The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1947-05-08

ANliOSkSll SStlN III q to-SOds,
Secretary Schwellinbacl
House slashes of Labor Depart
ment appropriations on the depart
,nent's activities, pointing out how
the cuts would handicap the de
partment in working for economic
stability and warning of the Every
real danger" they carry to the ma
tion's economy. He emphasized
that the labor movement is deeply
concerned with the problem OF
economic balance, which he defined
as matching full production with
fair distribution so as to maintain
both our system of free enterprise
and high living standards which
our productive capacity makes
possible.
Vital Stake For Labor
"The wage and salaried work
ers have a vital stake in full pro-
duction and a soundIy balanced
economy. 1t is a matter of bread
and butter to them," the Secretary
said, speaking by transcription
over the Labor News Review with
Albert n. Dennis, WTOP of the
CHS.
'The Department of Labor has
an important role to play in main
tanning economic stability in the
months ahead" Schwellenbach CON
tinued. "Taken together, the work
of its various bureaus is so far
reaching as to bring the depart
ment into close and sustained con-
tact with almost every phase of
our economy. That is a duty which
Congress itself has laid upon the
department. But if the proposed
budget cuts are allowed to stand,
the department cannot carry out
its responsibility.
"Let me tell you some of the
things the House has provided -
and some of the functions it has
curtailed or eliminated. The House
provided nothing for the Division
Of Labor Standards. This wipes
out an efficient and much needed
contact with state labor depart
ments. Among other things, this
cut eliminates the only federal
agency working with the states and
private organizations to reduce in
dustrial accidents. Accidents which
numbered 23,000,000 in 1916 and
cost industry and labor 3l9 mil
lion dollars. The u. S. Employment
Service was cut so drastically that
its functions would be reduced to
a mere bookkeeping operation.
job Service Proved Worth
"Yet we all know that jobs and
job seekers do not come together
automatically. In our very com
plex economy with its seasonal
shifts in production, both industry
and labor need the constant assist
ance of an employment service
which is not circumscribed by state
They had such a serv-
ice-before the House took away |
n percent of the budget for the |
u. S. Employment Service, serv-
ice which has proved its worth to
to handicapped workers
and disabled veterans; to the mil
lions Of men and women who make
up our labor force.
''ln the name of economy the |
House has been especially severe
with the budget for the Bureau of
Labor Statistics. Funds for this
Sey fact finding agency were
'lashed by about go percent. The
Inevitable result must be- wide
spread confusion among those in
industry and labor who depend up
IN the figures which BIS has sup
,lied.
"Here are some of the vital
ervices which would be curtail-
d or cut off entirely under the
proposed BIS budget. Cost Of liv-
ng indexes, family budget esti-
mates, data on employment and
'ayrolls, occupational wage rates
nd wage trends. Not to mention
ousing and construction stats
les and wholesale price indexes
hat both industry and government
nake constant use of in charting
uture business trends.
Facts Increasingly Important
"Facts and figures of this sort,
lus an up-to-date fund of detailed ,
on thousands of collec- {
We bargaining agreements, have |
ome TO play a very important part {
! the negotiation Of union con-
racts and settlement Of industrial S
isputes. More and more, collec- |
We bargaining relies on economic &
acts rather than economic force. I
4 other words, the Labor Depart i