Various estimates have been made which indicate there are about 30 million people with varying types of physical handicaps in this country. These 30 million are being added to, less, of course, the deaths, to the extent of about a quarter of a million a year. When we mention physical disabilities, we refer not only to people with visible handicaps, visible physical limitations, but to the people with invisible handicaps, the heart cases, the epilepsy cases, hernia, tuberculosis, back and spinal problems, multiple sclerosis, hearing difficulties, and many other things which all come into this broad classification. When this activity first started 10 years ago, our approach was to the emotional reaction in the people. Today we have demonstrated, I think, by the activities of the Committee, and all of the people all over the country who have joined in this work, where it has now reached a point where everybody realizes that it is good business to employ physically handicapped people. NEED TO STIMULATE LOCAL ACTIVITY The main part of the job we have is to stimulate local activity. We do nothing whatever actually in placing anybody, any handicapped person, in a job. We get a good deal of mail, which is referred to proper agencies of the States and the Federal Government in trying to help people who write us to obtain employment, although we do not encourage that particular act. We have 53 State and Territorial so-called governor's committees, 1 for each of the 48 States, the District of Columbia and the 4 Territories. We have any number of local committees. All of this work, of course, is a local matter, because that is where the prospective employee lives and that is where the job is. We only exist insofar as we hope to point out through employer organizations, through employer groups themselves, through employee groups, through union officers and unions, and all other points of influence, including Government branches, Government bureaus, Government divisions and departments at all levels, Federal, State and local, the desirability of providing opportunities for people with physical limitations. We feel that the amount asked for this year should be granted. Roughly 50 percent of our total request of $197,575 is in the form of pay. About 23 or 24 percent of it is in travel and printing, reproduction and other contractual services, amount to something like $40,000, or a little over 20 percent. We laid down a schedule this year which we feel would carry on and enable us to enlarge a little bit on some of the cooperation that we try to give to the governors and to the local committees. RESTORATION REQUESTED Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I hope that you will reconsider this small cut of $15,000, and that we may have it restored to the budget. Also, I point out that we exist in the Labor Department more or less on squatter's rights. We are not actually a part of the Labor Department, except for housing and bookkeeping purposes. In that instance, to carry through with the action that was taken on the House floor of reducing a certain budget in the Labor Department, one of the bureaus or divisions of the Labor Department, by several thousand dollars, and specifying that this amount granted to the President's Committee was in addition to that, means that the $15,000 taken from the Bureau of Labor Standards would impose a burden on that division by reason of our simply being domiciled there. They are two separate propositions. BUDGET SITUATION Senator HILL. Your funds are carried, are they not, in the budget item for the Bureau of Labor Standards? Mr. BUNTING. That is correct. But simply as a matter of housekeeping. Senator HILL. I understand. You are separate from them and operate independently, but as a matter of housekeeping your funds are in that budget item, is that correct? Mr. BUNTING. That is true. Senator HILL. Any questions, Senator Dworshak? Senator DwORSHAK. I would like to know whether there is any noticeable change in employers toward employment of physically handicapped. Are you making any progress toward a more understanding approach to this problem? Mr. BUNTING. It is very widespread. It is very encouraging. Of course, in my past connections, I have had a pretty good opportunity to observe it. One of the problems we do face, and which we are trying to find a way to solve, has to do with presidents and chairmen of boards, and directors of companies saying, "This is a wonderful thing and we will do it" and then you run into foremen, supervisors, and personnel directors who have certain other obligations to the companies. At that point we commence to have frictions. That is the point we are really trying to accumulate the information on so that the foremen and supervisors, the employment directors, the pre-employment examination procedures, which are employed in many instances, will prove to be helpful instead of retarding measures. I have, Mr. Chairman, in addition to the other material, some printed documents which you may or may not have time to use. Senator HILL. You may leave that with the committee. That will be very fine. Will you tell the General, please, that we are sorry he could not be with us, but we understood fully why he could not be. We are glad to have had you. We shall certainly give careful consideration to his letter, and to his testimony, as well as to your testimony, sir. We are much obliged to you. Mr. BUNTING. Thank you, sir. Senator HILL. The committee will stand in recess now until 10 o'clock in the morning. (Whereupon, at 12:07 p. m., Monday, April 8, 1957, the committee recessed, to reconvene at 10 a. m., Tuesday, April 9, 1957.) LABOR-HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE TUESDAY, APRIL 9, 1957 UNITED STATES SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met at 10 a. m., pursuant to recess, in room F-82, the Capitol, Hon. Lister Hill (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Senators Hill, Pastore, Thye, Dworshak, and Potter. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY STATEMENTS OF JAMES E. DODSON, ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT, SECRETARY OF LABOR; AND J. ERNEST WILKINS, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF LABOR APPROPRIATION ESTIMATE Salaries and expenses: For expenses necessary for the Office of the Secretary of Labor (hereafter in this title referred to as the Secretary), including [the conduct of a program of promoting employment of the older worker, and including services as authorized by section 15 of the Act of August 2, 1946 (5 U. S. C., 55a); teletype news service;] payment in advance when authorized by the Secretary for dues or fees for library membership in organizations whose publications are available to members only or to members at a price lower than to the general public; and [not to exceed $4,000 for the purchase of one passenger motor vehicle for replacement only; $1,751,000, of which not more than $154,490 shall be for international labor affairs] purchase of uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by the Act of September 1, 1954, as amended 45 U. S. C. 2131); $1,619,000. Deletions JUSTIFICATION OF LANGUAGE CHANGES 1. The phrase "including the conduct of a program of promoting employment of the older worker," has been omitted because the planning phase of the program has been completed and the 1958 budget proposes funds for carrying on an operating program be appropriated direct to the Bureau of Employment Security and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The omitted language has not been inserted into the appropriation language of the two Bureaus mentioned, because it is our opinion that the execution and servicing of such a program is inherent in their normal functions and requires no specific authorization. 2. The phrase “and including services as authorized by section 15 of the act of August 2, 1946 (5 U. S. C. 55a)" has been omitted as a specific attribute of individual appropriations to the Department and added as a general provision applicable to all appropriations. 3. The provisions for teletype news service has been deleted from this appropriation and inserted in the language establishing a revolving fund under the proposed new appropriation structure for the Department. 4. The provision "and not to exceed $4,000 for the purchase of 1 passenger motor vehicle for replacement only" has been omitted since it has served its purpose during the current fiscal year and there is no need for perpetuation. 5. It is proposed to omit the phrase "of which not more than $154,490 shall be for international labor affairs" as being unduly restrictive of operations within a single appropriation. There has been a definite and constructive trend in the last decade to break away from line-item budgeting and dollar limitations. There must be a certain amount of flexibility within a single appropriation to meet unforeseeable circumstances. Without this flexibility, incongruous, organizational situations can arise which defy solution and must be permitted to endure until relief is afforded by the next suceeding fiscal year's appropriation. The Department, therefore, regards this limitation inharmonious with modern advancements toward efficiency in budgeting and administration. Additions The phrase "including purchase of uniforms or allowances therefor as authorized by the act of September 1, 1954 (65 Stat. 1114), as amended" is inserted to reinstate the availability of this appropriation for the purpose stated as originally provided for in the fiscal 1956 version by section 1501 of the Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1956 (Public Law 219, 84th Cong.). It was inadvertently omitted for fiscal 1957 thus depriving the Department of the authority which other Departments have to purchase replacement uniforms for its chauffeurs during the current fiscal year. Summary of new positions Office of Administrative Assistant Secretary: 1 GS-12 organization and methods examiner.. Office of International Labor Affairs: 1 GS-17 Deputy Assistant Secretary. 1 GS-11 ILO Operating Officer--- 1 GS-4 Junior administrative assistant_. 2 GS-14 area specialists.. 1 GS- 5 secretary Office of Personnel Administration: 1 GS- 9 Classifier 1 GS- 7 Classifier 1 GS-12 Placement Officer__ 1 GS- 5 Processing clerk____ The library: 2 GS 7 cataloger 1 GS- 5 cataloger 3 GS- 3 clerk typist-- Office of Defense Mobilization: 2 GS-12 mobilization specialist_- EFFECT OF HOUSE ACTION Activity No. 1. Executive direction and program coordination The full amount requested of $620,055 for 57 positions was allowed by the House. This is an increase of $56,355 over 1957 revised base. This increase includes $48,785 for mandatory items and $7,570 for one position for the management improvement program of the Administrative Assistant Secretary and for a greater volume of budget work required in connection with new legislative proposals. Activity No. 2. International labor affairs The House allowed an increase of $24,975 for mandatory items and denied an increase of $51,815 and 5 positions for program expansion This program reduction will prevent the Department from: (a) Following the labor developments in countries of regions of the world such as Latin America, Africa, and the Near East. Because of the far-reaching influence of workers and worker organizations in the political life and economic development of a country, it is essential that the United States be thoroughly informed on the activities and attitudes of these workers as United States foreign policy is developed and day-to-day actions are taken. The world is still in the process of testing the fitness of political systems and the validity of political philosophies. This country needs to know about Communist activity among workers in other countries. Its significance must be appraised and proposals for dealing with it must be developed. Area specialists in the Department analyze developments and provide information and advice to the Department of State which is considered along with other information and advice in developing policy and in determining day-to-day action. Without the additional staff the Government may be without expert analyses of labor developments in areas of the world. (b) From improving service to employers and workers in their participation in the ILO. United States employers have voted to participate in the ILO during 1957. Future participation to be dependent upon improvements made in certain activities of the ILO. Only a small part of the increase is requested to service the ILO function. The Departments of Labor, Commerce, and State have a program to improve United States participation in the ILO. Additional staff are needed to do the job. (c) The Department also requested additional funds to improve the executive direction and administration of international labor programs. The Assistant Secretary needs assistance because of his far-reaching responsibilities for liaison with employer and worker groups; his responsibilty for policy advice to key people in the Department of State and because of his extensive responsibilities for representing the United States in conferences outside the country. In addition the House restored to the appropriation language a dollar ceiling on the amount of the appropriation which could be spent for international labor affairs. Apart from the fact that the House limitation of $170,000 is less than the amount allowed of $184,465, inclusion of a dollar ceiling destroys flexibility to meet emergency fiscal requirements during the fiscal year. Flexibility within an appropriation is essential to efficient operations to meet unforseeable circumstances. In any event, the dollar ceiling should be consistent with the amount allowed in the budget. Activity No. 3. Central administrative services The total increase requested for this activity is $128,445. The House action permits an increase of $101,945. This will allow mandatory items of $41,110 and 14 positions of $60,835. It denies 5 positions and $26,500. This has the following effect: (a) For personnel activities we requested 4 new positions and $17,615. We can allocate $13,060 for 3 positions and lose 1 job of $4,655. The loss of $4,655 will retard our efforts to adequately handle personnel services required by the Bureaus. (b) For library services we requested 6 new positions and $25,435. We can allocate 5 positions of $16,675 but we lose 1 position at $3,760 and $5,000 to buy necessary books to add to the library. This loss of $8,760 will hamper our efforts to reduce catalog backlog and to keep our library current on books and periodicals. (c) For publications, reports, and informational services we requested 6 new positions and $33,935. We can allocate 4 positions and $24,370. We lose 2 positions and $9,565. Denial of the full amount requested will impede the Secretary's efforts to develop the type of publications and to expand dissemination of materials to inform workers, management, and others of matters of concern to improvement of the welfare of wage earners. (d) For budget and fiscal activities we requested 3 positions and $10,350. We can allocate 2 positions and $6,730 and we lose 1 position at $3,620. Denial of the full amount requested will impede our efforts to establish better cost accounts control for the working capital fund program. Activities No. 4. Defense mobilization affairs The House allowed $50,000 of the request for $275,000. The amount allowed is to cover nonrecurring rental and maintenance costs of space at the Department's relocation site to house a nucleus staff to perform a variety of essential functions necessary to continuity of the Department in the event of an emergency. The amount of $225,000 not allowed will prevent the Department from (a) developing, for emergency use, appropriate and effective wage and salary stabilization programs essential to economic stabilization in times of an emergency. (b) to develop ways and means to assure ability to supply manpower resources to meet production requirements of military and essential civilian assumption, (c) to maintain an accurate and up-to-date standby list of skills critical to mobil |