The Connecticut labor news., 1921-12-02
NEW YORK CALLS UPON GOVERNMENT TO USE EXCESS PROFITS FUNDS TO
 PROVIDE FOR THOUSANDS OF NEEDY
Would Impose Special Levy on Incomes Over 5000 a Year for Pur- pOse-Meal a Day to Be Provided for Idle.

ernment either to provide work or eX- tend financial compensation to those with out work. It also demanded that in comes above $3OOO year be taxed for the bneft of the unemployed. The cOun- cil is made up of delegates from many of the trades unions of the city and its meeting in Astoria Hall, @ East Fourth Street, was a first step in carrying out its program against unemployment. In addition to formulating demands Qn the national, State and municipal Govern ments, it promised to give those out of work free meal a day and to open labor halls as rest places.
 About 200 delegates attended. They will report back to their organizations, and 1t was estimated that 80 per cent of the labor movement here would be pledged to assist the council. The meet ing adopted a resolution condemning the American Legion as the "protector of the capitalist" endorsed the World War Veterans and called upon the Govern ment to recognize the Soviet Government and open trade relations with Russia.
 The Council believed the compensation plan necessary to meet the present crisis, and although delegates said frankly they did not expect the Government to adopt the plan, they believed that they could line up such a strong force of workers that it must take notice. The Council held that the Federal Government should pay $2O a week to unmarried adults with out employment; $25 to those who are married and out of work, and $50 to those having children.
 NEW DEFINITION OF TRAMP
 In a discussion one of the delegates pointed out that many tramps who did not want work would ask for compensa- tion and demand share of the free meals. Replying, another delegate gave a new definition of a tramp. "He IS" said the delegate, "a man so class con- scious that he refuses to work for any capitalist"
 Besides paying the unemployed, the Council would have the Government make up living wage to those on part time It will be asked toAbolish private employment bureaus and substitute Gov- ernment agencies working in co-opera- tion with the trade unions.
 "Victirns of imperialism, the ex-sold- iers, form large part of the unem- ployed," said the program. Their mis- cry is a tragic condemnation of the capi talist control of the United States. The ex-soldiers have been betrayed shame lessly and the bonus which they were promised as an alleviation of their con- dition> has been sidetracked in the most brutal manner. The American Legion, controlled by moneyed people mostly through former Army officers, into which many of these ek-soldiers have been misled, has shirked the fight for the bonus Energetic leadership and action might have won the fight. The fight can still be won if ex-soldiers and unemploy- ed get together and demand the bonus" ;"
 The State Government is to be asked to pass law making six hours days work and to open armories as hostelries for the unemployed.
 WOULD CUT WORK HOURS
 Part time work is not remedy but an aggregation of the evil," continued the program. "A shortening of the working week is different We therefore demand the immediate enactment of a law 6xing the legal hours of work at six hours day, without reduction in wages and with drastic regulation of overtime, SO as to limit the overtime in each industry to the indispensable mini mum which the employers and the trade unions agree to be necessary"
 Requests will be made to the State and Municipal Governments to speed up pub lie work so as to give employment to thousands, but at the union rate of pay. In this connection a delegate said the Council must not overlook the fact that the city would have to issue special rev. enue bonds in order to carry on public works.
 Well" said another delegate, getting to his feet, "city bonds nay become like Russian rubies. Let the city worry about the bonds"
 As to Russia the program said: There must be an immediate resumption of trade with Russia and of normal political relations with the Soviet Republic The Russian Government is prepared to sup ply large quantities of timber, hides, flax, platinum and gold in payment of exten- sive orders, to make good the Wastage of the years of war and blockade, and to re-establish the economic life of the country. Russia needs railway equip ment, means of transport, agricultural machinery and impliments of all kinds, clothing, including boots and a thousand and one other commodities which could be supplied by American labor. The effects of placing orders for these requirements in this country would be cumulative The reaction on industries not directly concerned with the execution of Russian contracts would be far reaching"