United States imports of selected types of cheese and casein: Prewar average and by years, 1945-50 and January-June 1950–51

United States production of milk on farms, butter, cheese, nonfat dry milk solids, and casein: Prewar average and by years, 1945–50, and January to June 1950-51

the record for today.

That will close

(Whereupon, at 12:20 p. m., the subcommittee recessed, to reconvene at the call of the chairman.)

CLARIFICATION OF SECTION 402 (d) (4)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1951

UNITED STATES SENATE,

SPECIAL SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE

COMMITTEE ON BANKING AND CURRENCY,

Washington, D. C.

The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 o'clock, a. m., in room 457, Senate Office Building, Senator A. Willis Robertson (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.

Present: Senators Robertson, Sparkman, Benton, Capehart, and Bricker.

Senator ROBERTSON. The committee will please come to order. The first witness this morning is a witness for the American Federation of Labor. Will you give the reporter your name, please?

STATEMENT OF PETER HENLE, ASSISTANT ECONOMIST,
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR

Mr. HENLE. Peter Henle, economist, American Federation of Labor. Senator CAPEHART. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask a few questions before the gentleman proceeds. I have read his very interesting statement and I want to ask him a few questions.

I notice on the ninth page you say:

for this reason the American Federation of Labor urges this subcommittee to report to the full committee and the Senate a simple amendment repealing existing section 402 (d) (4) of the Defense Production Act.

Did you prepare this statement?

Mr. HENLE. Yes, sir.

Senator CAPEHART. Was this statement and the views expressed, as I have just read them, presented to the board of directors of the AFL?

Mr. HENLE. Let me say this first, Senator, if I may:

I notice that my wording refers to the existing section 402 (d) (4). I am referring by that to the amendment that was added recently

Senator CAPEHART. My question is, Did the board of directors or trustees of the American Federation of Labor approve that statement? Did they see this statement of yours?

Mr. HENLE. I would like to say, before I read my statement, if I may, that President Green of the AFL wanted me to convey to the subcommittee his personal regrets that he himself was unable to be here. He, as you may know, is already in San Francisco for the American Federation of Labor convention, which opens on Monday. I talked to President Green before he left, and outlined the issues that are involved

Senator CAPEHART. Did President Green read the statement you are going to read to us?

Mr. HENLE. He has not personally read this statement.

Senator CAPEHART. What do you call them? Do you call them trustees, or directors?

Mr. HENLE. The business of the AFL, is operated in between conventions by the officers of the AFL, the president, the secretarytreasurer, and the vice presidents

Senator CAPEHART. You just answer my questions, and we will save a lot of time. What officer approved this report?

Mr. HENLE. I have discussed the report with the legislative representatives of the AFL.

Senator CAPEHART. Who were they? Will you give us their names?

Mr. HENLE. Mr. W. C. Hushing, chairman, Mr. Walter J. Mason, and Mr. Riley.

Senator CAPEHART. The AFL is made up of divisions; is it not, the international unions of barbers, printers, carpenters, and so forth. Mr. HENLE. The AFL is composed of 109 international unions. Senator CAPEHART. Each has its own president?

Mr. HENLE. That is correct.

Senator CAPEHART. Give me the name of one single president of these unions that approved this statement that you are about to make. Mr. HENLE. Under the rules and procedure and normal administrative practice of the AFL, that is not necessary. That would not be done in connection with other legislation.

Senator CAPEHART. This statement is an opinion of yours, then, rather than the heads of the respective unions that make up the AFL? Mr. HENLE. I am here representing the AFL, and I am authorized to present to this subcommittee the views of the AFL.

Senator CAPEHART. Who authorized you to do it?

Mr. HENLE. President William Green.

Senator CAPEHART. But Mr. Green did not see the statement; is that right?

Mr. HENLE. Unfortunately, he was in San Francisco.

Senator CAPEHART. And no member or no head of any of the individual unions of those large unions, like the carpenters' union, the machinists' union, the barbers' union, or the typographical union, none of them have seen this statement?

Mr. HENLE. President Green did not feel that was necessary, sir. Senator CAPEHART. You of course know that some of them are opposed to any price-control legislation at all; do you not, sir?

Mr. HENLE. To my knowledge 1, and perhaps 2, of the 109 international unions affiliated with the AFL, take that position.

Senator CAPEHART. Then you did prepare this statement yourself? Mr. HENLE. Yes, sir.

Senator CAPEHART. The statement has to do entirely, of course, with the manufacturing business, pricing, accounting; what experience have you had in accounting?

Mr. HENLE. I have had certain educational courses in the field of accounting. I do not pretend to be a certified public accountant. I have not made any indications throughout the statement that I am a CPA.

Senator CAPEHART. Did you ever keep a set of books?