A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF JANUARY 27, 28, AND FEBRUARY 3, 1938 Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary UNITED STATES WASHINGTON: 1938 INVESTIGATION OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 1938 UNITED STATES SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met at 10:30 a. m. in room 318, Senate Office Building, Senator Matthew M. Neely (chairman) presiding. Present: Senators Neely (chairman), Logan, Dieterich, Hatch, Burke, Norris, and Austin. The subcommittee had under consideration Senate Resolution 207, calling for a senatorial investigation of the administration of the Labor Relations Act by the National Labor Relations Board. Senator NEELY (presiding). This subcommittee, consisting of Senators Neely, Logan, Dieterich, Hatch, Burke, Connally, Norris, and Austin, has convened for the purpose of conducting a hearing on Senate Resolution 207. Senator Burke, the author of the resolution, is recognized. STATEMENT OF HON. EDWARD R. BURKE, A SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF NEBRASKA Senator BURKE. Mr. Chairman, due to the fact that we have some people in the audience and the acoustics of this room are rather bad, possibly I had better sit in the witness chair. Senator NEELY. That would be appropriate. Senator BURKE. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, it is generally recognized that a faulty law, even a law that is fundamentally bad, may be so wisely administered by a temperate, impartial, well-balanced agency, that the results will not, in the long run, be very harmful. Contrariwise, a good law may be so unwisely administered as to produce only baneful effects. When the combination exists of a poorly drawn one-sided, dangerous piece of legislation, and a thoroughly incompetent and grossly impartial agency charged with its enforcement, you may well look for serious consequences. Especially will this be the case if the law deals with a highly controversial subject matter, in which the feelings and passions of men run high. There are two phases to this matter, Mr. Chairman, as it appeals to me. This subcommittee is appointed to consider in its own way whether or not there ought to be a senatorial investigation of the administration of the Labor Relations Act by the National Labor Relations Board. That naturally is the first subject. The second is, what reason exists why such an investigation, if it be deemed wise 1 |