The Washington herald., 1913-09-24
IN urgent NEED
OF MORE MONEY
Activities Of the Department
of Labor May Have to
Be Curtailed.
HOUSE CUT ESTIMATES
Representative Lewis Asks the Senate
Appropriations Committee to Re-
lieve Embarrassing Situation.

a strenuous effort was made yesterday
by Chairman Lewis. of the House Com
mittee on Labor, and a subcommittee
Of the Senate Appropriations Committee
to save the Department OF Labor from
financial embarrassment that threat
ems TO destroy for year the newly
created Commission for the Cancellation
of Labor Disputes.
When the House Appropriations Com
mittee passed the urgent deficiency bill,
the estimates of the Department of La
Dor were cut to such a point that Secre-
tary Wilson doubts IL the activities OF
his several bureaus can be continued. He
has discussed the situation In detail with
Mr.. Lewis. and yesterday the Marylander
called upon the Senators 10 rescue the
new department from penuTy.
More important TO the country than the
office work of the department is, of
course, the usefulness of the commits
sioners named TO arbitrate labor trou-
lies. This body was created in an emer-
gency a few months ago to prevent a dis
astrOus strike OF trainmen on the rail-
roads serving the sections east of the
Mississippi River and North of the Ohio
River. II came into being at the earnest
solicitation of President Wilson. the rail-
road managers. and the labor leaders.
No Salaries Allowed.
The House Appropris tions Committee
has. however failed to allow this COM
mission any salaries whatever. II pro-
vided for the payment of travelling eX-
penses incurred by the board. but appar-
emily expected the members to serve
their country free of charge The suS
gestion has even been made that this is
polite way Of Iegislating the commits
sion out OF existence.
memorandum prepared by Secretary
Wilson was submitted by Representative
Lewis to the Senate committee yesteT-
day, showing the state Of affairs that
will exist in this important matter il the
appropriation is not increased. The MEM
Orandum read. In part, as follows:
The amount authorized in the House
hill for execution OF the duties imposed
upon the Secretary Of Labor by section
OF the act of March 4. 1913. is so far
insufficient that il virtually amounts to
a repeal o. one Of the departments most
Important functions.
There is no more important question
before the country today than this. which
has 10 do with the promotion of a bet
ter understanding between ths employer
and employe
Occasions for the utilization of the
departments good Offices are. OF course.
more or less spasmOdic. but in the brief
period Of its existence these instances
have occurred with such frequency as
to indicate that the department should
have money and men available for con-
tinual service under this section. Linn
iting the amount available for this
work means practically its cessation.
Indeed. the department has already
been forced to deny two requests for
mediation in trade disputes because Of
lack of funds.
OnIy Allows Expenses.
The House bill limits the eNpendi-
ture Of this money to the payment of
ton. 1t is felt that the appropriation
should also carry authority for the
payment Of salaries OF those officers.
which will permit OF the selection of
men who, by reason of their training
and equipment. lend promise of being
able successfully to carry out this
work"
In addition 10 emitting the money
needed to make the conciliation board
useful. the House bill left out an ap-
of $4,000 for printing and
binding.
In all, the Department OF Labor
wants approximately Sl5O,0O0 more
money than the House allowed it, and
in this Representative Lewis concurs
heartily The chairman OF the Labor
Committee did not deem il wise to
make a. fight for these increases on
the floor of the House, but is engaged
in presenting thS fact to the Senate.