Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08
Executive Says Measure Will
Not Help in Emergency and
May Do Damage.
DOAK TO BE INSTRUCTED
TO WORK OUT NEW PLAN
President Holds New Workers. Pro
posal Would Destroy Present
Employment Service.

President Hoover announced in a
statement made public last night that
he would give a pocket-veto to the
so-called Wagner bill for improvement
of public employment agencies.
In Mr.. Hoover's opinion this Iegisla-
ton would be serious blow to labor
during the present crisis. However, he
stated that he would ask the Secretary
of Labor to cooperate with the various
interested organizations to draft plan
for presentation to the next session of
Congress which will avoid the difi-
culties presented by the Wagner bill.
This bill introduced by Senator
Wagner, Democrat, of New York, was
passed during the closing days Of Con-
gress.
Mr.. Hoover, in his statement explain
ing his objections to this legislation,
said he had very earnestly studied it in
an effort to find a method to make IL
of use in the present employment situa-
ton. He found that it would not be
helpful principally because it abolished
the whole of the well developed Federal
Employment Service and would set UP
an entirely new plan by subsidies to the
States from the Federal Treasury.
Long Delay Is Seen.
The President very frankly explained
that even were there no other objections
to the Wagner bill plan, it could not be
made effective for many months or
even years BY way Of illustrating this
the President added cit Is not only
changing horses while crossing stream,
but the other horse would not arrive
for many months. This situation alone
required that legislation be deferred, as
1t will not help in emergency, but will
do great damage"
Mr.. Hoover attached to his public
statement the adverse views of Attorney
General Mitchell and Secretary OF
Labor Doak.
The views of the Attorney General
were to the effect that II this bill be-
comes law. the present Employment
Bureau would thus be Immediately
abolished and steps would then have
to be taken under this act to con-
struct an entirely new employment
service along new lines. 1T is obvious
Mr.. Mitchell added, that months must
elapse before substantial progress could
be made in setting up the new service.
The State authorities would have to be
consulted, the action of State Jegisla-
lures awaited, and when some progress
had been made in setting up new
agencies to aid employment, the re-
strictive provisions of this act such as
that for apportionment Of funds, would
deprive the system Of 1exibility and
hamper eficient action in the present
emergency"
Blow to Present Service.
Mr.. Mitchell reported to the Presi-
dent also that it Is obvious that the
act by its terms would have tn, effect
at this time, when labor is in greatest
need Of assistance, of destroying the
employment service now being main
tanned in the Department Of Labor and
making 1t impossible for months to
come to replace 1t with a working or
ganization.
In his adverse report TO the Presi-
dent, Secretary of Labor Doak said this
bill seeks to destroy the present Federal
Employment Service by substituting
Federal subsidies to the 48 States for
conduct Of separate agencies based upon
population, not upon need. Moreover,
he reported that the bill destroys the
interstate phase of service to labor
movement submits labor to the idiosyn-
cracies Of State politics and gains moth
ing for the worker.
The Presidents statement contain
ing his disapproval Of the Wagner bill
follows in 1ull:
Il have given earnest study to the
so-called Wagner bill for improvement
Of public employment agencies, in an
effort to find method to make it of
use in the present employment situa-
ton. 1 find upon study, however, that
II would prevent a serious blow TO
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