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)

1434 MOTIOX-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES Mr. OwExs. Mr. Johnston was here last week and he was talking about arbitration agreements. We had quite a discussion. I had this matter in mind and was wondering if the A. F. of L. in the selection of three of their own men to hear evidence and prepare a directive, could not agree upon it and would 8 months later issue a so-called clarification that made the dispute worse than it was before—if they could not clarify it how employees and unions could expect to arrange arbitration agreements that would be final and binding. Mr. HuTCHEsox. I suppose, Mr. Congressman, we will probably have to refer that back to Congress. They did such a wonderful job, as they thought, in enacting the Taft-Hartley law, so 1 suppose they think they are wise enough to enact something that will_ rectify all those things that you think are so wrong. Mr. Owens. Well, Mr. Hutcheson, at least the House of Representa- tives tried to do something that the house of labor failed to do. Mr. Hutcheson. What? Mr. Owens. The House of Representatives at least tried to take care of something in the law that the house of Labor failed to do, to take care of jurisdictional strikes. Mr. Kearns. Let's stay on the Hollywood situation. Mr. OwTiNS. Well, I will defend Congress while Mr. Hutcheson is defending himself. I will defend the Congress every day of the week. Mr. Hutcheson. As an American and a registered voter I think I have the right to criticize Congress. I think a Congressman elected to Congress ought to be expected to be criticized. Mr. Owens. Oh, we have thick skins, very thick. Now, I don't think we got very far on that question as to what juris- diction you thought the council had over the three men. Mr. Hutcheson. Of course, I got far enough to present a reasonable statement as to the position of the Brotherhood of Carpenters. You, another American like myself, have a right to state your views as being different. I am not going to take umbrage with you doing that, be- cause we are still American citizens. Mr. Owens. That brings us to the last paragraph again where you said that even though they felt they were to strictly adhere to the pro- visions of the directive handed down on December 26,1945, you thought that meant as clarified by them. Is that right? Mr. Hutcheson. To clarify what they had first said. Mr, Owens. In other words, where they used this language: In view of the alleged violations the committee hereby directs that all par- ticipants in the Hollywood Motion Picture Studio dispute strictly adhere to the provisions of the Directive handed down December 26, 1945. Mr. Hutcheson. Plus their clarification. Mr. Oavens. You feel that even though they did not mention the clarification that they meant that? Mr. Hutcheson. Well, it is attached to the clarification. Mr. Owens. Mr. Dougherty in his testimony indicated they did not mean anything except what they said, that ii they had to do it over again they would do it just like they did the first time. He indicated Mr. Green's directions to the executive council, to them—when you talk about final authority—Mr. Green's statement is what caused them to do it. In other words, Mr. Green told them