Salt Lake Telegram | 1943-06-05 | Page 3 | Draft Bill Author Warns Against Using Act as Strike-Breaker

Draft Bill Author Warns Against Using Act as Strike-Breaker Strike WASHINGTON June 5 UP UP- UP Senator Warren R R. Austin R. R Vt coauthor of the selective service act warned Saturday against any attempt to use the acts act's provisions to break a strike That would be a perversion of the act not in accord with the in intent intent intent in- in tent with which it was passed by congress Austin said It would characterize employment employment employ employ- ment mont of the act as a harsh measure measure measure meas meas- ure whereas its original purpose is one of mobilization on a fair and equitable basis Congress has no intent that it should ever be used as a policy for punishment of any any- body President Roosevelt told a press conference Friday that the occupational occupational occupational deferment of a coal miner becomes inoperative when he stops work at that occupation The president president pres pres- ident stressed that the same principle principle principle prin prin- ciple applies to any occupational deferment Austin conceded that when the cause for deferment terminates the deferment may be terminated He pointed out however that such a arule arule arule rule cannot be invoked invoIced in any mass action Each case must be determined determined determined deter deter- mined on its own merits by the local draft board Austin contended that the coa coal crisis would have been avoided i if congress had adopted the national service bill bilI which he has sponsored There wouldn't have been the shifting from one job to another to obtain wage increases the upward upward upward up up- ward spiral of living costs and that sort of thing he said The bill provides for a national service program of ass assigning gning both military and civilian personnel to the war effort It would be administered administered administered ad ad- ministered through selective servIce service service ice boards and would provide fines fine and jail penalties for refusal to obey