The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-16
Commission Will Probably Rec
ommend Nom employment
Insurance Also.
TO START INQUIRY HERE
Democrats Minimize Reports
and Say Republicans Make
Capital Of Them.


evil, soon have exact information as TO
unemployed men in the United States.
Announcement was made tonight by
President Wilson's recently appointed in
dustrial commission that. II will imme.
diately undertake an investigation into
conditions Of this character. notably In
New York city. where IL has been esti-
mated that $4,000 men and women arc
now out OF work.
This extraordinary investigation IL TO
be undertaken for the purpose not only
cf asccrtaining the facts but with a view
10 recommending Federal legislation. es-
pecialy a measure establishing n Fed
eyal bureau TO serve as n clearing house
for public and private employment agen-
eiee and to direct the movements OF mi
Hratory workers
This IN a brand new departure in Fed
esal activity and will undoubtedly arouse
spirited discussion in Congress. Presi-
Gent Wilson's industrial commission sug-
ess,s the possibility of system Of In
turance against non employment.
Democratic leaders learned tonight Of
this investigation with great interest.
sene Of them were plainly angry over
the move.
They feared 1t would be seized by the
Republicans to support their contention
that the country is experiencing a ser-
Gus business depression. The Democrats
apparently feared, too. that the results
Of the Investigation might substantiate
the statements that have been made by
Republicans on the floor OF the House
cha; thousands are now out of work.
viewed a. . steady Probiea.
The Industrial Commission itself draws
D narrowing picture of conditions, but
seeks to regard the problem one more
permanently confronting the country than
one that had arisen recently.
In the preface Of the commission bull
lstin this statement is made:
stirred by reports Of $4,000 men and
women out Of work in New York city
alone. the commission has undertaken an
Immediate Investigation looking toward
action by the Federal Government to re-
neve unemployment. During the next six
weeks the activities Of four OF the COM
missions Investigators will be restricted
10 rapid survey Of unemployment In
Industrial centres from Boston to Kansas
City and a critical analysis Of public and
private employment agencies
According to Mrs. ]. Borden Hartman.
who Is a member Of the commission. re-
ports concerning unemployment through
out the country come from the commits
sions field agents.
THE greatest problem to be dealt with
In this connection Is to provide for men
who are engaged in seasonal occupations.
said Mrs. Hartman. "Aiany men are en-
gagged in trades that keep them busy for
stated periods in the year. At other
periods they find II difficult to get en-
ployment along other lines.
The result is that there is often great
suffering among such classes. Present
conditions are not abnormal.
Gays Reports Are LAsgserasea.
Tho reports that appear from time to
Anne relative to the unemployed ana busi-
Sess depression are undoubtedly exag-
gerated Just to what extent they are
exaggerated will be developed In the
course OF our proposed investigation"
Mrs Hartman said that the commits
zion would probably divide into sub-com-
nttees and hold hearings in New York.
Chicago and other large cities The COM
mission will visit also the mining regions
and other places where men are said to
be out Of employment.
The statement was authorized by Frank
y, Walsh. chairman Of the commission
Concerning conditions in New York city
Nc said
Estimates OF charitable organizations
in New York city that $4,000 persons ar
out Of work there will be examined
critically The commission realizes that
present conditions In the labor market
ARE practically the same as In every year
a. this season and that the problem Is a
permanent one.
AS a superficial remedy the commits
sion will gather material for the prepara-
tion of measure establishing Federal
bureau to servo as a clearing house for
public and private agencies and to direct
movements OF migratory workers" the
statement says
Many SeekinS work.
Mr.. Walsh pictured conditions In big in
dustrial centres under the present system
!n this way.
Groups numbering from 100 to 1000
stand outside our great industrial plants
each morning at 0 o'clock hoping the fore
men viii pull them out Of line and put
them to work They are thankful IT. they
get only a few hours work.
Poorly nourished and thinly clad.
these men gather each morning and then
may drift away to the cheap saloons or
cheap lodging houses to wait for any
other chance.
None can see this spectacle without
realizing that II Is something society can
not AFFORD to tolerate. An employer never
tAinks OF laying on his bookkeeper or
clerk after employing him three or four
hours in day or three or four days In a
week
The problem of continuous employ.
ment for laborers 10 more difiicult, but II
- problem that must be solved II we
are to check the increase In our great
srmy Of hopeless. homeless men. II moth
'ns else will avail II may be necessary
to urge insurance against non-employ.
nent"
Chairman Walsh said that Federal con.