Jurisdictional disputes in the motion-picture Industry : hearings before a special subcommittee of the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Eightieth Congress, first-session, pursuant to H. Res. 111 (1948)

266 MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES "I aiJi perturbed," said Mr. Keariis, a Pennsylvania Republican, "over tbe number of people served with subpeiuis who are trying to get out of testifying." He rt'ijoitfd that Repre.sentalive Fred A. Hartley, Jr., New JtM-sey Republican and chairman of the full House committee, had telei)hi)ned him this morning from St. Louis, "where they're even following him on the road to try to get out of testifying." Mr. Kearns said Mr. Hartley had been approached by W. C. Doherty, eleventh vice president of the AFL and head of tbe letter carriers' unions. A few minutes after Mr. Hartley's call, a call came to the subcommittee's headquarters here from Felix H. Knight, ninth vice president of the AFL and head of the railway carmen's union, in Kansas City, also asking to be excused. In each case the appeal was rejected. The two men, along with W. C. Birthright, president of the barber's union, comprise a special AFL committee which in December 1!)4.") was instrufted to settle a jurisdictional feud in Hollywood. They handed down an ambiguous ruling undertaking to allocate disputed movieset construction work between the AFL International F.rotherhood of Carpenters and the AFL International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. The ruling, and several sub.sequent conflicting interpretations of it. are elements in the current strike of several thousand carpenters and sympathizing craft-union members in the movie studios. Hence testimony of the so-called three wise men is considered essential. Mr. Kearns said appellants from the subpenas had cited ill health and other excuses; but, he added, he thought their real reason was simply an unwillingness to talk. "In my opinion, and I think in the opinion of Congress," he said, "when citizens' services are needed in an investigation like this, no one is too big to answer the call." One prospective witness not yet located is William L. Hutcheson, first vice president of the AFL and head of the carpenters' union, which is leading the strike. His subpena, originally returned with the report that Mr. Hutcheson was not at his headquarters but "on vacation in Wisconsin," was sent back for service there, but nothing further has been heard of it. Mr. Kearns said that if nece.ssary he would ask the Federal Bureau of Investigation to take a hand in locating witnesses. Over 100 subpenas have been issued and a number of witnesses have appeared on informal request. Irving McCann, subcommittee counsel, stated for the record today that no favoritism would be exercised and that, if it was deemed necessary, Nicholas Schenck of New York, president of Loew's, Inc., largest of the movie concerns, would be called. The members of the special committee of three A. F. of L. vice presidents resent the implications contained in the aliove-qnoted article with all of the emphasis at their command. Further, we vigorously and unequivocally deny the allegations in this unwarranted and unjustified attack which is in keeping with present-day smear campaigns. On the strength of these rash statements, which if correctly quoted are untrue, both Chairman Kearns and General Counsel McCann should correct these false implications. At no time did the members of the A. F. of L. special committee knowthat their services were desired in connection with the current investigation. They had had no knowledge whatsoever, by word of mouth or otherwise, that the subcommittee sought testimony until served with subpenas on "Wednesday, August 13, 1947. Immediately upon receipt of said subpena. Vice President Doherty telephoned the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, from his office in Washington. He ]n'omptly proffered his services in any capacity and pledged his full and complete cooperation. He explained to the committee staff that his appointments were such that lie found it necessary to resi)ecf fully request a l)rief post])onement. Having previous knowledge that Vice President Birthright was similarly occupied during the week commencing August 17, Vice Presidene Doherty so informed the staff of the House Education and Labor