Evening star., 1945-12-24

arate and independent public en-
ployment service systems, linked
only by the necessarily remote and
indirect influence of a Federal
agency financing the State systems
through grants-in-aid.
For these reasons, I now repeat
my recommendation that the trans
fer of our public employment Offices
to State operation be postponed until
June 1947. The administration is
committed to returning the service
to Stats operation, and that COM
mitment will be carried through. But
this is not the time.
Apart from the timing of the
transfer, the provisions of H. r
4407, which govern the basis for
Federal-State cooperation in the
maintenance of public employment
offices, do not assure that an ade-
quate service will be available in
all States.
The bill provides for the operation
of public employment Offices by the
States under rules and regulations
prescribed by the Secretary of Labor
to carry out the provisions of the
Wagner-Peyser Act. Operating costs
would be met entirely by the Fed
eral Government. These provisions
Of the bill would remain in effect
for only a few months-the balance
Of the current fiscal year.
Must Preserve Standards.
The bill precludes the granting of
funds to any State which is unable,
or unwilling, to comply with the
provisions of the bill or any re-
quirement of the Secretary of Labor
pursuant to the provisions of the
bill.
A Federal-State cooperative pro-
gram for a national system of public
employment offlces financed entirely
by Federal funds must at least pro-
vide assurance as to two basic OBJ
jectives: The Federal Government
must be sure that the essential serv-
ices are being provided through
the States employment offices, and
1t must know that the Offices are
being operated with reasonable eff
cheney. Under such a program, the
Federal Government is not inter-
ested in prescribing minute or in
significant details concerning the
State operation, but it does have
a State in the preservation of rea-
sonable standards.
H. r. 4407 provides no effective
protection for this national interest.
II any State, for any reason, can
not or does not meet the minimum
requirements, Federal grants can
not be made. But at the same time
the Federal Government itself is
precluded from continuing the op-
GRAFTON of public employment office
facilities in the State.
This means, In effect, that when
there is a substantial failure to pro-
vide essential services or to meet
minimum standards of efficiency.
the Federal Government must
choose between two alternatives
which are both unsatisfactory. 1t
must either acquiesce in the sub
standard operation-or, by withhold
ing funds. it must deprive all of the
States employers, workers, and vet
Grams OF a service they need and to
which they are entitled.
Need for Careful Legislation.
At time of such acute emergency
when employment offices are need
ed to provide veterans with the
services with which the Congress has
required they be provided, and
needed also to assist other unem-
ployed workers In securing peace
time jobs-I cannot approve legisla-
ton which, under some conditions,
may offer only q choice between a
substantially substandard service or
no service at all.
It seems clear to me that a mat
ter OF such grave Importance as our
public employment system deserves
not only permanent legislation, but
legislation carefully and separately
considered. Issues of such a difficult
and vital nature should not be dealt
with as riders to appropriation bills.
The fact is that our present legis-
lation governing the operation of our
cooperative Federal-State employ
ment service system, enacted in 1888
needs thorough revision in the light
OF changed conditions. Several bills
now pending before both houses OF
Congress-H. r. 4437, S. 1456, and
IS. 1510--are designed to accomplish
this. Enactment of such permanent
Legislation is essential before a
transfer back to State operation can
be achieved in an efficient and or
derly manner.
Adequate and uniform standards
OF service must be maintained and