The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-02-08
WORKERS BILL
is SUPPORTED
BY 4 MILLION
Needing the Demand,
Two More Congressman
Back 1927
DAILY Worker Washington Bureau,


WASHINGTON, Feb. 7. - The
Workers Bill "is the only bill that
provides the big army Of unem-
ployed with the protection that
they demand now in the sixth year
Of the crisis" Isreal Amter, national
secretary Of the Unemployed Coun-
ellis. declared today before the
House subcommittee Of the Labor
COMMITTEES. This committee held its
fourth day Of hearings on the
Workers Unemployment, Old Age
and Social Insurance Bill H. R..
1927.
IF need be, the unemployed will
march again to Washington" Amter
concluded.
Testimony for H. R. 2827 by work
ers, farmers, economists, statisticians
and other professionals and the
flow of demands for the passage Of
the bill from workers throughout
the country, have already resulted
in winning new support for the bill
in Congress. Representatives Siro-
vich Of New York and Moritz of
Pennsylvania yesterday joined sew
eral members Of the subcommittee
In endorsing H. r. 1927.
Four to Five Million Back Bill
I'm the five years that have
passed" said Amter, "a tremendous
amount of support has been
gathered for this bill. Today this
bill is supported by fully four to
five million people. Two thousand
five hundred locals of the American
Federation OF Labor, Ave interna-
tional unions OF the A. F. Of L.,
six State Federations of Labor. and
upward of so Central Labor Coun-
ellis have endorsed the bill in spite
Of the campaign of misrepresenta-
ton, distortion, SANDER and terror
that has been carried on against
us by william Green and other
leaders Of the A, F. of L.
Attorney Leo J. Under Of New
York, a specialist on constitutional
law, advised the subcommittee
that III. r. 1927 is unquestionably
constitutional. Chairman Mat
thew A. Dunn, Democrat of Penn
sylvania, and other members Of the
sub committee, considered Linder's
testimony important because of the
argument, made repeatedly by OPP
ponents of the Workers Bill that
H. r. 1927 is unconstitutional.
Bill Declared Constitutional
Linder declared that H. r. 1927
is an exercise of the appropriating
power of Congress. Under the con-
stitution, he said, Congress has the
power to levy and collect taxes and
to provide for the general welfare.
Under this general welfare clause
Congress has appropriated billions
Of dollars for the purchase of land
from foreign countries, for agricul-
ture, for internal Improvements,
and recently for internal relief,
Under declared. The U. S. ST.
preme Court, he pointed out, has
held that once Congress enacts an
appropriating measure it thereby
declares and determines that the
appropriation is for the general
welfare. This determination by
Congress, he added, cannot be re-
viewed by the Supreme Court.
Therefore, not only is the Workers
Bill constitutional as an appropri-
ating measure but there is no legal
method by which the propriety of
the measure can even be ques-
toned, Under concluded.
H L. Lurie, of New York City
chairman of the committee to out
line a national social welfare pro-
gram, of the American Association
of Social Workers, told the sub
committee that "the bill. In my
opinion, is practical, realistic and
grows out of a sincere recognition
of modern conditions and modern
industrial problems. 7 hope that
this committee and Congress will
recognize the Importance and the
validity of the bill"
Workers from the hosiery, steel,
textile, metal and needle workers are
expected to appear tomorrow. T.
Arnold Hill, of the National Urban
League, and Maxwell Stewart, as
sociate editor of the Nation, are
also slated for tomorrow.