178 UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED STATES
Senator WAGNER. I am trying to preserve State rights; but if we
are to have cooperation between the States at all, this is the only
way we can have it and preserve State rights.
Mr. BacaMaNN. Yes; but you do not say the States have to adopt it.
Senator WAGNER. Absolutely not.
Mr. Bacamann. It is optional with them.
Senator WaaeNER. Yes.
Mr. BacaManN. And if they decide to do it, that is up to the
States, and then the States could not be complaining if the State
legislature decides to go through with that. So you have no con-
stitutional features in here, because they consent to this.
Senator WAGNER. As a matter of fact, I have received communi-
cation after communication from State exchanges all favoring this
legislation. They think it is a great step forward in helping the
placement of workers. Sometimes you have to pick out insignifi-
cant things and make much of them in opposition. A great point
was made that here is the governor of a State who may, without the
consent of the legislature, enter into this agreement. You can take
that provision out, if you like, although I think it should stay in.
In the first place, the governor could not enter into an agreement un-
less the legislature gave him the power to do it, and then only in cases
where the State was not in a position to act, where it has a biennial
session, and this agreement would only last until the session of the
legislature meets. It is provided for, in that kind of case; that is
provided for in all of these Federal-aid bills. Much was made of
that, but it was simply providing for a contingency.
Mr. SumneRrs. Let me ask just this one question, and then I have
no further questions to ask. So far as your general plan with refer-
ence to this legislation is concerned, what you would like to have
and what you propose to do is to leave to the States the responsibility
and power, within their borders, and to provide, through a Federal
agency, a comman agent for the States in dealing with this question,
in so far as the dissemination of information and the shifting of labor
is concerned?
Senator Wagner. From State to State. That is what they call
cooperation in interstate placement.
Mr. SumnEeRrs. That is what vou have in mind and what you are
trying to do?
Senator WAGNER. And that is what I think the bill does, abso-
lutely. This has been scrutinized by many, many people interested
in the subject.
Mr. BacumanN. You want to get this into effect just as soon as
you can?
Senator WAGNER. I really think the Congress is taking a great
responsibility if they do not deal with this subject in this session.
Mr. BacaMaNN. And there is need for this kind of legislation right
now, with the unemployment situation in this countrv?
Senator WAGNER. Absolutely.
Mr. Bacamann. And if Congress saw fit to pass this bill, to enact
it into law, will you tell us how long it would be before it could be put
into operation?
Senator WaeNEr. Well my judgment would not be so good on that.
I think they would go to work at once.
My. Bacaman. Could it be put in operation under six months’
time?
