The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-11-09
CITY TO PROVIDE LABOR
FOR UNEMPLOYED men;
LEEDS SUGGESTS PLANS
Leeds Plan
to Help the
Unemployed
To Mayor William J. Robbins and AL
fred A. Bavis, President OF the
Board of Public Works:


Board of Public Works:
Pursuant to your wishes as expressed
following the talks l had with each of
you concerning Richmond's problem of
unemployed men and the best methods
of procuring improvements of value
for the community to provide work for
such during the coming winter, as
we'll as next year, should the present
period of hard times" last that long,
and in accordance with our agreement
that this should not be proposed un-
til after the election, so that no charge
of playing politics" might attach to 1t,
l submit the following plan.
l postulate the cause of the present
stagnation of industry as due to under
consumption. The policy of retrench-
ment, or cutting down in their pur-
chases and laying off men, started by
the railroads of the nation, first di-
rectly affected those industries that
cater to the requirements OF the rail-
roads; thence it has spread until prac-
tically all the industries of the country
are affected and millions Of men are
out of work Without work these men
can not help produce the annual
wealth of the nation, their share OF
which enables them to maintain their
consumptive power.
Investors are Timid.
At a time like this when investors
are unreasonably timid in performing
their allotted function of buying the
securities of the private units of in
dustry, it is not only the duty OF, but
the best business policy for the va
rious units of government to step into
| the breach. They should relieve the
situation by using their credit, which
| is always good with the investing class
since it's stability rests on the broad
| foundation of the taxing power. to
greatly increase the number of public
| improvements and thus through Great
\ ing work of value to the community
provide employment for those temper
arily without it.
| AS long as the city of Richmond ex-
! lists, it must have certain amount
of repair work done every year to its
streets, alleys, parks and public build
| ings as we'll as add to its civic pos
sessions At this time when all other
kinds of work are scarce, let our city
increase the amount of repair work
and new construction over what II
would ordinarily do. Let it. If neces-
sary, during this winter and the next
year do the repairs and new con-
struction that would ordinarily be done
in the next two or three or even five
years.
Materials Sell Low.
All kinds of materials are selling
Hover now than they have in years.
and the city. by now anticipating its
needs and wants for the next several
years, can repair and build cheaper
than in years past and in years TO
come. Therefore, it will represent an
actual saving to the taxpayers and cit
liens of Richmond if this is done now.
Besides. this will provide needed
work for Richmond's unemployed. now
some 1900 strong, and number that
will probably increase rather than de-
crease.
Richmond doesn't want "soup
houses" 1t doesn't want to degrade It
self or it's self-respecting laborers by
using such horrible expedients to tide
over these hard times" The sensl-
BILE. practical and businesslike propo-
sition is to provide public work enough
to give those out of employment so
that they can earn money with which
to support themselves.
In this way the consuming power or
Richmond's citizens will least be inter
ferred with and the funds will be AT
hand with which to meet rents, gro
cery, clothing. coal, medical. etc. bills,
and thus contribute to maintaining the
prosperity of all classes of our cltl-
Zens.
city's Credit Good.
The city's credit is good. 1t can
borrow approximately $145.O0O before
arriving at the constitutional debt linn
it. Besides this it has the additional
borrowing capacity allowed 1t under
the Barrett law for improvements dl
rectly beneftting property owners
AS to the detailed plan of managing
this proposition without making a bur
den greater than the administration
can handle, | submit the following out
line, which depends upon enough pub
Ilic spirited citizens being willing to
donate a portion OF their time to help
ing their city and their fellow beings
who are without work:
I. Executive Committee-Consis
of seven members, the mayor and
president of the board Of public works
and five citizens appointed by the
mayor. This committee to arrange fol
financing the proposition and be i'll
charge of the work of the other com
mittees suggested.
!. u Employment Bureau Committee
Five members, sufficient clerical
help, to list all unemployed applying
for work according to trades. Also
to keep in touch with all employers
of labor and try to place as many as
possible of those desiring work with
them: otherwise, keeping the various
city departments that are supplying
work supplied with the balance.
To Suggest Repairs.
III. Public Improvement Committed
Three members. to suggest street.
that should be permanently improved
, and other permanent improvements
and to see resident property owner.
and to secure their active co-opera
. ton.
~. Rent and Eviction Committee
: Five members, to cooperate with land
lords and help secure reasonable term.
, in the collection of rents. and where
ever possible to prevent evictions. Ii
, the case of evicted tenants Of goot
J character and habits to find landlord!
: whose properties are vacant who vii
: rent to such, preferring to have some
: one in their properties in the capacit,