I do not believe it is desirable to set up further independent agencies in the Government.  Rather I believe it advisable to entrust the important functions of deciding who shall exercise the privilege of radio transmission and under what conditions, the assigning of wave lengths and determination of power, to a board to be assembled whenever action on such questions becomes necessary.  There should be right of appeal to the courts from the decisions of such board.  The administration of the decisions of the board and the other features of regulation and promotion of radio in the public interest, together with scientific research, should remain in the Department of Commerce.  Such an arrangement makes for more expert, more efficient, and more economical administration that an independent agency or board, whose duties, after initial stages, require but little attention, in which administrative functions are confused with semijudicial functions and from which of necessity there must be greatly increased personnel and expenditure.

THE WAGE EARNER

The great body of our people are made up of wage earners.  Several hundred thousands of them are on the pay rolls of the United States Government.  Their condition very largely is fixed by legislation.  We have recently provided increases in compensation under a method of reclassification and given them the advantage of a liberal retirement system as a support for their declining years.  Most of them are under the merit system, which is a guaranty of their intelligence, and the efficiency of their service is a demonstration of their loyalty.  The Federal Government should continue to set a good example for all other employers.

In the industries the condition of the wage earner has steadily improved.  The 12-hour day is almost entirely unknown.  Skilled labor is well compensated.  But there are unfortunately a multitude of workers who have not yet come to share in the general prosperity of the Nation.  Both the public authorities and private enterprise should be solicitous to advance the welfare of this class.  The Federal Government has been seeking to secure this end through a protective tariff, through restrictive immigration, through requiring safety devices for the prevention of accidents, through the granting of workman’s compensation, through civilian vocational rehabilitation and education, through employment information bureaus, and through such humanitarian relief as was provided in the maternity and infancy legislation.  It is a satisfaction to report that a more general condition of contentment exists among wage earners and the country is more free from labor disputes than it has been for years.  While restrictive immigration has been adopted in part for the benefit of the wage earner, and in its entirety for the benefit of the country, it ought not to cause a needless separation of families and dependents from their natural source of support contrary to the dictates of humanity.