Evening star., 1923-12-12
new ALIEN CODE
/ ASKED BY DAVIS
Secretary Also AssaiIs Child
I Labor and Urges Change
in Law.

annual report made public today,
asks Congress to provide less COM
pltcated method of handling railway
labor disputes than that now ad-
ministered under the Railway Labor
Board; to give the Labor Department
greater authority and facilities for
enforcing better working conditions
generally; to make appropriations
for the Improvement OF the immigra-
tion stations at New York, Boston,
Seattle and San Francisco. and to
enact n complete new ALLEN code"
providing for selection of immi-
grants abroad, for exclusion of all
non-naturalizable aliens and for en-
largement of the work of naturaliza-
Iion and Americanization.
He also renewed his recommends
ton for an amendment to the Con-
stitution empowering Congress to
pass child labor legislation.
Child Wage Farmers.
On this point he said: TT Is
humiliating fact and crying disgrace
to our civilization that we have not
so far succeeded in eradicating the
employment of children of tender
years as wage earners. There is no
possible defense for the breaking OF
our future citizens on the torture
wheel OF industry before they have
had time to become physically, men,
tally and morally fitted to enter the
lists of the toilers."
Looking back over the twelve
month period covered by the report.
Mr.. Davis declared American labor
had much to be thankful for, but
that the federal government must
continue its efforts toward Coop
Grafton" and recognition of the mu-
tual interest of employers and en-
ployes.
Eight-I0ur Workday.
This has been a great year." he
said, for the American worker.
1T may now be said that we are
within sight of the time when no
workman in the United States will be
forced TO labor from sunrise to sun
set and that we are within q few
years of the day when we shall have
realized the hope that each man shall
have eight hours for work, eight
hours for play and eight hours for
sleep. Truly, American labor has
much to be thankful for.
I'VE must see to 1t that conditions
IN American industry continue to ad-
vance. We must encourage that spirit
of cooperation, that recognition Of
mutual interest, which is already
making great progress among our
employers and our workers. We are
learning that cooperation in industry
is the SureSt and most feasible road
TO industrial peace without which we
can have no real prosperity. Today
there are four parties involved in any
industrial dispute-labor, ownership,
management and the public. All of
these are mutually dependent. and the
success of any given industry de-
pends upon it's operation along lines
which Will insure satisfactory returns
to all OF them"
Difficulties Increased.
Without going into details regard
ing the operations Of the Railroad
labor Board, Secretary Davis declared
that apparently the differences be-
tween the management of the rail-
roads and their employees have been
increased and complicated, rather
than diminished" through operation
of the machinery provided under Sec
tion 900 of the transportation act
The practical operation Of that
plan." he continued. brings about
unreasonable delays in the adjust
ment of minor disputes and accentu-
ates to the dignity of a contest petty
differences with reference to wages
and conditions Of labor. The machin-
cry has proven unwieldy II seems to
me that some machinery less compli-
Gated and less cumbersome should be
set up to provide for the equitable
and expeditions settlement of these
disputes through well known and Oft
used channels, in order that our trans
nortatfon system may function at it's
highest rate of efficiency in the inter-
ests of the country"
The Secretary pointed out that the
LABOR Department Is commanded by
law ito improve working conditions"
OF wage earnerS, but declared that
nothing could be done in that direc-
tion under present legislation except
to investigate. report and recommend.
Even In this field, he added. depart
ment officials are "hampered by lack
of specific authority and by meager
appropriations.
Protection From Accident.
I'm this connection" the report con-
standing need. That is the need for the
protecting from industrial accidents
the men. women and children who
work. As preliminary step would
recommend that the department be
authorized to organize a thorough
and complete survey Of Industrial
health and accident conditions in or
der that we might have the necessary
facts upon which to base an intelli-
gent. effective program of health con-
servation.
In the improvement of working
conditions generally there Is one
American worker who is sadly hand
lcapped. He is the So called rnIgra-
tory worker-the lumberman, the
harvest hand, the cannery employe,
the fruit picker. AS q class these
migratory workers are generally of a
high type Of citizenship. The men in
the lumber industry and those who
work in the harvest fields may be
seen. when their season of employ
ment Is over, haunting the slums of
our great cities, eking out a preca-
sleeping in the cheap lodging house.
We might do well to attempt some
thing for their relief. 1t has been
suggested that means might be found
to insure the employment of these
men in some other industry when
their season of regular work has
ended. At present we are without
sufhcient facts upon which to deal
TOO. would suggest a complete In
vestigation."
Wants Act Extended.
Mr.. Davis also recommended that
tho benefits of the infancy and ma
ternity act be extended to Porto Rico,
Hawaii and the Philippines; that the
federal courts set up a separate sys-
tenn for handling Juvenile cases, and
that greater funds be provided the
woman's bureau for inquiry into in
fiuences affecting woman workers.
In recommending more stringent
laws to prevent the entry of unde-
sirable aliens. the Secre tary declared
the present prohibitive statutes could
not be enforced successfully until
heavier penalties were authorized
He suggested that, in addition to de-
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