The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-12-05
Secretary Perkins
CONTINUED from Page One)

yanized, has played it's part in shap-
ing these policies and representatives
IF the American Federation of Labor
have been constantly consulted and
their advice and cooperation gladly
given in deciding upon plans for social
and economic reforms in the public
interest.
Now let's look at the record as to
Just what the United States Depart
ment of Labor has done since 1888
in the interest of the Nations wage
earners and in the interest of the peo-
pie of America as a whole. That
record shows a notable achievement
in planning and working out programs
designed to overcome unemployment.
Here are some of the programs which
have emanated out of the Department
of Labor's continuous study of this
problem:
An immediate recommendation
was made early in 1888 that there
be some quick relief in the way of
Federal appropriations to assist
the States and localities in meet
ing the primary relief needs of
the people who were then unem-
ployed and had been unemployed
for long time in the emergency
of general depression. You know
how many jobless that helped and
saved from want and from des-
pair.
The recommendation for program
of straight public works, the justifi-
cation for it, and the basic figures
and information came out of the La
Dor Department. The conception of
finding special work for those who
could not be absorbed on straight pub
lie works also sprang from meeting
Of labor leaders, government officers,
and others in the Department Of Labor
early in 1888. You know how much
that meant to so many Of our people
The Wagner-Peyser Act, which es-
tablished well-equipped, free public
employment Offices, also came from
recommendations Of the Department
of Labor as a method of taking care
Of the effective placement of persons
looking for work where there was
work to be had, so reducing the loss
and waste of poor placement Of the
lob hunting. You know how success
full that agency has been. 1t has
found more than 29,000,000 jobs fol
those without work.
The Public Contracts Act, which re-
uuires not over 40 hours and a fail
minimum pay on Government contract!
in manufacturing sprang out of the
recommendation Of the Department
of Labor, advised by conference com
mittee of State labor department of
ficials and labor leaders. You know
how that act has aided thousands O.
workers on government contracts.
The Wage and Hour Act, which wa
the first effort to establish on a Fed
cral basis a floor to wages and cell
ing to hours grew directly out of tn
recommendation of the Department
of Labor, advised again by confer
ence of State labor department Off
cials and labor representatives 4o1
know how that act has improved tn
lot of thousands of under-paid wag
carners, and how by reducing hour
it made jobs for hundreds and thous
ands in private industry.
Unemployment compensation, whic
is an adjustment for the loss of wage
due to the accident of unemployment
had its origin in the studies and rec
concentrations Of the Department o
Labor and its advisory committees
You know how much that has mean
to men and women who have job
through no fault of their own.
Contributory old-age insurance fo
the future and Federal Assistance t
the States for providing old-age as
sistance to aged needy persons ais
came out Of the Activities of the De
partment of Labor through the recon-
mendations of the Presidents Commit
tee, of which was Chairman. Yo
know how very much that Social Sc
curity program has meant to mer
women and children all over thes
United States.
The basic information and recon-
mcndations for the development O
the c. c. G.. had its inception in tn
Department of Labor. You know boy
much that has meant to so man
young men, to their families, and t
the Nation.
You haven't the time to listen t
all the details Of what the Depart
mcnt Of Labor-your Department-ha
done, but | want to review briefly tn
success Of another program on whic
so many of you have worked with tn
officials Of the Department of Labo
and on which we will all put in som
more work within the mex few weeks
| refer to the seventh national con
ference on labor legislation, the frs
of which | called in 1884. My ide
was to enable States to exchange in
formation on labor legislation ant
by comparing their experiences, t
promote and develop effective laws an
efficient administration, the need fo
which had become apparent to me owe