New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1916-01-05
Labor Departments Service toLobor

Labor Departments Servlce toLobor
The third annual report of the Federal
Department of Labor shows definite
progress toward solution of the unem-
ployed problem. 1t has shown how
Congress may confer upon the Depart
ment power to put plan into operation
which will make it possible for every one
desiring profitable employment to get it.
The first steps in this plan involve no
interference with existing property rights.
So not even the most reactionary Con-
gressman-unless willing to frankly con-
TESS himself opposed to relief of the in
dustrial situation-need sacrifice prin-
ciple to give the Department the help
which it asks.
Whatever can be done to find jobs for
the unemployed with the power it al
ready has, the Department is doing.
Through system OF labor exchanges it
is getting jobless men to whatever man
less jobs there happen to be. Even in
this work it is handicapped by insufficient
appropriations. Congress has given the
War and Navy Departments liberal
appropriations to publish alluring help
wanted advertisements for the Army
and Navy: But it has been niserly in
providing the Labor Department with
funds to make known to men desiring
useful work, where jobs might be await
ing them. In spite of this difficulty the
Department had $4,000 applications for
work from May to October of the current
years, and found places for 81 900. That
left surplus of $1,000 willing workers
for whom no jobs could be found. It is
clear that the labor exchange, while a
convenience and necessity, is not the
solution of the problem. The Depart
ment recognizes this fact and urges more
action.
The department finds in the public
lands to which the Government still
holds title the opportunity to abolish
involuntary unemployment. For this
purpose the homestead Laws are not
sufficient. The rapid concentration OF
land ownership, where these free home
steads were given to the settlers, and in
crease of tenantrY show clearly enough
that there was something wrong with
that method of disposal. The depart
ment urges therefore that the Govern
ment retain title to remaining public
lands, while opening them TIA, the I'M
Land tenures should be so
regulated as to ensure to the occupant
the entire product of his labor, but in
dation of land values must be prevented.
AS is truly stated in the Departments
reportS "Wherever imitation of land
values might enter in, the proposed
method Of promoting labor distribution
would be obstructed-''
Anticipating the objection that many
of the unemployed would not know how
to use these opportunities, the Labor
Department suggests cooperation by
the Department Of Agriculture, which
maintains bureau for instruction of
agricultural workers. And it further
suggests creation of fund to help the
workers with loans. The Department
also calls attention to the vast amount
of privately owned land withheld from
use, and suggests the possibility of Sc
curing some of this later when the
widening scope of the plan shall require
it. Once started on the right road it: is
only question of keeping on.
1t took more than AZ years of agitation
to secure the creation of the Department
of Labor. It has been established les:
than three years, and has already demon
strated it's value. In finding practica
and conservative but fundamental way
to deal with the unemployed problem i
has performed service Of greater wortl
than any that could be performed by tn
other Departments. 1t now remain
for Congress to grant authority to pu
the plan in operation. This should b
promptly given.-The Public.
IMPROVEMENTS AT DAKOTA