New York State Joint Legislative Committee Hearing Transcripts, 1928
Collection Number: 5374
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Cornell University Library
DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Title:
New York State Joint Legislative Committee Hearing Transcripts, 1928
Repository:
Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation & Archives
Collection Number:
5374
Abstract:
Transcript of the hearings of the New York State Legislature Joint Legislative Committee
on Industrial and Labor Conditions from July, September, and October of 1928.
Creator:
New York State Joint Legislative Committee
Quanitities:
0.33 cubic feet
Language:
Collection material in English
A joint legislative committee was established by a concurrent resolution in both houses
of the New York State Legislature to inquire into manufacturing and labor conditions
was established on February 25, 1926. Senator James C Truman was named chairman and
Henry D. Sayer served as counsel and executive secretary of the committee.
The committee held hearings on the operations of the State Department of Labor, the
Bureau of Workmen's Compensation, the State Placement Service and the efforts of state
and New York City officials to regulate private employment agencies.
On January 23, 1928 Governor Alfred E. Smith appointed Lindsay Rogers, Professor
of Public Law and Government at Columbia University the thirty-third Moreland Commissioner
to investigate the operations of the State Department of Labor and the Bureau of Workmen's
Compensation Insurance. It was Governor Smith's opinion that the Joint Committee was
being used by the Republican Legislature in an attempt to discredit a Democratic governor.
The Moreland Act of 1907 was an attempt by the proponents of good government to prevent
special interests from influencing public policy. The act gave the Governor power
to investigate the activities and administration of any department, bureau or division
of the state. Although the funds were appropriated by the Legislature, disbursement
was to be at the direction of the governor, who was given all the power possible under
the Constitution to institute and carry out such inquiries as he deemed important.
When the Legislature learned of Roger's appointment it asserted that Governor Smith
sought to "white wash" his Administration of these departments and extended the life
of its Committee to March 12, 1928 and later to March 1, 1929. A split between Senate
Assembly Republicans, however, also produced a resolution instructing the Committee
to cooperate with the Moreland Commissioner.
Rogers presented his report on the first and fifteenth of June,1928. The Chairman
of the Committee, James C. Truman asserted in an open letter on the twenty-seventh
that Rogers gave the impression that all was well in the Department of Labor, although
he had found as much mismanagement as the Legislative Committee. Rogers was invited
to appear before the Committee to discuss the activities of the Department and his
suggestions for reform. Rogers submitted his final report on December 1, 1928.
In the meantime, on May 28, 1928, the Supreme Court of the United States decided
in the case of Rebnik vs. McBride (277 U. S. 350) that, while the state had the power
to license and regulate the business of an employment agent, it was not affected with
a public interest so as to allow the state to fix charges for the service.
This collection consists of a transcript of the hearings of the New York State Legislature
Joint Legislative Committee on Industrial and Labor Conditions from July, September,
and October of 1928. Hearings were held on July 10 and 31; September 11 and 12; and
October 9, 10, 23, and 24, 1928. 1,000 pages (numbered 4,686 to 5,686) plus indices
of witnesses, typescript, carbon.
Access to the collections in the Kheel Center is restricted. Please contact a reference
archivist for access to these materials.
This collection must be used in keeping with the Kheel Center Information Sheet and
Procedures for Document Use.
INFORMATION FOR USERS
New York State Joint Legislative Committee Hearing Transcripts #5374. Kheel Center
for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, Cornell University Library.
Names:
New York (State). Legislature. Joint Legislative Committee on Industrial and Labor
Conditions
Subjects:
Industrial relations -- New York (State)
CONTAINER LIST
|
Container
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Description
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Date
|
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| Box 1 | Folder 1 |
Transcript of hearings
|
1928 |