domas-Storen Railway, and that fighting already is in prog- ress there were int: here as evidence ‘that allled resistance is developing. The Norwegian radio broadcast an announcement that a German column had struck at the railway at Hjerkinn, 20 miles north of Dombas and about 80 miles south of Storen. Success of the German attempt to cut the rafl line at this point would isolate the British force at Storen, which is exposed to attack by Ger- man troops concentrated at Trond- heim, 35 miles north. Reinforcements Rushed. Both the British and Germans | were reported rushing reinforce- ments to the Dombas front, and Swedish sources expressed belief that both sides were preparing to throw every ounce of strength into & decisive battle. The German force striking at Hjerkinn is an offshoot of a column which during the last week has pushed northward up the Glomma River Valley past Roros, 195 miles from Oslo. To reach the Dombas-Storen Railway—the Nazi troops had to travel approximately 40 miles over s narrow mountain road extend- ing westward from Alvdal, which is 45 miles south of Roros. Despite the resistance of the Nor- wegians, who reported last night they had engaged the Germans at Foldal, midway between Hjerkinn and Alvdal, the Nazis apparently reached the Dombas-Storen railway with lightning speed. The Stockholm newspaper Tid- ningen said the British had con- centrated a strong force at Hjer- kinn and apparently were prepared to meet the German thrust. More Landed At Andalsnes. ‘The British War Office an- nounced in London last night that more troops had been Janded at Andalsnes despite German air at- tacks, and it was reported that these had been rushed by rail to Dom- bas, 65 miles southeast of the de- barkation point. “The German column advancing up the Glomma Valley in Eastern Nor- way, through which runs a railway linking Oslo directly with Storen, apparently had dug in just north of Roros to await reinforcements. Roros is about 50 miles southeast of Storen, on which another German ~{See STOCKHOLM, Page A-5.) Bulletin NORFOLK, Va., April 29 (#).— Two Navy planes from the air station here collided today in the air south of Virginia Beach. One fell and burned, carrying to his death Radioman (Second Class) Harold C. Alexander. The pilot, Lt. Allen F. Fleting, escaped in his parachute and landed safely. “The second plane, piloted by Ensign Gordon P. Chase, returned to the air station. One wing of his plane was badly damaged, but 1t did not fall. Both planes were pattached to Squadron 72 and were I engaged in maneuvers. Pro-Nazi Alfieri : Named as Italy's i “Trap Allies . Envoy to Berlin | By the Associated Press. ROME, April 20.—Dino Alfteri, long considered here one of Italy’s more strongly pro-German figures, today was appointed Ambassador to Germany, succeeding Bernardo At- tolico. The two envoys: exchanged -posts, Attolico replacing Alfieri as Ambgs- sador to the Vatican. i Alfieri, former Minister of Popu- lar Culture, was designated Am- bassador to the Holy See last Oc- tober 31. Attolico had occupied the Berdin Embassy for almost five years. Alfieri, 53-years old, had been especially close to Mussolini in the last four years. Some forelgn circles saw In his appointment to Berlin an indication of a new strengthening of the relations be- tween Mussolini and his axis part- ner, Hitler. In the past fortnight there has | been much evidence ol a stronger pro-German seniiment among the Italians, who were impressed by the Nazi occupation of Norway and Denmark. This has been accom- panied by repeated criticism in the Ttalian press of those Italians who co~tirued to favor the allies in the was. Wage-Hour Revision Faces Veto If Barden Changes Are Yoled President Calls.Leaders For Report on General Legislative Situbtion By the Asgociated Press. A presidential veto of legislation revising the wage-hdur law was forecast in congressiomal circles to- day" #f" the “Burden ‘Amendments to exempt certain farm processing plants are included. Legislators based their prediction on Mr. Roosevelt’s recent letter say- ing that it would be “a great mis- take” to adopt the Barden pro- The President, who returned yes- terday from called congressional leaders to the ‘White HMouse for a reporf on the general, legislative sit: d . President Talks With Hui. He discussed latest development in Europe yesterday with Secretary of State Hull, who met him at the train and rode to the White House with him. It was not believed there were any problems in foreign affairs demanding immediate presidential action. Along with congressional leaders, Mr. Roosevelt hopes that Congress may adjourn early in June so he can handle a last-minute flood of bills and then get away on a speak- ing trip around the country. After the conference of Demo- cratic leaders with the President, Senate Majority Leader Barkley said the discussion was so general that it “covered everything and touched nothing.” He added that the conference did include some mention of such topics as amendments to the Wagner Act and the pending Logan-Walter bill to put a check on some administra- tive agencies. Senator Barkley said he saw “no change in the general desire to get away the first of June” and that the President’s proposed swing around the country after adjournment should not make any alteration in the situation. Order “Freezing” Assets Is Up. In top place on the Senate cal- endar was the administration bill to confirm a presidential order “freez- ing” American assets of Danish and Norwegian citizens 'and requiring licenses for transactions in them. Senator Danaher, Republican, of Connecticut, leading the opposition, contended that the measure would extend Mr. Roosevelt's peacetime powers “far beyond any wartime (See CONGRESS, Page A-4.) Steamer Sunk by Mine LONDON, April 20 (#—An un- identified steamer of about 3,000 tons struck & mine and sank yes- terday between the Swedish coast and the Danish island of Sjaelland, Reuters, British news agency, re- ported today from Stockholm. - nkjer $:. Germans Mové South From Tiondheim fo . BULLETIN. BERLIN, 'April - 28 @) — « Authoritative ' Gernran’’ sources’” tonight' “reported - Nazl’ -forces moving southward 'from* Trond- heim as well as northward to- ward that west coast port in an attempt to trap the allies in Central Norway. These sources said the two columns were within 25 miles of meeting. Where they are ex- pected to join was not divulged, however, and there was no indi- cation of where or in what num- bers the column from Trond- heim was moving. By the Associated Press. BERLIN, April 20.—DNB, official news agency, today reported that heavy fighting was taking place be- tween Nazi and allied forces at several points in the Norwegian mountains. The news agency, admitting for the first time that German progress in Norway was meeting increasingly stiff opposition, said that the British in Norway, after their “failures” in past weeks, “obviously had received orders to strengthen their resist- ance,” but the agency said the firmer British stand “had not halted” Nazi drives. DNB, amplifying today's high command communique, reported that the Nazis in capturing six addis tional Norwegian batteries had seized 20,000 artillery shells, a large number of portable wireless sets and quantities of miscelaneous war materials. Claim 241 Officers Taken. Berlin yesterday claimed officially that in the Stavanger district, whieh has been the target of repeated Brit- ish air attacks, the:Nagis had taken 241 officers, including. ‘“numerous English fiyers,” and 2921 men. The communique did not say how many of these prisoners were Norwegian. Stavanger is in Southwest Nor- way and previously had not been represented as .a region of large land operations, The high command and DNB told the German public. of continuous strengthening of the German posi- tions in Norway and of fierce aerial attacks on British naval forces de- for allied reinforcer s Germany, appeared be still pouring meh as well as supplies into the morthern theater of war by meang of fransport_plapes. Between : DNB and the Sunday communique at fhe high command, the.-folc g cl were-meade: - A hit dsBips of a British truiser, off Nar#ik, Northern Nor- way.' .the: knopking of ‘another cruiser out of aetidn‘off Andalsnes, the sinking of three transperts and the damaging four others—all apparéntly on Saturday. Hits on still two more British cruisers, the firing of one transport and hits on three others off Mid- dlewestern Norway—this apparently part of Sunday’s operations. The burning transport was stranded, it was said, and the crew took to the boats. How severely the other ships were damaged was not clear. (A British statement denied German claims, said that only one trawler had been sunk and one set afire, and claimed three Gemmdlupply ships had been torpe and sunk.) Germans Confident. Germany radiated confidence that the Nazis’ military and diplomatic blows were undermining allied strength. On the political battle front authorized Nazi sources maintained that Germany is satisfied that faith in British and French assurances has been removed from the minds of neutral nations. This, they held, was the result of Foreign Minister Joachim von Rib- bentrop’s declaration Saturday that Germany *marched into Norway April 9 to prevent a planned Brit- glh mvhl‘slon and of the issuance of e “white book” containing papers allegedly seized in Norway. “The present war,” one ‘' Nazi source said, “is a simple matter so far as settling scores between actual belligerents is concerned. “The real struggle s over neu- trality and the widening stope of the conflict. We felt it our solemn duty ta call together the worthiest forum thinkable for this purpose, namely the diplomatic corps and the press, to let the world know what is in store for those who still believe in England’s and France’s word and why we were absolutely justified in going into Norway.” Both Britain and Norway have (8ee BERLIN, Page A-5.) Tokio’s Insults O_ne War Cause, Japanese Army By the Associated Press. TOKIO, April 29 (By Radio).— Gen. Seishiro Itagaki, former' war minister, who is chief of staff for the Japanest Army in China now, said today that the Asian confiict had been Brought on in part by Ja- pan’s boastful insults to “‘China and worship of things Occidental and Chinese deperxience upon Europe and the United States, Damei, Jap- anese official news agency, reported. Leader Holds anti-Japanese feeling among the Chinese and claimed that one of the Jaj Army’s objectives was to “destroy the illusion of an anti- France. Russia and the United States.” Itagaki asserted that Japan had Tokio observers considered the | China Itagaki declarations, which Domei said were made in a pamphlet isseed to Japanese troops in and Chinese alike to settle ferences in a pan-Asian movement Great Britats “monopolise penc Teal i - tion” in East Asia. Do el sald Itagaki blamed Brigh and Soviet Russia for fomenting ployed to keep open the channels | Court Hears Union Suggested Firm To Supply Concrefe Teamsters Offered Strike Settlement if Company Was Used, Builder Says A Federal construction project su- perintendént ‘today testified in Dis- trief Court that two of the Team- sters' Union officials on trial for vio- lationr of the anti-trust laws offered to call off a sfrike on the’ project if his company would accept con- crete delivered by a firm they named. Peter Ellis, superintendent of con- struction on a steam tunnel from the Central Heating Plant to the new Social Security Building, ap- pearing as a witness for the Gov- ernment, told the court that the teamsters’ agents informed him that the strike of their dump-truck drivers would continue as long as concrete was delivered to the projs: ect by ready-mix trucks driven by members of the Operating Engineers’ Union. The teamsters’ officials named by Mr. Ellis were Stuart M, Eeyser, business agent, and Linwood A. Trainham, secretary-treasurer of the Drivers; Chauffeurs and Helpers' Local Union No. %39“ e Sought Anef ethod. The dump truck strike to which he referred rap from September 18 to October 10, 1839. Asked by Wal- ter R.:Hutchinson, Special Assistant to the Attorney General, whether during that-time he had any con- versation with the teamsters’ offi- cials concerning “any other meth- od you might use to get around the situation,” the witness tesified: “I asked them if -they could sug- gest any method whereby I could comply with their union rules, and I don't recall that they told me any. I asked them if they knew of any company in town delivering con- crete with teamsters’ drivers on the trucks and they said they didn't, but they did then say, ‘Why don’t you try to get your concrete from McCloskey & Co., as the men on McCloskey's trucks are teamsters, and if you get concrete from Mc- Closkey, we will give you dump trucks.’” Mr. Ellis had testified earlier that concrete for the project, contracted for by the T. M. Flanagahan Co., was being delivered by ready-mix trucks operated by the Howat Con- crete Co. The drivers of the trucks were members of the Engineers’ Union, Couldn’t Spare Any Trucks. Mr. Flanagahan later attempted to get concrete from the McCloskey concern, the witness stated, but was unable” to dp so because “they were 80 busy with their own trucks that they couldn’t spare any trucks to haul us any, concrete.” Mr. Ellis said further under cross- examination that at no time during his conversations with the team- sters’ officials was the subject of wages and hours discussed. John Shields, business agent of the local union of operating en- gineers, testifying earlier, declared that a special committee within the American Federation of Labor, meeting to settle Nation-wide dif- ferences between the teamsters and engineers, refused to allow him to present evidence in the locgl wrangle between the two unions over the op- eration of concrete-mixer trucks. Under cross-examination by Joseph A. Padway, chief counsel of the A. F.] L., Mr. Shields told the court that the committee refused to consider the local dispute on the grounds that Jurisdiction over the concrete-mixer trucks already Mfhd been decided. A decision in January, 1838, .by Dr. John A. Lapp, A. F. L. referee, was called to the attention of the court during the defense question- ing of the witness. The defense has claimed that Dr. Lapp’s ruling awarded the operation of concrete- mixer trucks to the Teamsters’ Union. Describing a meeging with busi- (See LABOR TRIAL, Page A-3.) 32 U. S. Citizens Quit Naozi Area in Norway By the Assoctated Press. OSLO, April 29, — Thirty-two United States citizens left the Nasi- gccupied area with u‘g German visas for Italy, way of Germany, en route to the United States. Altogether, 39 United States citi- zens have left German- lorway since the invasion April ). Caution in Reading War News From Norway Advised by Stowe Incident With Swedish Journalists Cited To Show How False Reports Are Started By LELAND STOWE, Chicago Daily News Foreign Correspondent. OSTERSUND, Sweden, April 29.— As an index for judging Scandina- vian dispatches, that vast propor- tion which are not first-hand re- ports, perhaps one or two of my re- cent experiences may be enlight- ening. The Svenska Dagbladet corre- spondent and I crossed the border together and headed for the Namsos ‘war zone on Sunday, April 21. About widnight we reached Formofoss and went to bed, so we could carry on at dawn Forty minutes later the Dagbladet man awakened me. “Get up, Stowe: hurry up,” he said. “We've got to get out of here. The Germans bombed Steinkjer to pieces. They've burned Namsos to the ground. They're machine-gun- ning women and children—every- body. We’ve got to get back on the mountain. The troop trains are running by only 100 meters (325 feet) from here now.” “Only 100 meters from here?” I said, jumping up. “Then I want to see them. Il go on with the British and French.” “No, no, you can’t go near the station. Come on, we've got to start,” said the Dagbladet cor- respondent. T pulled my clothing on and went to the station, he following along behind and protesting at every step. There were no trains, only the moun- tain river rushing a few yards be- yond. My companion had taken its roar for that of passing trains. Two old Norwegians stood guard. They (See STOWE, Page A-3) } Thorkelson Linked - To "Action Commifee’ By Sedition Defendant Leadér Claimed Close Contact With Other Members, Statement Says By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, April 20.—The Gov- ernment introduced a statement to- day at the trial of 16 men charged with seditious conspiracy in which one defendant was represented as quoting another as saying that Rep- resentative Jacob Thorkelson, Re- publican, of Montana was a member of their “Action Committee.” The statement wa$ presented as having been given “voluntatily” to the Federal Bureau of Investigation by Macklin Boettger, 32. In it Boettger was quoted as saying ‘William Gerald Bishop, a defendant and alleged leader of the Action Committee, had told him he stumped in Montana for the election of Mr. Thorkelson to Congress and had assured him of the Representative's membership in the Action Commit- tee. Others Named in Statement. The statement continued: “Bishop said that Congressmen and Senators eventually would be drawn from Action Committee groups all over the country, as was Congressman Thorkelson, whom he claimed he put into office. “Bishop also claimed a personal friendship with Senator Reynolds and that he knew Senator Vanden- berg very intimately and that he is on intimate terms with Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana. Strike-Breaking Claimed. “Bishop said that the Communist strike at Hershey, Pa., was broken up by a group of A. C. (Action' Com- mittee) citizen soldiers; also the cement mill at M , Md, was closed down by the Communist, Mr. Mossberger, who was head of the C. I. O. union, “Bishop also claimed that the Boulder Dam in Colorado was taken over by the Communist-controlled C. I. O. and that here again groups of citizen soldiery formed an A. C. unit and forced the C. I. O. men at gun point to reopen the water sup- ply valve of the dam for the city and held the C. I. O. men until the National Guard arrived to take over. Labor Act Changés Discussed on Forum Representative Halleck, Re- publican of Indiane will be the guest speaker tonight on the National Radio Forum over Statton WMAL at 10:30 o'clock. Representative Halleck, one of the Republican members of the Special Committee investi- gating the National Labor Re- lations Act, will discuss pro- ‘The program is arranfed by The Star and is heard over s coast-to-cosst network of the National Broadeasting & Stassen Sees 6. 0. P. United on Big Issues 0f 1940 Campaign Republican Kéynofer Is Confident Party Will Carry Middle West By J. A. O'LEARY. Republicans are united on the fundamental issues of the 1940 cam- paign, Gov. Harold E. Stassen of Minnesota, who will be keynote speaker at his party’s convention, said today after he had conferred for 2 hours with a group of House Republicans from various selections of the country. Asked if he found any divergence of viewpoint on issues, the tall, rugged young westerner replied without hesitation: “None of a nature to confound or confuse me. There are always shades of opinion, but on the funda- mental, constructive questions there is a quite general agreement.” The Minnesotan confidently pre- dicted “we will carry the entire Middle West” when asked how G. O. P. prospects are shaping up in his section of the country. Guest of McNary. After conferring with House mem- bers and paying a brief visit to the floor of that chamber, Gov. Stassen continued to gather ideas as the luncheon guest of Senator McNary of Oregon, veteran Républican lead- er of the other branch. Senator McNary also invited a group of his Republican colleagues to meet and exchange views with the keynoter. Gov. Stassen told news gatherers he plans a comparatively short key- note address, although House Re- publican Leader Martin of Massa- chusetts, who will be permanent chairman of the convention, point- (See POLITICS, Page A-4.) Summary of B- Comics _B-14-15| Serial Story Editorials ..A-10 | Society Finance ____A-17| Sports A-14-16 Lost; Found B-11| Woman's Page, A-13 Foreign Three Nazi transports torpedoed and sunk, declare. Psge A-1 Heavy fighting in Norse mountains, Berlin reports. Page A-1 Allies ‘stiffening resistance in Nor- way; 2 sectors fortified. Page National Supreme Court olds Walsh- Healey Act. v - A-1 ‘From Press to Home Within the Hour’ N Most people in Washington have The Star delivered to their homes every evening an¢ Sunday morning. () Means Associated Press, D. C. Fire Probe To Be Renewed By House Unit Stanhope Apartment Blaze Brings Call For Action FIREPROOFING CREDITED wlth preventing loss of lives in apart- ment fire. Page B-1 By JAMES E. CHINN. The House District Committee today indicated its desire that the Police and Fire Subcommittee re- sume its abruptly halted investiga- tion of alleged “fire traps” here following a three-alarm blaze last night in the Stanhope Apartments at 735 New Jersey avenue N.W. Acting on the request of Repre- sentative Bolles, Republican, of Wis- consin, the committee agreed to call on District officials for a transcript of testimony taken at the coroner’s inquest into the recent fire in the White Court Apartments in which three persons lost their lives. More Legislation Held Needed. Mr. Bolles told the committee the Police and Fire Subcommittee of which he is a member had held one session following the White Court fire, blit had since been inactive. The fire last night, he pointed out, showed the need for further in- vestigation in view of reports that the fire alarm system in the apart- ment which burned had failed to work. “The fire hazard situation here,” he declared, “also shows that the need for further legislation is ap- parent.” Randolph Calls Meeting. Contemplated action on a revised bill to Hberalize the District unem- ployment compensation law was dee layed because of the absence of Chairman McGehee of the Judiciary Subcommittee in charge of the leg- islation. Chairman Randolph, how- ever, called a special meeting tomor- row at 11 am. to pass on the meas- ure which he hopes to have the House consider the latter part of the week. Mr. McGehee's failure to report the bill to the full committee, it was said, was due to the fact that he wanted to perfect some of the changes approved by the subcom- mittee last week. The measure would lower the em- ployers’ pay roll tax from 3 to 2.7 per cent and at the same time in- crease benefits to the jobless, Child Labor Bill Reported. A favorable report was ordered by the committee on the contro- versial bill to revise the chud labor law by permitting children over 14 years of age to take part in professional concerts and theatrical productions for pay. A bill to amend the local life insurance code providing for cred- ftors’ group insurance to secure loans also was approved. Following approval of the bill to amend the Child Labor Act, Mrs. Ernest W. Howard, chairman of the Legislative Committee of the District Federation of Women's Clubs, sent a memorandum to the press table declaring her organiza- tion would continue to oppose the legislation on ‘the ground it would lower child labor standards. The memorandum also said the com- mittee approved the measuie with- put the presence of a quorum. Insurance Bill Discussed. For nearly a half hour the com- mittee discussed a bill designed to regulate the fire, casualty, marine and title insurance business after Albert F. Jordan, District superin- tendent of insurance, had explained its purpose. Representative Nichols, Democrat, of Oklahoma, suggested that legislation to regulate title companies should be separate, and the committee instructed Corpora- tion Counsel Elwood H. Seal to draft a proposed bill dealing solely with the title companies. The insurance legislation, Chair- man Randolph announced, will be the special order of business at the committee’s regular meeting next Monday at 10:30 a.m. For the second consecutive week John Russell Young, new District Commissioner, occupied a seat of honor at the committee table. This time he did not make a speech, but merely observed the proceedings. During the meeting Chairman Randolph introduced another guest —Earl Young, editor of the Journal of the Canadian Parliament, who is visiting in Washington. Today's Star Ruling Upsefs 'little Steel's’ Wage Writ High Court Upholds - Walsh-Healey Pay Determinations By J. A. FOX. ‘The Supreme Court said today that wage determinations by the Secretary of Labor under the Walsh- Healey Act are not subject to review by the courts. The ruling upset an injunction granted by the Court of Appeals of the District to seven “little steel” companies, which had declared that a “prevailing wage” area established by the Secretary of Labor was ar- bitrary and capricious. ‘The decision of the Supreme Court, delivered by Justice Black, was sharply critical of the lower court and said the steel companies had no standing to prosecute the suit. Quotes From Earlier Ruling. “The case before us makes it fitting to remember that ‘the in- terference of the courts with the performance of the ordinary duties of the executive departments of the Government would be productive of nothing but mischief and we are quite satisfied that such a power was never intended to be given to them,”” the opinion said, quoting from an earlier ruling of the court. Justice McReynolds dissented, but wrote no opinion. ‘The case has been hanging fire for about a year and defined for the first time the powers ol the Secre- tary of Labor under the Walsh- Healey Act. This act provides that as prerequisite to bidding for Gov- ernment contracts involving $10,000 or more the bidder must agree to pay what the Secretary of Labor de- termines to be the prevailing wage in the locality where the contract is being executed. ‘The fight was stirred over the action of the Labor Department creating a wage area of 13 States, part of a 14th and the District of Columbia, for the production of steel and fixing the minimum pay for laborers at 62'; cents an hour. The previous level had been from 521z to 56% cents an hour. Seven Companies Involved. The seven steel companies in- volved in the protest were Lukens Steel Co., Alan Wood Steel Co., South Chester Tube Co., Central Iron & Steel Co., Harrisburg Steel Corp., Eastern Rolling Mill Co. and the Atlantic Wire Co. g'heir plants are located in Eastern and Central Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Maryland. These steel companies said that the word “locality” had been mis- interpreted by the secretary and that the ruling had disregarded well- defined and long-established wage differentials existing in the States where the plants were situated. ‘They complained that invitations to bid on five Navy contracts con- tained the prevailing wage provision and unless an injunction was is- sued, the stipulation would be in- cluded in every steel contract after May 1, 1939. They said that as a practical mat- ter they would have to raise the wages of workers on non-Govern- ment work as well as Government work and that by paying the mini- mum wage probably would be un- able to compete with larger com- panies. If they did not pay it, they added, then they would lose sub- stantial contracts. In February of last year, District Court granted the steel concerns a temporary restraining order against the Labor and Navy Departments, but later vacated it. The Court of Appeals then issued the injunction. The Government at that time contended that the steel companies had no standing to maintain the action since no legal rights had been invaded and contended that to re- strict a prevailing “wage locality” to a small geographic unit would contradict the intention of Congress and defeat the purposes of the act. The injunction granted by the Court of Appeals was directed ia“ga;ln:t six members of the cab- et. No Feasible Alternative. “As a result of this judicial ac- tion,” the Supreme Court said, “Fed- eral officials had no feasible alter- native except to make contracts for imperatively needed supplies for the War and Navy Departments with- out inclusion of the stipulation which Congress had required. The Public Contracts Act so far as the steel industry is concerned has been suspended for more than a year, with no bond or security to pro- tect the public’s interest in the maintenance of wage standards con- templated by Congress should the suspension ultimately prove unwar- ranted or unauthorized.” “Like private individuals and busi- ness,” Justice Black said, “the Gov- .| One killed, eight injured in week-end accidents. : Page B-1 Plans complete for World War Memorial observance. - Page B-1 Supreme Court asked to review anti- trust medical case. . Page B-1 Editorial and Comment Answers to Questions. Letters to The Star. David Lawrence. Frederic Willilam Wile. Constantine Brown. Charles G. Ross. Page A-11 Spor Sensational Dodgers face real test on ernment enjoys the unrestricted power to produce its own supplies, to determine those with whom it will deal, and to fix the terms and con- ditions upon which it will make needed purchases.” He added that “it has done so in the Public Con- tracts Act.” This act, the court continued, “was to impose obligations upon those favored with Government. business The act. the court’s opinion added, “does not represent an exercise by Congress of regulatory power over private business or employment” and “the Secretary’s responsibility is to superior executive and legislative authority.” “Our decision that the complain- ing companies lack standing to sue does not rest upon a mere formality,” the court concluded. “We rested upon ‘reasons deeply rooted in the of constitutional au- in our system of government impropriety of judicial in- terpretations of law at the instance of those who no more than a mere possible to the public.”