The Washington times., 1915-12-16
"ROTARY FUND" TO
PUT JOBLESS MEN
ON FARMS IS URGED
Secretary Of Labor Wilson Out.
lines Plans For Homesteads
On Public Domain.

A proposal to convert tho public do
main into homesteads for the unefn-
ployed, and to have the Government
finance the farmers, is the solution OF
the unemployment problem recommend
ed in the annual report of Secretary OF
Labor Wilson made public today.
The Secretary would not only convert
the present farming lands held by the
Government to this use, but he would
have the Government recover lands 1t
formerly owned that they might be utll-
ized for this purpose.
In financing the ''joblcss men," in
farming operations, the Secretary would
go a step farther than rural credits. He
makes the novel suggestion that the
Government create by appropriation a
Rotary fund" for lending purposes.
Money from this fund would be lent to
the new farmers to purchase farm ma
chinery and equipment and an educa-
ton in agriculture. 1t is called a 'ro-
tary fund" because 1t IL contemplated
to use 1t over and over again and main
tain II by repayment Of loans. That Is.
as fast as one man became established
and paid his debt. the money could be
lent to another.
These loans" the Secretary declares.
could be safeguarded. without COM
mercial collateral. by resting them upon,
credit-ability1 opportunity. and char
acter-and by establishing in connection
with them system Of community cred
its adapted to the circumstances"
unemployment problem, md covers 1t
at great length in his report. After re-
viewing the accomplishments of his de-
partment in the past. in finding employ
! ll1 In hn I'M 1o
for a total of 26,33S men. the Secretary
makes another novel suggestion.
lin proposed personally conducted va
cations for unemployed men. to and
that when the harvest help demand Is
met from outside by unemployed men
| these men have nothing to do when the
| harvest Is over.
less Jobs for 'job!ess men, Any ef-
= fcient public employment service of a
national character must go beyond that.
! Unless i does. "manless jobs" giving
out while 1obless men" remain. the
causes of involuntary unemployment
VIII continue to express themselves to
the great prejudice of the wageworkers rs
OF the United States. and consequently
tc the harm Of all industrial interests.
There is still another essintial con.
dition. Equipment for farming and ed
Jcation in farming. as well as a place
for farming. are needed. All three
| however could be met by an aDpropri.
| ate unification Of some of the activi.
ties of the Departments Of the Interior
Of Agriculture and Of Labor.
Pursuant to such unifcation. Con.
Sress might provide a rotary fund
the report says.
| by their educational processes tho
Departments of Interior and Of Agri
culture could make efficient farmers oi
inexperienced but otherwise competent
workers seeking that vocation" con
| tinues the report.
The difficulties Of maintain the depart
ment's quarters in the Mills buildine
are pointed out in the report. Owners o
the building ask a rental OF $4,000 =
year. and only $4,000 a year for fv,
years Is allowed by Congress. Othel
quarters could not be found. and, a.
the department has moved twice. {
compromise was reached whereby tn.
Mills building Is to be occupied fo
the year. the department making Ger
tain repoirs. The furniture and work
ing equipment of the depa rtment it II
declared, are old and insufficient, caus
ing frequent embarre ssmept