New-York tribune., 1919-02-02
Women to Aid
Human Side OF
Reconstruction
Five Members of Commits
sion to Shape Progress
sive Social Programme;
All Are Trained Workers


will be given an opportunity such as
few women have had heretofore, ac-
cording TO its secretary, Mrs. Henry
Moskowitz.
THE entire reconstruction proposi-
tion has vitally human side mas
much as it will directly or indirectly
affect every man, woman and chlla
in the state. said Mrs. Moskowitz
yesterday. Even such dry sounding
terms taxation and retrenchment
have their human side. AS matter
of fact the whole programme is tied
up with the subject of taxation, for
in order successfully to put over
comprehensive programme there must
be the money to nnance it. The com
mission, as a result of its study of
the problems of the state. will be able
to recommend the passage OF impor-
tant legislation and also the repeal
of war emergency measures, which
will give more money for construc tive
work"
resent a diversity of interests and
are fully qualified to guide the COM
mission when questions affecting
women arise. Mrs. Sarah A. Conboy
is widely known through her work
with the American Federation of La
Dor; Mrs. Walter Steele, Of Buffalo,
is the local chairman of the Womans
ed in food production; Mrs. Ella Hast
ings is a prominent clubwoman and
has taken an active part in child wei
fare work; Mrs. William S. Good has
been connected with the National
League for Women's Service and is
we'll Informed on employment prob
lens, while Mrs. Lewis S. Chanler has
large experience in institutional
matters.
Keeps Wheels Well Oiled
1t is the duty of Mrs. Moskowitz as
secretary to keep all the wheels we'll
oiled and running smoothly. Mrs. Mes
kowitz wes formerly manager of the
labor department of the Dress and
Waist Manufacturers Association; she
is a member of the board of directors
Of the Travellers Aid, of the general
committee of the Council of Organiza-
tions, and a member of the Council OF
Jewish Women. In fact, she has at one
time or another in the last eighteen
years taken an interest in practically
every effort for civic improvement
which engaged the attention of
thoughtful women in New York City.
1--WE want broad social pro-
gramme," continued Mrs. Moskowitz.
"Not a programme that sees only one
angle, but one that will weigh each
problem in relation to others, keeping
public health and a living wage as
foundation stone"
The commission, Mrs. Moskowitz
says, is not interested in any one par
ticular phase of the programme but
IN improving conditions throughout
the state and endeavoring to improve
conditions for the people from a
health standpoint.
The plan of each committee is to
create conference groups on its special
A
vited to attend the hearings and dis
cuss their plans.
THE commission is democratically
organized and will work on a purely
democratic basis. So many plans of
social organizations are social visions
dreams that have no relation to such
petty details as whether or not the
state has sufficient money to material
lze them. 1t will be part of our duty
to point out that organizations must be
just as ready to support new methods
of taxation as their own special new pro-
grammes," Mrs. Moskowitz explained
"We want to translate their programmes s
into government actualities, but that
can't be done without money. Hence
this commission, whose committees
range all the way from drafting of leg
islation to taxation and retrenchment,
IS preeminently fitted to consider all
new problems from all viewpoints"
The women will have to shoulder a
great amount of responsibility, accord
ing to the secretary. They will be par
ticularly valuable in dealing with the
problem of the unemployment of
women. The returning soldier will af-
feet women in industry to even
larger measure than is now believed,
and an army of women clerical work
ers, untitled for other service, will be
thrown out of work.
"Opening up public works won't help
the matter any," continued Mrs. Mos
kowitz, "for this will bring out an en-
tirely different elemes.t. We are of the
opinion that the returning soldier will
raise special unemployment problem
among women"
viii Aid Unemployment Committee
Among the situations that can be
said to have human" phase and in
which the women are specially inter-
ested is the demobjlization of soldiers.
The committee on rehabilitation viii
call into conference all organizations
dealing with this work to cooperate
with the committee on unemployment
The committee on food production
will consider the "Soldier Settlement
Act" or the Lane BILL which proposes
to use returning soldiers in the recla-
nation and development of waste farm
lands. This has an interesting WON
en- slOS ana opens up a Dig vista OF
work for women" Mrs. Moskowitz
pointed out.
The Governor has given the problem
Of opening up public works to the COM
mission. The decision of when, where
what and how this is TO be accomplished
rests with the committee on unemploy-
naent. The question of cooperation be-
tween the state and Federal employ
ment bureaus and the entire reorgani-
zation Of the employment system, the
so-called social legislation now pending
before the Legislature, the administra-
tion of the military training law-are
jnzt few of the varied matters with
which the five women on the commits
sion will deal.
1t ig planned TO gather together ex
pertg on every question. and thus fal
many noted men and women specialist
have volunteered their services. Whei
a matter needing expert advice de
vei0ps the committee will call upon ii.
expert in that line.
"But we want TO hear the man in tn,
street AZ we'll as the expert" said Mrs
Noskowitz. every one viii be Yiyei
an equal chance 10 help in the tremen
dcus task Of read 0justment."
A calendar scheduling the various
meetings OF the different committees
viii be arranged and issued each week
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