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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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forward-looking and progressive. During the interim period between the First World War and '33 there had been a number of cases with regard to the workmen's compensation laws of various states which had come before them. In those cases Mr. Justice Hughes, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Stone, as well as Brandeis and Cardozo, after they became members of the court, had voted in favor of permitting the states to extend their workmen's compensation laws even into territories which had previously been held to involve maritime law, interstate commerce law, and so forth. Also some cases had come before the Supreme Court which had to do with the rigid regulation by the state of the physical conditions of factories, mercantile establishments, which might be in interstate commerce, or might be purely local. The question was as to the right of the state of make such regulations.

I happen to have had one case that involved that question that was extremely important as far as the State of New York was concerned. I had therefore had to participate in the preparation of a case by the Attorney General of the state, and had even come down to assist, although not to take part, those arguing the case to appear properly and well-equipped. In that case the entire court, I think, with two dissenting votes only,





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