Appropriation Bill for 1947 HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS SEVENTY-NINTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR-FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY PART 1 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION COMMISSION NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD NATIONAL RAILROAD ADJUSTMENT BOARD RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD Printed for the use of the Committee on Appropriations Appropriation Bill for 1947 HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS SEVENTY-NINTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR-FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS CLARENCE CANNON, Missouri, Chairman LOUIS LUDLOW, Indiana JAMIE L. WHITTEN, Mississippi HERMAN P. KOPPLEMANN, Connecticut MATTHEW M. NEELY, West Virginia EDWARD A. KELLY, Illinois JOHN TABER, New York RICHARD B. WIGGLESWORTH, Massachuset FRANCIS H. CASE, South Dakota H. CARL ANDERSEN, Minnesota JOHN C. PUGH, Clerk DEPARTMENT OF LABOR-FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY APPROPRIATION BILL FOR 1947 HEARINGS CONDUCTED BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, IN CHARGE OF THE LABOR DEPARTMENT-FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY APPROPRIATION BILL FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1947, ON THE DAYS FOLLOWING: DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1946. STATEMENTS OF HON. LEWIS B. SCHWELLENBACH, SECRETARY OF LABOR; JOHN W. GIBSON, SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY; AND JAMES E. DODSON, CHIEF CLERK AND BUDGET OFFICER GENERAL STATEMENT Mr. HARE. We meet today for the purpose of considering the justifications of the requested appropriations for the Department of Labor. We have with us the Secretary of Labor, Mr. Schwellenbach. I assume, Mr. Secretary, you would like to make a general statement outlining the activities of your Department for the past year and the program for 1947? Secretary SCHWELLENBACH. I understand, Mr. Chairman, that is the custom. Mr. HARE. We shall be glad to hear you. Secretary SCHWELLENBACH. This is the first time I have appeared before an appropriation committee and it is a new experience for me. As you know, I came to the Department on the 1st of July, last year. NEED FOR CONSOLIDATION OF LABOR FUNCTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT The situation in reference to the Department prior to that time, and partially at the present time, was that most of the labor functions of the Government had been, not removed, but through other devices, placed in other departments of Government. I had the feeling then and I still have the feeling that the functions of dealing with labor should be lodged in the Department of Labor. During the war we had, very definitely, the handling of labor disputes, to a great extent in the National War Labor Board which, in my opinion, did a very remarkable job, considering the difficulties with which it was confronted. However, it did result in the functions of the Department being very much limited insofar as labor disputes were concerned. 1 |