existence approximately a year) has extended the work of aiding the States in establishing State systems of vocational training. As it is now equipped with data and an experienced personnel, t s capable to admnster the provisions of the data and an experienced personnel, it is capable to administer the provisions of the rehabilitation and reeducation laws. "The American Federation of Labor is particularly interested in the reeducation and the reentry of disabled soldiers and sailors into industry. The members of our organizations will have an opportunity to perform an invaluable service to society in cooperating with the Federal Board for Vocational Education in carrying on its work. In all of the countries actively engaged in the present war work of a similar character is being performed, and in those countries the organizations of labor are giving their hearty support and cooperation. It is, perhaps, unnecessary to bespeak the cooperation of the American labor movement in this great humanitarian work, for it can be confidently expected that in every locality of our country where our organizations are Located, there the members of these unions will give material assistance to the carrying out of this great national humanitarian work. Representatives of the American Federation of Labor assisted in the framing of the bill, and the membership will without doubt assist in the execution of the law. That there may be a close cooperation, it has been suggested (and that suggestion is offered for approval) that the executive council will be authorized by the convention to cooperate with the Federal Board for Vocational Education in assisting in administering the law when it shall have been passed. The duty of the hour requires that all classes of citizens, whether they be employers or employees, give a full measure of support and active cooperation in administering a law which has for its purpose the making of disabled soldiers and sailors productive members of society. "Your committee recommends that the convention indorse this portion of the executive council's report. The report of the committee was adopted by unanimous vote of the convention." This attitude of the national convention has been overwhelmingly indorsed and supported by delegates to separate national and international trade-union conventions, by State federations of labor, by city central labor unions, and by numerous local affiliations. The attitude of the working people of the United States (union and nonunion) toward the vocational rehabilitation of the disabled soldiers, sailors, and marines has been exceptionally helpful. wholehearted, and typically American. To those whose recent life, like mine, has been part and parcel of this great humanitarian work, the response from the workers has been most encouraging. But not less so than that of our employers and whose attitude has not been sufficiently described in the testimony previously gathered by this committee-it is a great pleasure and satisfaction to be able now to record for the benefit of the Committee on Education, and for the benefit of society in general, that our employers in commerce and in industry have cooperated in behalf of placement training, or which is at times termed placement on the job, or placement in the job, with wonderful unanimity. These two forces in American industry show a marvelous willingness to forego old-time trade ethics and do everything within their power to make the disabled man to feel at home in the shops, offices, and factories, and to give them the full benefit of their technical knowledge during the period of training, and not consume their time during such period for the purpose of production. Training is the goal, productivity will follow as a matter of course. On May 1, 1920, 13,753 men had been approved for training in the job; 8,997 have been inducted into such training. A part of this number have either discontinued training and accepted profitable employment or, because of sickness, have taken a temporary layoff. Nevertheless, on that date (May 1) 7230 of our men were still taking placement training, and in passing it must be recorded that the largest proportion of disabled men now taking mechanical training in schools and institutions will have to finish their training in the job so as to be familiar with the commercial or manufacturing requirements, but, of course, such additional training will not be necessarily a long drawn-out period. Mr. CHAIRMAN. I want the privilege to place in the record the most important document published by the Federal Board for Vocational Education. The original draft was written by Mr. H. L. Brunson, it was afterwards reviewed by Mr. Prosser and his staff and finally completed by Mr. Munroe and me Its formal name in the records of the board is Miscellaneous 38, but its real name should be "The Magna Charta for Retraining Disabled Human Beings." After this document was completed it was sent simultaneously to the officials of the United States Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the American Federation of Labor. These officials were asked for their comments and criticism. It is a great gratification to be able to say at this time that it was acceptable to all these interests. It was then sent to the local organizations of trade, commerce, and labor, and not one word has reached this office showing any dissent, complaint or criticism, but many who have received it have expressed themselves as being extremely pleased because it combines a comprehensive cooperation of the Federal Government with Educational interests, resources of capital, skill, and knowledge of labor and agriculture in behalf of the young men who offered themselves for the supreme sacrifice. I hope the members of the committee may take time to go over this brief statement and realize that it was and is the base of the action of the board for real, practical training to replace our disabled men back in civilian life in as good, if not better, shape than when they left it. The idea of upgrading wherever it has been feasible has constantly been kept in mind. 66 MISCELLANEOUS 38-THE MAGNA CHARTA OF THE FEDERAL BOARD. JUST HOW DOES THE FEDERAL BOARD PROPOSE TO DISCHARGE ITS DUTIES? "In dealing with the disabled man, the board expects to treat him throughout as a civilian needing advice and assistance; to approve his choice of occupation unless, after careful investigation, sound opinion shows it to be inadvisable; to train him to meet the needs of the occupation he has elected; to urge him to make the most of his opportunity to overcome his handicap by taking thoroughgoing instructions; to help him to secure desirable permanent employment; and to keep in close touch with him after he goes to work. "As soon as the military authorities have decided that any disabled man is to be discharged from the hospital and returned to civilian life, it becomes the duty of the Federal board, through its vocational advisers in hospitals, to deal with the problem of training him and of placing him in civilian employment. This task involves five possible steps: "(a) Election by the disabled man of a course of training. "(b) Preliminary training to fit him for a definite occupation or pursuit. 66 "ELECTION BY THE DISABLED MAN OF A COURSE OF TRAINING. Representatives of the Federal board will confer with each disabled man before his discharge from the hospital. If he is able to resume his former occupation successfully or to follow some new occupation without special training, the Federal board will assist him, if he so desires, to secure employment therein. Should he elect, even under these circumstances, to take additional training for his occupation before he enters upon employment, the law provides that he may do so at the expense of the Government, under conditions determined by the Federal board. If, however, he is unable to pursue his old occupation or to enter successfully upon a new occupation, he may be trained by the Federal board for any vocation or pursuit that he desires to follow and in which, in the opinion of the board, he is likely to become proficient. "In advising as to future employment, representatives of the board have equipped themselves with information concerning the requirements and opportunities of the various occupations. Much of this information is furnished to the men in printed form. The representatives are informed concerning the kinds of occupations from which certain types of handicap are shut out. "Every effort is being made to assist the disabled man toward that occupation in which he is most interested and for which, because of his aptitude and experience on the one hand and his handicap on the other, he is best suited. In order to utilize previous knowledge and skill, the disabled man is advisedother things being equal-to elect training, should he need it, for the industry, business, or pursuit in which he was engaged before the war, or for one akin to it. 4661-20-VOL 2- -73 "The length of this course of preliminary training varies greatly according to the ability, ambition, and handicaps of the man and the requirements of the work itself, or to the skill and knowledge required for present and future success. "A PROBATIONARY PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE OCCUPATION OR PURSUIT. "In assisting the disabled man to secure desirable employment the Federal board, as authorized and directed by the vocational rehabilitation act, will utilize as far as may be practicable the facilities of the Department of Labor. Where the man has been given preliminary training outside the plant, office, or farm on which he is to be employed, this probationary period begins when he is transferred, as a beginner, into the occupation or pursuit. Where the preliminiary training has been given within the plant, office, or farm, the period of probation starts at the point, in the case of each individual, where he becomes capable of entering upon the occupation or pursuit as a worker. "As a probationer he will be perfecting himself in processes, adjusting himself to the demands of commercial production. He will be gradually fitting himself to become a permanent employee at the prevailing wage, either in the place where he is serving his probationary period or elsewhere. During this period the Federal board will regard him as in training and subject to its inspection and supervision; but any wages he may receive as a probationer will be over and above the amount paid to him by the Government while he is in training. "PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT IN THE OCCUPATION OR PURSUIT. "This begins at the point when, in the opinion of the board, the probationer has adjusted himself to the requirements of the occupation or pursuit as a workman. The shifting from probationary to permanent employment may be made in either the same or another establishment, and the disabled man has the same freedom of choice and action as any other workman on his own." Support by the Government of the man as a student will cease at the close of the probationary period. "As a beneficiary under the war-risk insurance act, however, he will be entitled to the compensation allotted under that act. In most cases this will be less than the support received from the Federal board under the provisions of the vocational rehabilitation act. "The aim of the board is always to direct the disabled man toward, and to provide him with, training for an occupation in which he can become as proficient as the normal man. Yet it must not be overlooked that some of the disabled men will not become fully competent to earn the prevailing wage. There fore, where a disabled man is unable, because of his handicap, to earn the full prevailing wage for his occupation, an adjustment, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the shop is to be made. Where working agreements are in effect between employers and employees, the regulations thereof shall govern the procedure in adjusting such partial wages. Where there are no such facilities, the adjustment is to be made by conference between the man, his employer. and a representative of the Federal board. It should be fully understood that the disabled man himself, as a free contracting agent, may in every case accept or reject any terms or scale proposed. "As a general policy, a handicapped man is not directed toward an overcrowded or a waning occupation in which present or future competition might make permanent employment uncertain. In order, however, to realize fully upon the man's interest and ability, he is given the widest possible range of choice among those desirable occupations in which, in the light of the best medical and vocational knowledge available, he can, with his special handicap, successfully engage. In this connection the board seeks advice from those experts in the hospitals who have effected the man's physical rehabilitation. “The disabled man, with the approval of the board, may elect to be trained in agriculture, commerce, industry, transportation, or the professions. The length and character of the course of instruction depends upon the requirements of the vocation, the ability and interest of the man, and his previous training and experience. "After the vocational adviser has assisted the handicapped man to choose a suitable occupation, his case, with full information, is referred to the office of the district wherein the man has received physical rehabilitation. Every case is there considered individually on its merits by a local board made up of two representatives of the district office, one of whom is a physician, and two representatives chosen from the locality, one of whom is an employer and one a representative of labor. If necessary, the man himself, accompanied by the vocational adviser, may appear before the local board. "PRELIMINARY TRAINING FITTING HIM FOR A DEFINITE OCCUPATION OR PURSUIT. "After physical rehabilitation the discharged soldier or sailor becomes a civilian to be trained for and placed in civilian employment by the Federal board. As a student he is supported by the Government, and the same allotment and family allowance for his dependents is paid as were received by them while he was in the military service. As a student, moreover, he has the same freedom as any other civilian attending school or college. He is on his own,' meeting such expenses as are not covered by the board from the compensation provided in the vocational rehabilitation act and sent monthly or semimonthly direct to him. "Through the district vocational office, where a medical officer is stationed, the health of the disabled man is cared for while in training by the board. After he secures permanent employment, he, as a beneficiary under the warrisk insurance act, will be cared for by the War Risk Insurance Bureau should there be any recurrence of disabilities due to military service. "As a student supported by the Government while taking instruction, the disabled man is expected to pursue the work in a satisfactory way and to obey reasonable rules and regulations. Continued failure to do so would result in dismissal. Where it is found advisable to shift the student from one course of training or from one class or school to another, this, with his consent, is done. "The disabled man is given his preliminary training in a variety of ways. As far as possible, existing facilities are utilized. While the plant, equipment, and staff of existing schools and colleges in many instances is used, there must be in many cases special arrangements to meet the needs of the disabled man. Manufacturing establishments, offices, and farms are employed to give preliminary training. In every case, however, the Federal board requires the course of instruction to be adapted to the interests and needs of the disabled man, definitely planned for him as a learner, and arranged or approved, as well as inspected and supervised, by its agents. “The disabled man should, however, receive equal pay for equal work, and under no circumstances will a wage for a disabled man be approved by the Federal board where it appears that decreases have been made because he is receiving a compensation for his injury from the Government. "FOLLOW-UP WORK TO SAFEGUARD INTERESTS OF THE MAN. "As the official friend and adviser to the disabled man, the board will keep in touch with him, through its representatives, for such period after he enters employment as may be necessary to complete, in each individual case, his reestablishment as a civilian worker. The board will protect him against injustice or exploitation by the adjustment of difficulties and, if need be, by aiding him through further training or assistance to secure other and more desirable employment in the same or another occupation." TRIBUTE TO EMPLOYEES. For fear the committee might form incorrect conclusions concerning the attitude of the employees of the board, because of statements made to the committee by some employees during these hearings, I feel it nothing less than my duty to record that during my long experience in many lines of human endeavor I have never found a finer spirit, greater industry, or better-proved loyalty to service than I have among the majority of the staff and employees in the employ of the Federal board. They have been willing to go from post to post, they have been willing to live and work under surroundings far from agreeable, because circumstances would not admit of necessary comfort and convenience, they have worked from early in the morning till late at night, often on every day in the week including Sundays without protest, they have been cheerful and helpful in many ways. The board has formally recognized this on several occasions. In our New Year's letter of greeting on December 24, 1919, we said: "You are conscious, however, as the standing committee is well aware, that the organization for which we are all working is still far from perfect, and you are alive, too, to the fact that the year 1920 will clearly disclose that we can 'put over' successfully and to our own satisfaction the great work of vocational rehabilitation. Consequently we would urge you not only to continued zeal and to still higher cooperative endeavor, but we would also ask you, individually, to help us in making the machine through which we are all working, a more efficient one. Therefore we ask every one of you who feels so inclined to write a personal letter to the committee, addressing it to the vice chairman, making suggstions, pointing out ways in which you think the work might be improved, and calling to our attention matters which, in your opinion, are of interest to the committee and the board. They will be given sympathetic and careful consideration." And in addition, whenever the board has been in conference with district officers or staff members, the invitation has been orally expressed for every man to feel free to make suggestions or to offer any information without let or hindrance to the board so that the disabled man may have the benefit of our combined knowledge and effort. Of course in an organization like this so hurriedly gathered together in its early days, picking up what could be found disengaged from war or essential service some few persons were engaged who might not possess this wholesome cooperative spirit, some were too self-conscious and some were very ambitious; a few found fault and practiced espionage to a small degree. Nevertheless, the great mass of our people were loyal first to themselves, which, of course, is the first essential of loyalty. They were next loyal to the disabled men, loyal to the Federal Government, and loyal to the Federal board with which they were asked to work. Notwithstanding the complexity of this great, human problem and the need for almost infinite wisdom in its administration, those of us who have been connected with the work from the start feel that it has been the greatest accomplishment of the age and that the United States Government and its people stand out singly and alone in this great work in comparison with that being performed by its Allies. It should be recalled that the work here in the United States is being done under a statute by direction of the representatives of all the people and the work being done in the lands of our Allies is being performed under executive council decrees, defense of the realm acts, etc. It would not be fair to the board nor those connected with it to allow these hearings to close without making it a matter of record and practically challenging the statements of some of the witnesses concerning the recent investigation. The board has always been willing to undergo an investigation. It has asked for it in personal inerview with Members of Congress and by formal statement since the original difficulties arose during the controversy over the sundry civil act in July, 1919. Most of the trouble undoubtedly has arisen because of misunderstandings, the failure of the critics to distinguish between the "bureau" and the board and the almost impossible task for laymen to comprehend that it is the first duty of an administrative force to obey the letter and spirit of the law. That has been done, that is being done, that will be done so long as the present men have charge of the administration of this work. It will be done whole-heartedly; it will be done with a broad, sympathetic spirit, and with a vision as practical and worth-while as mature men with many years of practical business and industrial experience behind them can furnish. COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, House of Representatives. In the matter of charges against the Federal Board for Vocational Education. STATE OF NEW YORK, County of New York, ss: William C. Ives, being duly sworn, deposes and says as follows: On Saturday, May 15, I learned of Mr. Smiley's testimony before the Committee on Education of the House of Representatives. Mr. Smiley says that I had stated to him that I had told other employees that they did not need to work, and that they could not be fired even if they didn't work. As soon as I reached the New York office on that morning (May 15), I asked Mr. Smiley for an interview and stated to him that his statement had no foundation in fact. I asked him if I had ever made such a statement to him and his reply was to the effect that it came to him from all directions-from different employees in the office. I said that that was not the question, but that he had stated that I had stated to him that I had told other employees, and that was not so. I told him that if he could bring me any men to whom I had made that state |