seeking employment within the State, and especially to the war veteran and handicapped or special-problem cases.

The question of the return of the Service to States and when is not really the vital issue, the issue as we see it is the continued operation for the most benefit to the employer and worker by maintenance of standards and the continuation of personnel now working in the service which includes those of long service. We believe S. 1510 does this more completely.

For your further information, in addition to Colonel Hayes, State director, who has just returned from military service, there are 38 veterans, mostly World War II, out of the 59 male employees working with the Employment Service in Idaho. Civil-service rules are being complied with carefully in the employment of new persons. The Service employs a total of 101 persons and has 23 offices located throughout the State.

Of the bills now before you concerning this Service, we believe that S. 1510 most closely meets the need.

Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR BYRD: I am writing you in the interest of seeing that the splendid service rendered by our local United States Employment Office is continued in its most effective manner.

I understand that there are about four bills being considered in the Senate that would in various ways transfer the employment offices back to the States.

I feel there is and will be a great need for the continuation of the service that has been so efficiently rendered, especially in our Galax office, and I am most anxious that the personnel of this office as well as others who have through long and faithful service become specially fitted and trained for their work, be given proper credit and not lose accrued Federal annual and sick leaves.

I have been advised that the Murray bill, No. 1510, as originally drawn, possibly comes nearest to offering the desired objectives and I will certainly be grateful for your careful consideration of said bill.

Sincerely yours,

R. C. BOWIE,

Member, House of Delegates, Commonwealth of Virginia.

STATE OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR EMPLOYMENT SECURITY AGENCY
ATLANTA, January 23, 1946.

To All Georgia Employers:

GENTLEMEN: As a public servant of the people of Georgia it is my solemn obligation to inform you of impending Federal legislation that if put into effect will in name give the United States Employment Service back to your State government, but in actuality sets up both the employment service and the unemployment compensation division as puppets with an all-powerful Secretary of Labor in Washington pulling the strings.

H. R. 4437, introduced by Representative Ramspeck, of Georgia, in effect says give the Employment Service back to the States, its rightful owners, but give it to them with the Secretary of Labor in Washington having the policy making power and the authority to take over the Employment Service and dominate the unemployment compensation division if his slightest wish is violated.

This bill, H. R. 4437, will not give the Employment Service back to the States in compliance with the understanding between the governors of the various States and the President of the United States when the Service was loaned to the Federal Government on January 1, 1942, for the duration of the war emergency. Also hidden in H. R. 4437, in a subtle form, is the stipulation that the Secretary of Labor in Washington shall dictate the policy of job referrals according to his interpretation without regard to established and accepted State practices.

Realization of these two objectives makes us raise the question "Is the use of hidden objectives and misleading legislation good government or representation?"

How does this affect you? H. R. 4437 would amend the Federal Unemployment Tax Act so as to deprive employers of their unemployment tax credits in any State which fails to meet every new policy or operating standard imposed by Washington.

In April 1945, Georgia employers were asked, in a poll, to state their preference as to State or Federal control of the Employment Service and the unemployment compensation program. Of those giving a "yes" or "no" answer, approximately 94 percent expressed the preference of State control. Do you still want it?

Your Representative in Washington should vote against H. R. 4437 and should support H. R. 5142, introduced by Representative Dirksen, of Illinois, which returns the Service to the States without hidden objectives and they should know immediately your desire for this proper action. Time is the essence of the situation. Act now.

Yours very truly,

BEN T. HUIET, Commissioner of Labor.

(For comments on this letter see p. 263.)

THE STATE OF WISCONSIN INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION,
State Office Building, Madison 2, January 17, 1946.

Return of loaned State employment services.

Hon. WALTER S. GOODLAND,

Governor, State of Wisconsin, State Capitol, Madison 2, Wis.

DEAR GOVERNOR GOODLAND: We believe it is our duty to advise you at this time of current developments in Washington as to the return of State control of the loaned State employment services.

Specifically, we desire to warn you that the practical effect of H. R. 4437--on which Labor Committee hearings are starting today-would be to impose extensive new Federal controls, which would permanently straitjacket State operation.

H. R. 4437 purports to return the loaned State employment services to State control and operation. In fact, however, the alleged return would be nominal, in view of the bill's many new provisions giving the Secretary of Labor and his subordinates virtually dictatorial control over all State employment service policies and activities.

To compel absolute State compliance with any and all Federal dictates as to these State functions, H. R. 4437 would even amend the Federal Unemployment Tax Act so as to deprive employers of their unemployment tax credits in any State which fails to meet every new policy or operating standard imposed by Washington. (In Wisconsin, this would mean swinging a big new Federal "club"-of about $30,000,000 per year, in tax credits for Wisconsin employers-to compel State compliance with Federal dictates.)

Incidentally, H. R. 4437 would delay the alleged return to State control for nearly 18 months, regardless of the unanimous position taken by State governors, and regardless of the urgent desirability of restoring effective back-home management at the earliest possible date, thereby assuring a better placement service and also full coordination of the employment service and the State unemployment compensation programs, in the best interest of all workers, including especially our returning veterans.

The proposed 18-month delay is serious, of course; but that point could be cured very simply-by specific amendment of the bill's "timing" provision.

Far more serious is the insidious attempt made throughout H. R. 4437 to impose extensive new Federal controls on a permanent basis.

If H. R. 4437 were passed in its present form, our loaned services would be returned to the States in name only. They would be run from Washington, in nearly all important respects.

In view of the keen active interest which you have repeatedly demonstrated in this whole matter, we are confident that you will take appropriate action at this time to safeguard the interests of this State and of all Wisconsin's citizens. Sincerely,

INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION OF WISCONSIN,
VOYTA WRABETZ, Chairman.

P. S.-As you know, the executive board of the Wisconsin State Federation of Labor recently wrote each member of Wisconsin's delegation in Congress, urging a speedy return of the Employment Service to State control. A similar position is generally held by Wisconsin employers.

(For comments on this letter, see letter from Wisconsin State Federation of Labor, p. 391 and p. 264.)

MAYORS AND OTHER MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS

COLUMBUS, GA., March 20, 1946.

Senator JAMES MURRAY,

Chairman, Senate Committee on Education and Labor. Reference Murray bill E. 1510 considerable concern arises over pending legislation transferring USES back to States. Present load returning veterans seeking jobs and industrial expansion make imperative need Employment Service remains unified Federal supervision until emergency is over. Your support urged that no change in Employment Service be made now.

Hon. JAMES E. MURRAY,

STERLING ALBRECHT, Mayor, city of Columbus.

FORT LUPTON, COLO., March 7, 1946.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Education and Labor,

Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C.:

The trustees of town of Fort Lupton want USES office located here because we are in center of rich agricultural community. We are exactly half way between Denver and Greeley. We have beet sugar factory, two vegetable canneries, condensed milk plant, and several potato docks, plus numerous smaller business enterprises.

FLOYD E. BALL, Mayor.

MILWAUKEE, Wis., March 20, 1946.

Senator JAMES MURRAY,

Chairman, Senate Committee on Education and Labor,
Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C.:

Urge support of Senate bill 1510. Find it is desirable to make no change until present emergency is over.

JOHN L. BOHN, Mayor of Milwaukee.

Hon. JAMES MURRAY,

SEATTLE, WASH., March 29, 1946.

United States Senate, Washington, D. C.: Understand legislation before Senate which would transfer United States Employment Service activity back to State operation. Feel such transfer would be very unwise at this time in view of tremendous load facing Nation in absorbing veterans and providing employment for others thrown out of work in war industries. This program can best be handled by unified employment policy as now available through United States Employment Service. Transfer to State operation at this time undoubtedly would disrupt and disorganize employment program for considerable period and aggravate and delay speedy placement of unemployed veterans and others. Strongly recommend passage Senate bill 1510 which would carry on present program for balance of emergency period.

WILLIAM S. DEVIN, Mayor of the City of Seattle.

80856-46-pt. 2- -18

RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF DULUTH, MINN., FAVORING ENACTMENT OF SENATE BILL 1510

By Mayor Johnson and Commissioner Peterson:

Whereas there is pending before the Senate Committee on Education and Labor certain legislation having for its object the transfer of United States Employment Service activities back to the States; and

Whereas the large number of returning veterans are entitled as a matter of right to obtain employment as quickly as possible; and

Whereas indications point to immediate and large-scale industrial expansion;

and

Whereas the needs of returning veterans and expanding industry make it imperative to continue such employment service under present unified Federal supervision at least until summer of next year; and

Whereas there is now also pending in the Senate Committee on Education and Labor Senate bill 1510, having for its objective continuance of the present activities of the United States Employment Service: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, by the City Council of the City of Duluth, That it deems it in the best public interest, local as well as national, that the activities of the United States Employment Service be continued, at least until summer of next year, and that the city council highly favors the enactment of Senate bill 1510, or other legislation having a like objective; and

Resolved further, That the city clerk is hereby directed to mail forthwith certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable James Murray, chairman, Senate Committee on Education and Labor; Hon. Henrik Shipstead; Hon. Joseph H. Ball; and Paul V. Betters, executive director, United States Conference of Mayors. Approved:

People of Hendersonville and Henderson County are interested in the United States Employment Service and its program for veterans and urge support of Murray Senate bill No. 1510. The Hendersonville USES office has gained national recognition in their work for war veterans.

The Honorable JAMES MURRAY:

A. V. EDWARDS, Mayor of Hendersonville.

DETROIT, MICH., March 20, 1946.

The common council joins me in urging favorable action on Senate bill 1510 continuing Employment Service under present unified Federal supervision in view of present load of returning veterans.

GEORGE, Acting Mayor of Detroit.

CITY OF ATLANTA, March 25, 1946.

Hon. WALTER F. GEORGE,
Hon. RICHARD B. RUSSELL,

Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C.

DEAR SENATOR GEORGE:

DEAR SENATOR RUSSELL:

Our attention has been called to the Murray bill, S. 1510, which seeks to transfer the United States Employment Service back to the States as of July 1, 1947.

We sincerely hope that you will see fit to support this bill as at present written, which is in line with the President's recommendation.

We have several hundred people in Georgia and over a hundred in Atlanta who are vitally affected by this legislation, and whose only desire is that they be treated fairly, and their interests protected in the transfer.

DEAR SENATOR MURRAY: I am very much interested in the legislation now pending in the Senate concerning the return of the United States Employment Service to the States. It is my strong opinion that it would be disasterous to have this agency separated into 48 individual divisions at this critical time. With scores of thousands of displaced war workers and an everincreasing number of returning veterans still without employment in New Jersey it is imperative that this problem be dealt with on a nation-wide basis.

Senate bill 1510, which provides for the return of the USES to the States on June 30, 1937, should be adopted to meet this emergency. If any modifications of this bill are to be made, it is my earnest plea that at least these provisions be retained:

1. Continuance of Federal operation until at least June 20, 1947;

2. A sound merit system of staff employment and upgrading;

3. The requirement that the States continue in employment all present staff members, whether original State employees or Federal additions;

4. The establishment of minimum Federal standards of operation which each state would be required to meet; and

5. A recapture clause, whereby the Federal Government could take back the Employment Service in any State which did not operate it properly. The disruption which immediate return to the States of this agency at this time would cause would be most unfortunate and foolhardy. This must be avoided.

Assuring you of my appreciation of your consideration of this proposal, I am, Very sincerely yours,

Hon. JAMES E. MURRAY,

FRANK HAGUE, Mayor.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., March 14, 1946.

United States Senate, Washington, D. C.: Regarding proposals before your committee to transfer the United States Employment Service to States I submit the following minimum conditions to be met: (1) Transfer should definitely not be earlier than June 30, 1947; (2) employment status of present employees should be protected; (3) minimum uniform referral standards should be set by Secretary of Labor; (4) guaranty of continuance of operations as provided in section 211 of Senate bill 1510. Since Senate bill 1510 meets all of these requirements I urge its favorable consideration. Mayor HUBERT H. HUMPHREY.

As mayor representing the people of the Asheville area I am strongly in favor of your bill 1510 on the transfer of the Employment Service back to the States. The personnel of this Service deserve the protection your bill contains as a reward for their faithful service during the emergency and reconversion.

Mayor LYONS L. LEE.