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)

1120 MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES testimony before the committee, but not tlie testimony of ttie other organiza- tions. He stated there were four master files made of that testimony and everything that was done, one for each member of the committee and one for President Green. He stated they drew up a first draft of the decision and sat down and criticized it, amended it, and added to it. He stated two mem- bers of the committee then left to return East and he remained in Hollywood for 2 more days to close up there and get all the documents from the reporter. Vice President Knight reported that two members of the committee worked on the decision all the way from Los Angeles to Chicago; another draft was made, and he was in Chicago on the case on December 20 and 21 when more criticisms were made on it, and then the final draft was drawn. Vice President Knight reported that the committee was urged if possible to get their decision out before December 31 due to the fact that agreements expired on December 31, 1945. He stated the committee did everything they could to do that but because of the mail being so congested it was delayed to some extent. He stated the committee hoped to get the decision to all of them but because of the delay in tlie mails it did not get to the representatives of these seven organiza- tions in Hollywood until January 3, 1946. Vice President Knight reported that he wired them on the morning of January 2 that the decision was completed and signed and would be in the mail to them via airmail special delivery on the morning of the 2d and would be delivered to them on the morning of the 3d, and in order that that could be done lie sent them by special messenger down to the main post office where they would go out that afternoon. Vice President Knight stated the committee then furnislied every member of the executive council with a copy of the decision and the chief executive of the organizations involved that were not represented on the council. Vice President Knight expressed the opinion that he did not believe any member of the council felt it was humanly possible for three members of this council, or any other three members, to render a decision on jurisdictional disputes, some of them 30 and 3.5 years old, and that numerous agreements had been entered into by officers of these organizations for that period of years. Vice President Knight stated the committee did the best they could under the circumstances. He stated lie did not think it was fair to any committee to have a job of that kind with a directive that it must be done in 30 days. Vice President Knight reported that immediately upon arrival in Los Angeles the committee was bombarded by other organizations wanting to get in for hear- ings, but the conuuittee declined because the directive named seven organizations and if the committee started to take in the other organizations trying to settle their problems and jurisdictional disputes they would probably have had 10, 12, or maybe 15 of those come in, and the committee would have been in Hollywood yet and it would not have been possible to render a decision within the prescribed time. Vice Pi-esident Knight pointed out the fact that the members of the committee were disinterested insofar as direct jurisdictional disputes that brought about the strike of March 12, 1945, and lasting until October 24, 1945, and they were interested in that extent because there is a bad situation there. He stated there is a very bitter feeling in that indusry in Hollywood and there are numerous other interests working there, some of them working with these people not for their benefit but for the ultimate result of their taking over, and then we would have other organizations representing those people in Hollywood. Vice President Knight stated that the committee expected that the decision would be criticized, and they have no objection to any criticism that may be offered, but the committee did the work and they intended for everybody to feel that they were honest whether the committee did a good job or not. He stated he thought the committee did a good job under the circumstances. Vice President Doherty stated that the able chairman of the committee has made a very fine statement; that he has outlined to the council the activities of the committee and he did not thing it is up to this committee to come in and defend its position. Vice President Doherty stated the decision has been handed down; the executive council in Cincinnati last October agreed unani- mously that this committee go to Hollywood and attempt to settle the jurisdic- tional disputes there and that the decision of the committee would be final and binding on all the seven international unions involved. Vice President Doherty stated that insofar as he is concerned the committee has handed down a fair and just and equitable and impartial decision. He stated he sincerely hopes this executive council will support its own committee.