Milford chronicle., 1924-11-28
UNCLE TED'S
BEDTIME STORIES
THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Jack came into the room, put
down his books and let out a deeI
sigh. 1t was one of those sighs that
everyone knows registers nothing
more or less than that the person
has done all he can in a certain di-
rection and is right up against a
stone wall.
What in the world is the trouble
with you, Jack?" asked Uncle Ted,
as he put down his paper and took
off his glasses.
1--WE got to write story about
the Department of Labor, Uncle
Ted" replied Jack, "and have
been trying to do it ever since sup
per. 1 did get some written but 1
want to know some more about it,"
well, Jack, was going to tell
you a story this evening about
something else, but so long as. you
need help, your Uncle might as we'll
jump in and combine the help with
the story. Call Ruth in here too. Size
might as well join the party"
1t wasn't long before the three
good chums were gathered together
in the big front room, Jack, on one
side of Uncle Teds chair and Ruth
on the other.
Il hardly know where to begin
with this story" said Uncle Ted.
There is really so much to tell you
about the baby of our Government
departments and the big help that
department has been to the labor
ing man of this country. First of
all you should know that the De-
partment of Labor, of which James
John Davis is now the head and has
been since his appointment by Pres
ident Harding, was established as a
separate branch Of the Government
only IL years ago.
In 1865 a group of labor leaders
gathered in Louisville, Kentucky,
and made the first attempt to have
labor as a body, recognized by the
Government. This seemed hard to
do and the idea was laughed at by
the majority of the people through
out the country. The first real Fed
eral official recognition of labor was
made in 1884, when a Bureau of
Labor was created as a part of the
of the Interior.
I'm 1908 the Department of Com
merce and Labor was created and in
1913, the Department of Labor was
put into being as separate Federal
This important branch of our
is divided into seven |
bureaus. Now Jack, you had better
write these down. First is the Bur-
Eau of Labor Statistics, a bureau
hat gathers important data on eV-
ry branch of labor with which to
lelp and safeguard the laboring
nan wherever he may be.
Next comes the Bureau of Immi-
ration. This bureau is one of the
lOst important branches of our en-
ire Government. Before the Great
Var, more than 100000 immigrants
'ere allowed to come into the Unit
d States every year. Congress soon
fter passed a law that provides for
srtain quotas for each country dur
lg the year. Naturally this made
some very important work
4 the part of this bureau. All ap-
eals from people who cannot come
nder the quota and the interpreta-
on of every bit of this law must
)me before the Commissioner of
IMMIGRATION.
In other words, Jack, the Com
issioner of immigration must be
spOnsible for all aliens who enter
II shores and see to it that the
ght ones are admitted according to
e latest law and those not permit
d to enter, kept out.
Next in line is the Children's
lreau, older than the Department
Labor itself. It was created in
IL and under the direction of Miss
liza c. Lathrop. There is nothing
day that has to do with the chill
en- of this big country of ours that
is bureau is not working On. The
ath rate of babies, home cOndi-
ms. labor conditions for children,
erything has been made better To-
y Miss Grace Abbott is the chief
tn a score of trained helpers in
cry branch of the bureaus work.
'The Bureau of Naturalization is
xt, looking after the cases of
ems who want to become citizens
the United States. Great care
lst be taken to make sure that no
rsons are admitted to citizenship
% are not prepared to take On the
possibilities of an American cit
n.
'Inaddition to these bureaus, there
, the Women's Bureau, the United
ties Employment Service, and the
reau of Industrial Housing and
ansportation.
I have failed to mention the Di-
ion of Cancellation, most i'm
'tant branch of the Department of
bpr This division, under the per-
lal direction of the Secretary of
Dor, is constantly working to keep
ice in the industrial world. When
ployers and employees cannot
zee, this division gets busy and
IS to bring them together on a
rking basis, many times avoiding
likes and saving millions of dol
S in property, time, labor and ma
ial.
All in all, it is really one of the
st important branches of our
and one of the very
3iest and most efficient, even