Evening star., 1919-02-02
enator Kenyon's Views.

about his bill yesterday:
The principal objection to the bill
seems TO be that it is an effort to
keep Up present high wages in GER
tain industries. Such is not the in
tentien. The questions involved are:
l. - ihere a labor Surplus2
-. II there is, how shall we meet
it?
My bill is intended as a sort of res
erNolr for surplus labor. If there is
private employment then there need
pe no use Of the power under this
Dill. So it is a sort of insurance pol
icy against unemployment Unem-
ployment is increasing. / am not an
alarmist. Unemployment on large
scale viii mean trouble. II is our
duty to try at least to meet the situ-
alton IN a frank and sane way"
Million Idle Normally.
During the hearings on the Kenyon
bill it was stated by Secretary Wilson
that even in the most active indus
trial periods in this country there are
about 100000 unemployed, due to
the fact that Americans are constant
ly seeking better jobs and better
working conditions. At the time of
the outbreak of the war in Eu-
rope the unemployed in this country
amounted TO something between g.
100000 and 1000, 600. When America
entered the war the country was
humming industrially, yet it was es-
timated that the unemployed num-
bered a million. So the country can
stand a large number of unemployed
and still remain peaceful. But there
IS point which, in the opinion OF
the Secretary of Labor and Samuel
IOTlDRrS. president
Federation of Labor, ii is not safe to
go. The i. w W.'s and their kind,
who believe in the revolution" and
the use of force to bring about their
ENDS, thrive on periods OF large un-
employment.
The problem of readjustment in in
dustrial conditions is complicated to-
day because many business men are
holding off. hesitating To return to
their pre-war activities on a post
war basis. They fear that prices of
raw materials and labor Will drop,
and that if they have bought large
supplies at present prices and a few
weeks or days later their competitors
buy at 10 or 20 per cent less, they
will be at a great disadvantage in
disposing of their products.
Thinks Wages Will Stay Up.
The Secretary of Labor does not be-
crease in wages for some time. In
fact. wages have Just about kept-pace
with the increase in the cost Of living
during the last two years.
The disposition of Congress to ham
die this unemployment problem is
growing. Speaker Clark, while he has
not announced himself in favor of any
particular BILL has frankly stated that
he believed the government should
fine work for the demobilized soldiers
and without delay. II am in favor of
the amount of public work.
draining lands. reclaiming them for
use as FARMS" said the Speaker, land
doing everything else TO give these
people employment.
Representative Keating of Colorado.
democrat, who has been acting as
chairman of the House labor commit
tee, is emphatic in his demand that
steps be taken to meet the situation.
The officials of the Department of
Labor tell us there is increasing un-
and Secretary Morrison
Of the American Federation of Labor
predicts that unless something is done
there will be bread lines in many of
the cities. They cannot all be wrong.
II 81 the, plain duty of Congress to sea ::
here are no bread lines in this csun
.ry during the readjustment period.
Members can give UP playing bridge
1T night and do a little legislating
With profit to the country
Says Congress Lacks Initiative.
gotten out of the frame of mind for
he initiation of legislation in the last
ew years 1t waits to be told by the
President what IT is necessary to do.
low the President is in Europe. and
here is no one else here who COM
aands sufficient influence to tell Con-
sress what to do. The soldiers are
oming back by the thousands. They
ave a right TO demand that they be
siyeu opportunities TO earn a living.
I is the duty of Congress to see that
hey get such opportunities
Senator Borai, of Idaho. ranking re-
'ublican member of the committee on
ducation and labor. believes that the
should begin again on its
'ublic works in order to provide en-
loyment where it is needed. but he is
trongly against Undertaking any
work. merely for the sake of giving
obs Such a course. he believes.
rould lead to pork barrel" meas
res. There are plenty of public
forks which are really needed. he
ays. that men can be put TO work
n.
II am against any permanent or
anization in the government to pro-
ide men jobs seid Senator Borah.
except such an organization as may
isseminate information, telling the
eople where work is to be had. and
here labor is plentiful"
Other Measures introduced.
While the Kenyon bill has been
rought more prominently to the
ublic attention. a number of other
ieasures looking TO q solution of the
abor problem during the readjust-
lent period have been introduced in
enate and House. among them bill
y Representative Kelly of Pennsyl-
ania. providing for the appointment
( q national emergency board for
oidier employment. 1t calls for the
of a United States con-
service, under the supersi-
ion of this board, to handle projects
DR. utilizing land and natural re-
ourees.
Specific provision is made in the
.elly bill that the wages paid shall
no case 10 less than the average
age received in the locality where
ne work is being done. and provides
pr basic eight-hour day. with time
nd a half pay for overtime work.
lg for insurance against injury and
Ickness among the workers, and
anitary housing. Agricultural lands.
,rest lands. coal lands. roads, water
'ays and general improvements are
overed in it's provisions. Mr.. Kelly