The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-12-05

oldlSS Ilcu d fo-IlouI "CCh Ia" Ioi
women in 1888, rs States have adopt
ed this standard today. In 1888 only
2 States kept children out Of hazardous
employment until 16 years of age;
today Is States provide this regula-
ton. In 1888 only 6 States had law
to provide for collection of unpaid
wages. Now 16 States have it. The
States that have these laws collect
a total of several million dollars each
year for tens of thousands of workers.
Injured workers in States in 1888
were out of luck; they had no work
mems compensation act. Today, all
States but 1 have workmen's Com
pensation Law. Provision for increased
benefits has recently appeared in these
workmen's compensation laws in Is
States.
Since 1888, States have created
new labor department, States and
Hawaii have unified and strengthened
their labor departments, 3 States have
granted the department rule-making
power, and 2 States have enlarged and
reorganized their labor department
staffs. The strengthening and develop
ment of State labor departments and
their sympathetic administration is
most important.
Twenty-one States today compared
to only 2 in 1888 are now actively
promoting sound, true apprentice
| training in cooperation with industry,
and labor. These programs, always a
community asset, may now provide
the basis for training of skilled work
ers vital to national defense.
Every State has today free pub
lie employment service and an unem-
ployment compensation law. Every
State has an old-age assistance law.
All this is a partial record of what
has been accomplished by the work
ers' own department for the workers
of the United States. 1t is record
of which we in the United States De-
partment of Labor are proud and
am sure that wage earners will join
in the satisfaction that is ours in be-
ing part of living, vital, progressive
Labor Department which serves the
interest of the workers and the public
interest Let me say, as | have said
before, that the United States Depart
ment of Labor is dedicated to the ser
vice of the working people of America
and has been and is being administered
for their economic advancement anC
for the promotion of their interests
The Act creating the Department says
it's purpose "shall be to foster, pro,
mote and develop the welfare of the
wage earners of the United States, tc
improve their working conditions anc
to advance their opportunities fol
profitable employment"
All familiar with the workings OF
the Department know that the man
date has been followed, and today the
Department is better supplied will
, money, with staff, with accumulated
knowledge about labor's problem.
than ever before. A lot Of overtime
has been put in by people in the De
partment, but no one in the Depart
ment complains of that for we arr
satisfied and happy to have had ou
part in the new standards which th'
working people of the United States
enjoy.
The security Of nation depends
not only on its physical defenses bu
on the well being Of it's people. Any
thing which contributes to create
health and safety, to proper workin,
conditions and to more adequate
standards Of living contributes t.
national defense. 1t is upon a grea
and far-reaching program of nationa
defense that we as nation are nov
embarked and to which we as peopl
" are committed in full unity.
And | want you to know that tn
Department of Labor is working il
close cooperation with the Natona
r defense authorities to prevent injur
0 or death of skilled workers, to pre-
= vent loss Of work time through sick
D ness, accident or occupational disease
to prevent delays to production sched
= ules which follow accidents and t
control, as far as possible, factor
j making workers physically unfit. r
= this end | have named outstanding
!, industrial safety experts to work wit
e representatives of labor and industr
in the supervision of program t
= safeguard the protective man powe
t Of the Nation engaged in defense pro
e gram activities.
Industrial accidents annually caus
y 5000 deaths and a million and hal
. disabling injuries with total pre-
duction loss of more than a billio
D man-hours. In situation calling 70
= uninterrupted output Of urgently need
S ed material and equipment this labo
e wastage, particularly of skilled work
4 ers, is matter of grave concern t
e all of us with a deep concern in tn
r welfare of wage earners.
e The plan we have devised to proteC
!. the health and safety of defense pre-
- duction workers recognizes that a
t though State or local safety and healt
a regulations are basically necessary, ei
= fectve control of labor waste throug
|. work disabilities requires safety edu