4. Instrumentalities links and channels of interstate commerce: $50,000 from interstate (or linkage) part of enterprise, or from services performed for employers in commerce. (1954: $100,000.) 2 (1950: No requirement other than legal jurisdiction.)2 5. Public utilities: $250,000 gross volume, or meet standard 1 (nonretail). (1954: $3 million gross volume.)2 (1950: No requirement other than legal jurisdiction.)2 6. Transit systems: $250,000 gross volume. (1954: $3 million gross volume.)2 (1950: No requirement other than legal jurisdiction.)2 7. Newspapers and communication systems: Radio, television, telegraph and telephone, $100,000 gross volume. Newspapers, $200,000 gross volume. (1954: $500,000 test for newspapers, $200,000 for the others.)2 (1950: No requirement other than legal jurisdiction.)2 8. National defense: Substantial impact on national defense. (1954: $100,000 in goods or services directly related to national defense, and pursuant to Government contract.)2 (1950: Substantially affecting the national defense.) 2 9. Business in the Territories and District of Columbia: District of Columbia: plenary; territories, standards apply. (Same as 1954.)2 Same as 1954. In 1950, plenary as to both territories and District of 10. Associations: Regarded as single employer. (Same as 1954 and 1950.)* 1 Direct outflow refers to goods shipped or services furnished by the employer outside the State. Indirect outflow includes sales within the State to users meeting any standard except solely an indirect inflow or indirect outflow standard. Direct inflow refers to goods or services furnished directly to the employer from outside the State in which the employer is located. Indirect inflow refers to the purchase of goods or services which originated outside the employer's State but which he purchased from a seller within the State. Direct and indirect outflow may be combined and direct and indirect inflow may also be combined to meet the $50,000 requirement. However, outflow and inflow may not be combined. 2 For easier understanding of the significance of the new standards, comparable prior standards are shown in parentheses. Those standards identified as 1954 became effective in July 1954; those identified as 1950 were announced during the latter half of 1950. Except taxicabs, as to which the retail ($500,000 gross volume of business) test shall apply. PREVIOUS APPROPRIATION Mr. LEEDOM. I think I have nothing to add to that except if there have developed some problems that our justification and statement do not cover. Senator HILL. We gave you a good deal more money last year? Senator HILL. Quite a bit more. What were the results of that action? Mr. LEEDOM. We have used the money we think to very good advantage. It has enabled us to begin to cope with this terrific increase we have in our caseload. This year's request and justification is geared to the performance that is possible under the allowance you made us last year, which was an increased allowance. The request this year simply would enable us to carry on with the program that you made possible for this year. Senator HILL. I have before me the report of the Subcommittee on Appropriations of the House. I believe the bill will go before the full committee this morning. HOUSE ALLOWANCE As far as the subcommittee action is concerned, they have allowed you the budget estimate, the full $14,200,000. That will enable you to carry on this year on the enlarged program which the additional funds Ide possible for this year; is that right? Mr. LEEDOM. That is right. Senator HILL. Do you think that will be satisfactory? Mr. LEEDOM. We think that will be satisfactory. We think the extra money you gave us last year has put us in very Food position to meet this unusual load. The request this year will e adequate if we can get the amount we requested. REDUCTION OF BACKLOG Senator HILL. Are you now able to cut down some bit your time factor and catch up on some of the backlog? Mr. LEEDOM. Yes, sir; we have definitely set improved targets on te and the trend is definitely toward the target. We have done, we k, an unusual job of cutting down time. Senator HILL. In other words, you feel gratified over what you have een able to do this year? Mr. LEEDOM. We certainly do. We are delighted with the reception we had from the Senate and the House last year and believe it has put us in a much better position to do an adequate job. Senator HILL. With the fund recommended in the budget for 1960, you will be able to carry on in the same way? Mr. LEEDOM. Right, and more right on up to the target. NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD STATEMENT OF FRANCIS A. O'NEILL, JR., MEMBER, AND THOMAS A. TRACY, ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE SECRETARY APPROPRIATION ESTIMATE "For expenses necessary for [the National Mediation Board, $520,000] carrying out the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, as amended (45 U.S.C. 151-188), including stenographic reporting services as authorized by section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (5 U.S.C. 55a); temporary employment of referees under section 3 of the Railway Labor Act, as amended, at rates not in excess of $75 per diem; and emergency boards appointed by the President pursuant to section 10 of said Act (45 U.S.C. 160); $1,357,000: Provided, That the unexpended balances of appropriations for the fiscal years 1958 and 1959 for "Salaries and expenses', 'Arbitration and emergency boards', and 'Salaries and expenses, National Railroad Adjustment Board', shall be merged and accounted for in one account." Program and financing PREPARED STATEMENT Senator HILL. Now, the National Mediation Board. It is nice to have you gentlemen back with us again. We welcome you here. You have a prepared statement, Mr. O'Neill? Mr. O'NEILL. Yes, Mr. Chairman. Senator HILL. We will place the statement in full in the record. (The statement referred to follows:) The National Mediation Board is the agency designated by Congress to administer the Railway Labor Act governing labor relations in the railroad and airline Industries. This legislation has been in effect since 1934. It establishes the duties of parties and enunciates procedures for the orderly handling of labor relations problems arising in both the railroad and airline industries. Activities under this legislation consist of the mediation of labor disputes and the determination of collective bargaining representatives by the National Mediation Board, the resolution of differences through arbitration and special board of adjustment, the investigation by Presidential emergency boards of disputes which threaten substantially to interrupt interstate commerce so as to deprive any section of the country of essential transportation service and the adjustment by the National Railroad Adjustment Board of railroad employees' grievances resulting from application of collective-bargaining agreements. The estimate of appropriation for these three activities is presented this year for the first time as a single appropriation. This procedure has been approved by the Bureau of the Budget and was adopted in order to simplify the budget structure and financing of the several activities authorized by the Railway Labor There are approximately 700 carriers and 14 million employees in the airline and railroad industries. The total authorized personnel of the National Mediation Board is 40 employees, including 3 members appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The remaining are classified civil service employees. The estimate for the National Railroad Adjustment Board provides for 50 employees, the same as the current year. This appropriation request does not provide for the addition of any new employees for either Board. The total appropriation requested for these activities for fiscal year 1960 is $1257,000 which represents a total increase of $13,000 (including an adjustment of $3,000 authorized for expenditures in fiscal 1958 from the 1959 program) over the amount estimated for fiscal 1959 $1,344,000. Personal service costs due to Public Law 85-462 account for this increased request. For the mediation activities formerly carried under the account "National Mediation Board," an increase of $8,000 is requested. The estimated expenditures for 1959, are $544,500 as compared to $552,500 requested for fiscal 1960. The estimate for the Arbitration and Emergency Boards is a contingent fund. It is quite difficult to forecast with any degree of accuracy the number of boards which may be required in any fiscal year as this depends on emergency situations threatening interstate commerce. We are asking $250,000 for this activity for fiwal 150, the same amount we have for fiscal 1959. For activities of the National Railroad Adjustment Board $554,500 is requested for fiscal 1900, an increase of $2,000 over $552,500, the amount estimated for 1959. COMBINED BUDGET Mr. O'NEILL. Mr. Chairman, I ask that the statement, together wth our justification, be incorporated in the record. I might point out the highlights of this statement. Mr. O'NEILL. I want to say to the committee that for the first time we have a combined budget for the National Mediation Board, ard the National Railroad Adjustment Board. The purpose of this combined budget is to facilitate the operations of both boards in that if there happens to be unusual activity in one branch of the work, why, we will be able to draw upon funds in another branch of the work. Of course, all of this is under the direct supervision of the Bureau of the Budget. Getting back to cases, Mr. Chairman, it would obviate the necessity of coming back to you each year. Over the past 6 years-let me put it that way-we have always had to come back to the committee of the Senate and to the House and ask for transfer of funds. We, therefore, never go over the amount that Congress has appropriated, but it will help in keeping ourselves current rather than have delays waiting for action by the Congress. Senator HILL. As I recall, you have never been denied this permission for transfer, have you? Mr. O'NEILL. We never have, sir. That is correct. Senator HILL. You have always stayed within the overall amount appropriated? Mr. O'NEILL. That is correct, Mr. Chairman. As to the specific amounts the only adition is $13,000 over the appropriation for last year and almost every penny of that is necessary to meet the statutory pay increases which were put through by the Congress last year. Eight thousand dollars for the Mediation Board, and I think $2,000 for the National Railroad Adjustment Board. HOUSE ALLOWANCE Senator HILL. I notice a figure here in the report of the House committee-the sum total of $15,200. In other words, last year $1,341,000; this year $1,357,000. What would be that addition for? Mr. O'NEILL. That is the addition. It is $1,357,000. That is an increase of $13,000. Senator HILL. You have $100,000 and something else? It is in the bill now. Mr. O'NEILL. But it is not in this budget here, Senator. Senator HILL. That bill has passed the House, as you know, and it has been approved by the Senate committee. It is due to be taken up today. In fact, it was due to be taken up yesterday, but we did not get quite to it. Is there anything else you would like to add, Mr. O'Neill? Mr. O'NEILL. No, I believe that about covers the situation, Mr. Chairman. ANTICIPATED WORKLOAD Senator HILL. Is your board pretty busy these days? Mr. O'NEILL. I say we are 1959 is really going to be something. All these railroad contracts will open up. We are still having trouble with the airlines, the jet age, and so forth. Senator HILL. In other words, you look for a pretty heavy load this year? Mr. O'NEILL. This year is going to be tremendous. As far as mediation activity and negotiations of contracts, in the railroad industry. Senator HILL. Due to the fact that so many contracts expire during this next period? |