Evening star., 1940-12-03
Migrant Aid Plans
Offered by Fleming
And Miss Perkins :
Mrs. Roosevelt to Give
Views on Program at
Hearing December 10
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

Extension of labor and Social Sc
curity laws, both State and Fed
eral, to cover workers in industrial
lied agriculture and those engaged
in processing and packing agricul-
ture products was urged today by
Secretary Of Labor Perkins before
the special House Committee in
vestigating interstate migration.
Col. Philip B. Fleming, admins
traitor OF the Labor Department s
Wage and Hour Division, who fol-
lowed Secretary Perkins, likewise
suggested that the Fair Labor
Standards Act be extended to cover
workers employed in the larger type
Of agricultural operations.
Before Secretary Perkins took the
witness stand. Chairman Tolan an
nounced that Mrs. Franklin D
Roosevelt would outline her views
on the interstate migration prob
lem before the committee Decem-
ber 10.
1t will mark her second appear
ance as a witness before a con-
gressional investigating committee
Last Spring she testified before the
public health subcommittee of thu
House District Committee, which al
that time was investigating condi-
tions at the Home for the Aged ano
Inf1rm at Blue Plains.
Miss Perkins explained that he,
recommendations mean specifically
bringing workers in industrializec
agriculture and those engaged ir
processing and packing agricultural
plants under such laws as work.
mems compensation, child labor
wage and hour laws, wage payment
and wage collection laws. legisla.
ton for collective bargaining, un.
employment compensation. old ag,
and survivors insurance. The place.
OF employment, she said should bt
under jurisdiction of State labol
departments so that investigation.
OF working conditions could be made
One device which has been usec
to establish labor standards fol
certain agricultural workers" sh,
declared. "is to make crop benefi
payments to farmers conditional OF
| their observance Of required labo
standards. This has been done II
the case Of one agricultural com
modity-sugar."
Other Recommendations.
Ihe Labor Secretary made mum
Der of other recommendations
Chlef among them were:
/. That national defense funds b,
ailocated to meet emergency need
Tor sanitation. control of communi
cable diseases, medical care ant
health services in areas where de
fense projects are causing a sudder
influx of population.
2. That emergency public assist
ance be provided in areas undergoin,
rapid expansion for defense project!
for relief of industrial workers ant
their families who may be tempo
rarlly stranded because Jobs are no
ready for them, or because the Job
have closed down, or because tn
workers are not equipped for sucl
employment as is available.
3. Development of a program TO
the guidance of migration to assis
surplus populations either to fin,
new possibilities of employment a
home or to migrate to economic op
portunities elsewhere.
4. Continuation and expansion o
the farm security camp program ant
the providing Of low rent housin,
projects to take care Of the housin,
needs for workers on national de
fense projects along the lines of tn,
projects aided by the U. S. H. A.
Migration Healthy Sign.
The migration of workers Is {
healthy sign of advancing economy,
said Secretary Perkins. We need &
flexible adjustment of the popula
ton from the depressed areas tt
the areas of opportunity, whether
rural or urban, where people car
hope to make better living. Tht
hardship of migration results from
failure to give efficient direction II
the worker and his family whit