Evening star., 1943-03-04
Labor Departments S
Data Cited as Aid
In War Production
Forum Speakers Point
To Accomplishments in
Anniversary Program

Labor, and Chairman Norton of the
House Committee on LABOR. Sena-
tor Thomas and Mrs. Norton praised
the work of the department during
the 10 years that it has been di-
rected by Secretary Perkins.
The hearts of American workers
will turn today to commemorate the
3oth anniversary of the Labor De-
partment, declared Mrs. Norton,
the first speaker in the forum.
They are fighting with all their
will and skill to preserve those
values of a free economic society.
many of which have been realized
through that living instrument we
salute tonight - their Department
of Labor-their place in the cabi-
net, their voice in the Presidents
councils she said
Working Conditions Improved.
Pointing out that the Labor De-
partment was founded in the days
when it was legal to run firetrap
factories which could burn like the
Cocoanut Grove Night Club in Bos-
| ton," Mrs. Norton emphasized the
progress that has been made in
establishing safer and healthier
conditions of work and other social
measures.
The Labor Department, she con-
tinued, has accumulated a large
fund of information and experience
which it is now using to meet the
many problems of war production,
including that of absenteeism.
1T knows the special problems of
women and young people working
for the first time in factories" she
continued. "It knows great dea!
about industrial diseases and acci-
| dents. 1t knows about the many
problems in human relations that
arise from day to day in plants that
have expanded from few to
thousands of workers."
by applying this knowledge and
experience to promote working con-
ditlons for maximum war produc-
ton, the department can provide
great service to American industry
and labor and to our country in its
time of need. I dare say that the
department can go into our war
plants, study their problems and
help them work out a solution at
the only place where a practical
answer can be worked out-in the
individual plant itself"
Under Mandate of CONGRESS.
In establishing the Labor Depart
ment, Senator Thomas said, Con-
gress specified that It's job was ito
foster, promote and develop the well
fare of the wage earners of the
United States, to improve their
working conditions and advance
their opportunities for profitable
employment
Sometimes that is forgotten, and
the Department of Labor is criticized
for acting as an advocate for Ameri-
can working men and women when
in so doing it is but carrying out
the will and the mandate of Con-
gress, the body which created it," he
added.
Senator Thomas paid tribute to
the work OF the department during
the last 10 years, and said that lit
has been leader in advocating
programs which have been of in
estlmable value to the wage earners
OF the United States and to the
people as whole"
One Of the principal jobs of the
department., he pointed out, is that
Of adjusting industrial disputes. AS
an illustration of the success of its
efforts in this field, he cited the
settlement during the last fiscal
year of nearly 5000 controversies,
involving nearly 3,500,OOO workers.
The Labor Department believes,
and rightly" he said, that the
maintenance of harmonious indus
trial relations is one of its most i'm
portant functions, and the present
Secretary of Labor repeatedly has
emphasized that there is ample ma
chinery of government to bring
about the adjustment of disputes
between labor and management
without either taking recourse to
the weapon of strike or lockout"
Safety Progress Stressed.
Secretary Perkins, in reviewing the
work Of the department, laid spe-
cial stress on accident prevention
and improvement of working con-
ditions. To-day, under the chal-
lenge of wartime needs, we appreci-
ate that working schedules, safety
appliances, sanitary equipment, rest
periods and many other conditions
that surround job may determine
what kind of output can be obtained
over the long pull" she said.
Miss Perkins expressed the view
that absenteeism in war industries
can be substantially reduced La
Dor Department studies, she said,
show that fatigue, eve strain, poor
ventilation, and similar factors all
contribute to increasing the number
OF workdays lost in industry.
We are confident that much of
this can be cured through the CO.
operation of labor and management,
and with the expert advice which
can be supplied by the Labor De-
partment and State labor depart
ments," she declared. When seri-
GUS and intelligent effort is made,
absenteeism can be reduced and held
to In al I~,v <,rJr ~ L. l,