Evening star., 1945-07-01
Labor Seiup Changes
In 80 Days Planned
BY Schwenenbach

day promised q thorough survey
of Government labor functions
and said that plans, for reor-
ganization OF the Labor Depart
ment and consolidation within
it OF many Federal agencies
dealing with labor would be
completed In so days.
Mr.. Schwellenbach, = former
Senator and recently Federal judge
in Washington State. tackled his
new Job with speed and gusto and, 81
few hours after being sworn in asl
successor To Miss Frances Perkins,
told news conference he had al
ready embarked on his labor reor-
ganization plan.
Assisting him in planning strong
and eficient Federal labor agency,
the Secretary said, will be six experts
who already have arrived in the
Capital.
They are John r. Steelman,
former head OF the United States
Cancellation Service: John Carson
of the National League of co-opera-
tives and once secretary TO the late
Senator Cousens OF Michigan: Ed
ward Connolly, United States at
torney for the Eastern District OF
Washington; A. A. Laframboise,
clerk OF Judge Schwelienbach's 8
court; Ike Comeaux, controller of the
City Light Department. Seattle. and
Carl Norman. Rockland. Me-. former
member of the House and of the
Maritime Commission.
my Eyes and Ears"
Secretary Schwellenbach referred
to the six men as my eyes and ears"
who will help me reorganize this
department and see just where
things should CO." He said he was
not sufficiently familiar with the
situation to say immediately what
outside bureaus should be taken into
the department but we are going
to consolidate those agencie.
that need be-"
Reorganization and consolidation
plans, he continued, will be finished
by August /.
1T has 10 be done in the next 30
days." the new Secretary declared.
I'VE have got to do this job fast IL
for no other reason than for the
morale OF the department. ! want
everybody to know how they stand
by August /. BY September / we
hope to have them (outside labor
agencies) In here"
Secretary Schwellenbach said he
did not know what legislation would
be needed to bring about his house.
cleaning. but he would ask Congress
quickly for whatever authority Is
needed.
Meets Department Heads.
He announced he already had met
with department bureau heads and
told them MY first job will be TO
find out what this job is."
II think you win agree it would
be wrong for me TO come in here
and say right OF what should be
DONE" the Secretary said when q
reporter tried to pin him down as
to what outside labor agencies
should be brought into the depart
ment. II reorganized the Univer-
sity Of Washington IN 1888 and ]
know just how hard job 1t is. When
we get the work done within the
department we will study each OF
these AZ or 81 agencies dabor bu-
reaus outside) and see just where
they CO."
Mr.. Schwellenbach said he would
spend some time each, day this week
with officials of the major labor or
ganizations and when his depart.
ment has been enlarged he as
sumed there will be need for fur
ther direct assistance from labor. "
He declared he would ask labor
TO be Its adviser ms well as its adyo-
cate here"
Denies Seck Aid.
He was asked abcat reports that
Dave Beck, West Coast AFL leader
influenced his appointment to the
cabinet.
That is utterly silly" the Sec
retary replied. Il was appointed by
President Truman. He told me I 4
had to be secretary. I argued with
him for four days. Dave Beck had
no more to do with it than any of |
you here in this room"
Mr.. Schwellenbach and the Presi-
dent entered the Senate Mt the same
time and are fast friends. The Sec
retary. who was named to the Fed
eral bench late in his Senate term by
President Roosevelt, was asked IL he |
had further political ambitions.
Il gave UP the best Job In the
world to come here and this Is the
/