Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-11-29
M'NICHOLS ASKS
PROMPT MOVES
Would Have Public Work
Started at Earliest Posi-
BILE Moment Nowadays

An early start on contemplated
improvements. municipal and indus
trial, now that the war is over, re-
strictions have been removed and
there will be men seeking work, Is
asked in letters sent to Industrial
concerns, cities, counties and Dor
oughs by Walter McNichols, Acting
Commissioner of Labor and Industry
of Pennsylvania.
According to a report made to
Commissioner McNichols by j. Her
man Knisely, chief of the Bureau OF
Municipalities of the Department OF
Labor and Industry. there are. at the
present time, twenty-five third class
cities in Pennsylvania capable OF
floating loans for public improve
ments without exceeding their DOR
rowing capacity of seven per cent.
on their assessed valuations. dar-
risburg is one of them.
In addition TO those twenty-five
cities. it is believed that the new
assessments of realty valuations Tor
all third-class cities may so increase
lnblf nOIIONlllS "a pelNAblNS NA't"N
third-class cities in Pennsylvania
NAV be able to float loans for pub
lie improvements during the year
1919.
In his letter to the industrial es-
tablishments throughout the state,
Commissioner McNichols says: In
the event that your establishment
may experience any cessation OF
wartime activities that may lead to
the layoff of men. might ] inquire II
there be any structural changes or
repairs. necessary to shift your plant
to a peace-time basis, that could he
started at once in order that en-
ployment may be given to a maxi
mum number of workers and par
ticularly unskilled workers, espe-
cially those original residents of the
community in which your plant is
located. 1t is possible that, during
the period of transition structural
changes i'm plants Will he necessary
and even delayed building projects
begun, safeguards installed or other
Improvements effected. Could such
changes be started at your plant to
give employment to workers who
might otherwise be idle during the
readjustment period? This is a sub
earnest thought"
To the municipalities of the state,
Commissioner McNichols writes: II
am advised by Jacob Lightner, Di-
rector of the Bureau of Employment,
that, although at the present time
there is a shortage of labor in the
aggregate, the great problem to-day
is mainly one of immediate transfer
OF workers from the munition CEN
ters where they have been employed
to points at or near their home COM
munities."
1t is also stated in the commune
cations to the cities and industrial
plants that, although at the present
time there is in Pennsylvania a
shortage of labor in the aggregate,
that the great problem to-day is
mainly one of stabilizing conditions
during the transfer of workers from
their war tasks to peace-time trades.
The twenty-five third-class cities
which have at the present time a
borrowing capacity, according to the
Bureau of Municipalities of the De-
partment of Labor and Industry, are
as follows: Allentown, Altoona,
Bradford, Carbondale, Chester, Du-
Bois. Easton, Erie, Franklin, Harris
burg, Ha2Ieton, Johnstown, McKees-
port. Meadville, New Castle, Pitts
ton, Pottsville, Reading, Titusville,
Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport and
York.