Home
Search transcripts:    Advanced Search
Notable New     Yorkers
Select     Notable New Yorker

Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
Photo Gallery
Transcript

Part:         Session:         Page of 731

The Industrial Commissioner did not sit with the Board. He had no vote on the rules and regulations. He had no vote on the codes that were adopted. He had no vote on any Workmen's Compensation case.

It was not a bad idea. It was a rather good idea. The Civil Service Commission in Washington, in our reorganized capacity, operates that way. It has only been since last year (1951) that we were reorganized that way. That was my contribution to the Hoover Commission. My experience in New York had been that this was a very good way to divide the responsibilities and to let the operating function move along quickly without having to consult three people every time you're going to buy a new kind of paper.

Hamilton was a total flop. Higgins resigned after one term and the Governor appointed me as Chairman. Over my protest I think the Governor reappointed Hamilton. At any rate, before Higgins resigned even, and certainly after I became Chairman, the Governor looked to me to develop the budget for the Department. That was totally improper. Hamilton was the executive officer, but he couldn't do it and he couldn't present it. The people in the Department couldn't get the budget into his head. He would run away, hide, and play sick. He was sick - psychosomatic. I'm





© 2006 Columbia University Libraries | Oral History Research Office | Rights and Permissions | Help