Evening star., 1946-12-29
A New Start
ForMigrants
Agencies Map Better
Days for Rowing
Hired Hands
Bv Edmund G. Monk

these myriads OF problem chlldren.
Federal and State labor and health
officials are at work drafting pro-
posed solutions for the Joads of the
Nation.
Not only is the economic plight
of these migrant workers the subject
of concern, but also their health
their futures and those OF theil
children.
The National Conference on Labor
Legislation, which recently gathered
In Washington, engaged in a lengthy
discussion regarding the migrant
workers problem. AS an upshot, a
comprehensive program of State and
Federal legislation and policy was
drawn up and recommended Tor
enactment.
The conference comprised more
than 200 State Labor Department
officials, representatives of organ
ized labor and of interested Fed
eral agencies and civic organiza-
tions.
While the conference was formu-
lating it's program, a committee OF
five Federal agencies-called to-
gether by Maj. Gen. Graves B
Erskine, head of the Re-employ-
ment and Retaining Administra-
tion-was already pondering the
problem.
While the war was on, thousands
of workers of the migrant type were
imported. They came from Mexico
and the West Indies, in the main
But before they were allowed tc
exit from Mexico and islands not
a part of the United States, inter-
national assurance had been given
that they would be protected eco
nomically, socially and from a
health standpoint.
More Protection Sought.
Practically all of these were agri-
cultural workers. These foreign
workers were housed in modern
camps - with efficient sanitation
recreation facilities and general
living conditions of high standard
Speakers at the recent conference
here said the handling of the war
time imported workers was visible
proof to them that the same provi-
sions can be made for the Nation S
more or less permanent and mainly
native legions of migrants.
In a formal report the conference
emphasized that solution of the
migratory labor problem is not
simple. AS steps toward solving the
dilemma, it recommended:
Laws authorizing State labor de-
partments to license labor camps.
Development of State labor camp
codes establishing rigid standards
and investing of State labor depart
ments with authority to enforce the
codes.
Extension of State minimum wage,
wage payment and wage collections
laws to cover all migratory workers
including those in farming as well
as extension of the Fair Labor
Standards Act to cover agriculture
Extension of State child labor laws
and the child labor provisions of the
Fair Labor Standards Act to cover
children employed in agriculture
both during and outside school
hours.
The conference also asked social
security protection for the migrants;
extension of the interstate COM
merce acts and of State motor
vehicle laws to guarantee the safe
transportation of workers.
Concern to Society.
Registration OF employers OF
migratory workers before recruiting
begins and inspection of working and
living conditions by labor officials
also was asked.
Aspects of the migratory worker
problem from the broader national
View were summed up by Paul S.
Taylor, professor of economics at
the University of California, when
on June 26, 1945, he told the Insti-
tute of Migratory Labor Problems
at Princeton, N. j.:
"The existence of class of mi
grants, then, is a concern to every
element of this society of ours OF
which it is a part. Public stability
and the health of our public life
REQUIRE that it should be reduced to
a reasonable volume, that those who
engage in it shall receive the pro-
tections and opportunities which
society is accustomed to accord to
its other workers. y"
In calling the five-agency> Federal
committee together, Gen. Erskine
said reconversion has intensified the
troubles of migrant laborers. He
said low wages, child labor, lack OF
educational opportunities and poor
health among the rowing workers
are a denial of those American
standards which all workers should
enjoy"
The committee consists of repre-
sentatives of the Departments OF
Agriculture and Labor, the Federal
Security and National Housing
Agencies and the Railroad Retire
ment Board. Its final report is'ex-
pected to be published early in 1947
California, New York and New
Jersey are among the few States
having laws aimed at controlling
the situation, but labor officials are
not satisfied with what is on tbs
statute books.
New Jerseys law is regarded as
the strongest. 1t provides a board
of State officials which enforces
minimum standards for construction
and maintenance of camps housing
migratory workers. California's law
is of older vintage and at the recent