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1106 MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES Mr. Kearns. Is it not true that the producers were willing to pay the salary of an arbitrator if he would move in and try to Settle the dispute? Mr. Eathvon. We were ready to take many expensive moves, as you know. When Mr. Johnston went back to Cincinnati, we agreed to pay all the people over 60 days, and then on during the period beyond we would give the people who had been thrown out of employment sever- ance pay. I believe it was testified here this morning that it ran into millions of dolars, and we did that in the hope the settlement would be successful, as it would have been had not Mr. Hutcheson welched on the—I am afraid I am shocking the tender sensibilities of Mr. Cobb again—but I will repeat, if he had not welched on the deal, we would have probably had peace, and our three or four million dollars would have been well spent. Mr. Kearns. Do you agree with Mr. Johnston that this should be legislation to cope with jurisdictional disputes? Mr. Ratiivon. Let me say this. I think there should be some ma- chinery to avoid all this waste. Nobody seems to benefit from it. I do not think I am qualified to say what type of legislation, but I have great belief in Mr. Johnston, and if I have to subscribe to any such procedure, I would like to subscribe to his. But I do not feel qualified to say that the best means of meeting this jurisdictional problem is so and so. I say it is a problem which deserves the greatest consideration of our legislative body. Mr. Kearns. You would not recommend compulsory arbitration? Mr. Ratiivon. I would not, for myself. Mr. Kearns. Do you have any questions, Mr. Owens? Mr. Owens. I am just puzzled here. I consider this a serious case when anyone is charged with a conspiracy, especially where it involves a jurisdictional strike. Perhaps it is my legal training which does it, but I am inclined to veer toward the statement that the gentleman Jias just made to the effect that it is not necessary for one to have strategy to keep up his business and not close his doors. I do not think any American business should close because of a jurisdictional strike if there is any way to keep it open. Mr. Ratiivon. I felt that way very strongly, sir, but maybe we were wrong. Maybe we cannot maneuver, with our only thought being to keep our business open and favor neither side. Maybe it is impos- sible to do that without opening ourselves to accusations such as have been thrown at us here. Mr. Oaat:ns. I am interested in the point where you said the board rendered a decision in the matter and that that was agreed to by the lATSE, by the carpenters and by all the other unions; is that correct? Mr. Rathvon. Yes. As Mr. Johnston stated this morning, he went to this meeting at Cincinnati. At that point following his plea and the plea of Mr. Green, there was a general agreement that for 30 days an effort would be made to try to get together. If they failed then this committee of three appointed by Mr. Green, all of whom were members of the A. F. of L. council who had no interest in our studio Mr. Owens. Vice presidents.