have been concerned—as I know you have been—by the atmosphere
which has prevailed in Washington during the past year. I am in-
deed grateful that Maryland has escaped the existence of such an
atmosphere at the state level. Nevertheless, as a result of events in
Washington, labor and management now find themselves operating
under new legislation—the Landrum-Griffin Act. This Act, among
other things, gives the states new powers to move into labor contro-
versies in intrastate commerce which the National Labor Relations
Board does not wish to review. Under the old Taft-Hartley Law,
this area was called a "no man's land. "
As a result of this new area of state jurisdiction and other recent
changes in national labor relations, I believe that the time has come
to conduct a comprehensive review of our existing state labor legis-
lation, I believe that we should study our labor laws in order to
ascertain what amendments or improvements should now be made.
To accomplish this, I propose to appoint a committee to examine
this entire field. I shall ask the committee to make recommendations
to the General Assembly.
I would like to ask the officers of this organization to suggest to
me, as soon as possible, names of individuals whom they believe
would make a helpful contribution to this committee as representa-
tives of organized labor. I would like to appoint this committee in
the very near future, and propose that they bring in their recom-
mendations as quickly as possible.
In closing, I want to repeat once more how grateful I am to have
the opportunity to be here today, and to re-affirm what you already
know—that organized labor in the State of Maryland can always count
on fair and honorable treatment from this Administration.
ADDRESS, DEDICATION OF NEW EMPLOYMENT
SECURITY BUILDING - BALTIMORE
January 12, I960
We have met here today to dedicate the third and final structure
in the State's office-building program in Baltimore.....
Events of the past two years have placed a spotlight on the De-
partment of Employment Security and the great value it renders to
the citizens of the State. Perhaps never before in the twenty-two
year history of the payment of unemployment insurance benefits in
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