72D CONGRESS 1st Session } SENATE { REPORT PROTECTION OF UNION LABELS AND SIMILAR INSIGNIA IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA JANUARY 7 (calendar day, JANUARY 9), 1932.-Ordered to be printed Mr. GORE, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 2173] The Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill (S. 2173) to authorize associations of employees in the District of Columbia to adopt a device to designate the products of the labor of their members, to punish illegal use or imitation of such device, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass. The purpose of the bill is to extend to labor unions and employees' organizations in the District of Columbia the same protection afforded by many of the States to the labels designating the products of such organizations' labor. The United States Patent Office has informed local union officials that the union label could not be protected as a trade-mark, because the unions did not own the material to which the label would be attached. The present bill would cause the registration of such labels in the District Supreme Court and would provide penalties for fraud, counterfeiting, or other infringement of the unions' right to the label. The labels are used through a trade agreement between unions and manufacturers employing union labor. The committee learned from representatives of the American Federation of Labor that the State laws protecting union labels have been sustained by the courts. The District Commissioners have approved the bill, and the District corporation counsel addressed the committee in support of the measure. The committee knows of no objection to passage of this legislation. The commissioners' letter is appended hereto as part of this report. COMMISSIONERS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Hon. ARTHUR Capper, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. SIR: The Commissioners of the District of Columbia beg to advise you that they know of no objections to the passage of Senate bill 2173, Seventy-second Congress, first session, entitled "A bill to authorize associations of employees in the District of Columbia to adopt a device to designate the products of the labor of their members, to punish illegal use or imitation of such device, and for other purposes," which you referred to them for report as to the merits of the bill and the propriety of its passage. This bill provides for the registration of trade-marks for articles made by unions or associations and is probably a protection and distinction for labor union goods. If the goods are the property of the unions, the trade-mark can be registered under the laws relating to trade-marks. If the goods belong to the individual members, and not to the unions, the trade-mark can not be registered by the union, as it would then become a mark of service and not of the goods. Very truly yours, L. H. REICHElderfer, President. JANUARY 7 (calendar day, JANUARY 9), 1932.-Ordered to be printed Mr. VANDENBERG, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 556] The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 556) to extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Elk River at or near Kelso, Tenn., have considered the same and report thereon with an amendment, and as so amended, recommend that the bill do pass. The bill thus amended has the approval of the Departments of War and Agriculture, as will appear by the annexed communications, the amendment referred to therein having been incorporated in the bill as reported, and which is as follows: Line 9, strike out the figures "1931", and insert in lieu thereof the figures "1932". WAR DEPARTMENT, December 18, 1931. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Commerce, United States Senate. So far as the interests committed to this department are concerned, I know of no objection to the favorable consideration of the accompanying bill (S. 556, 72d Cong., 1st sess.) to extend the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Elk River at or near Kelso, Tenn., if amended as indicated in red thereon. PATRICK J. HURLEY, SR-72-1-VOL 1- -9 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Hon. HIRAM W. JOHNSON, Chairman Committee on Commerce, United States Senate. DEAR SENATOR: Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of December 15 transmitting a copy of a bill (S. 556) with request that the committee be furnished with such suggestions touching its merits and the propriety of its passage as the department might deem appropriate. This bill would extend for one and three years, respectively, from January 31, 1931, the times for commencing and completing the construction of a bridge across the Elk River, on the Fayetteville-Winchester Road near the town of Kelso, Lincoln County, Tenn., authorized by an act of Congress approved January 31, 1931, to be built by the Tennessee Highway Department. The location indicated for the proposed bridge is on the system of Federal-aid highways approved for Tennessee. The bill is without objection so far as this department is concerned. Sincerely yours, R. W. DUNLAP, Acting Secretary. O JANUARY 7 (calendar day, JANUARY 9), 1932.-Ordered to be printed Mr. VANDENBERG, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the following REPORT [To accompany S. 201] The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 201) granting the consent of Congress to the State of South Carolina to construct, maintain, and operate a bridge across the Waccamaw River, having considered the same, report favorably thereon, and recommend that the bill do pass without amendment. The bill has the approval of the Departments of War and Agriculture, as will appear by the annexed communications. WAR DEPARTMENT, December 18, 1931. Respectfully returned to the chairman Committee on Commerce, United States Senate. So far as the interests committed to this department are concerned, I know of no objection to the favorable consideration of the accompanying bill (S. 201, 72d Cong., 1st sess.) granting the consent of Congress to the State of South Carolina to construct a bridge across the Waccamaw River. PATRICK J. HURLEY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Hon. HIRAM W. JOHNSON, Chairman Committee on Commerce, United States Senate. DEAR SENATOR: Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of December 14, transmitting a copy of a bill (S. 201) with request that the committee be furnished with such suggestions touching its merits and the propriety of its passage as the department might deem appropriate. |