Evening star., 1937-04-20

quently said Congress has the same
right to regulate the commerce that II
has to regulate the railroads which
carry the commerce, and this principle
has been extended to apply to al
carriers by land, water, steam or other
propelling power which are engaged
in interstate commerce, and it has
even extended to intrastate commerce
where it operates as burden upon
or affects directly commerce among
the States or with foreign countries.
Recognizing the right of labor to
organize and reasonably enjoy the
fruits of its labor, Congress has
within the last four or five years en-
acted large number OF measures de-
signed to safeguard the rights of la
Dor in its relationship with its en-
ployer.
Among these legislative acts are
the following:
The national labor relations act,
which defines and strengthens the
rights of workers to organize and bar
eoiAA NoAASStANCly dS = AlCdIb VI SCJ-
Ting and prohibiting labor disputes.
An act prohibiting interstate trans
portation of strikebreakers.
A resolution providing for investiga-
ton OF violations of the right OF free
speech and assembly.
An act designed to assist the States
in the enforcement of State laws reg
ulating or prohibiting the sale in the
open market of prison-made goods in
competition with the products OF free
labor.
Maritime Regulation.
An act which regulates conditions
of employment Of seamen and en-
bine-room workers in our sea-going
merchant marine.
An act creating the United States
Maritime Commission with power to
investigate conditions Of employment
in ocean-going shipping with a view
to revising the contracts providing for
subsidies and Incorporating in them
better standards Of labor.
The public contracts act which pro-
vides in Government contracts for ma
terial, articles, supplies and equipment
in amounts exceeding $4,000, for labor
standards governing hours, wages
child and convict labor and working
conditions.
The social security act providing
under certain circumstances, for un-
employment compensation, old-age Sc
curity, security for children, aid to the
blind and the extension of public
health service and vocational rehabili-
tation.
1t also passed the railroad retire.
ment act, providing annuities to rail-
road employees retired at the age of go
or after 80 years service, which was
invalidated by the Supreme Court, as
was also the Guffey act, whose purpose
was to stabilize the bituminous coal in
dustry and improve its industrial rela-
| tions and labor conditions.
The workmens compensation act,
which enables States to apply their
workmen's compensation laws to Fed
eral projects within their geographical
| boundaries.
In addition to these Federal statutes,
an unusually large and significant
body Of labor laws have been enacted
by large number of States during the
past year. These include child labor
laws in five States, Collective bargain
ing laws in two States, industrial home
work in one State, prison labor laws in
five States, public employment Offices
in three States, safety health santa
ton in 21 States, State Departments OF
labor in "a States, minimum wage laws
in three States, wage payment and
time Of employment laws in seven
States
Purpose Of legislation.
These enactments both by Federal
and State authorities have been de-
signed not only to improve the rela-
tionship between employers and en-