The Washington herald., 1921-09-28
EXPERTS GIVE
STATISTICS OF
JOBLESS in U. 5.
Committee Says $500, 1000
Represents Number Of
Unemployed.
Continued from Page one.

Continued from Page One.
statistics of the State of Massachu-
sets, said a comparison Of en-
rlcyment between the present day
and the year 1914 indicated that
some industries sre now actually
employing more people than taey
employed In 1914.
Mr.. Phelps stated that 1t was his
belief that thes unemployment was
not altogether due to lack Of work
but partly to lack of work at the
wages which people insist on re-
ceiving. At present the public em-
ployment office of Massachusetts, Is
receiving Is applications for every
position offered, as contrasted with
peak of So applicants to one posi-
tion in May.
Wages Cut One-Third.
Wages in Boston, as stated by
Phelps. range from 40 to IS cents
an hour for. unskilled men, as COM
pared with so to IS cents in war
times.
A special survey, made last De-
cember by Phelps department, dis
closed that So per cent of the en-
ployes in the textile industry were
out of work for full time. Large
numbers also worked part time, so
that the total time worked by en-
ployes in those establishments was
SIS per cent. as an aggregate dur
ing the week of maximum employ
ment of 1920. The same investiga-
tion showed Al per cent unem-
ployed in the boot and shoe indus
try in Massachusetts,; 1S.5 per cent
in the metal industry. Since that
time. Phelps stated, conditions have
very much improved. A large num-
be- of textile factories are working
nights. Boot and shoe factories
are increasing their forces.
100000 Former Service Men Idle.
Harry d. Jacobs, president of the
Former Service Mems Employment
Bureau, of New York, stated that
on September l there were $4,000
unemployed former service men in
New York City, the statistics being
obtained from the American Le-
gion. the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
the Red Cross, the war camps, and
the Former Service Mems Employ
ment Bureau. OF this $4,000, $4,000
are natives of New York, while 49,
600 are "fioaters." Jacobs states
that the difficulty in the situation
is that out Of 100 applicants, rs are
unskilled. About 10 per cent OF
the, $4,000 are physically incapaci.
tated or disabled. Jacobs estimate:
that about 100000 former service
men are unemployed today.
r. r. Lutz, of the National In.
dustrial Conference Board, statet
the result of the survey. which In.
cluded the latter part of Angus
and the first part OF September, in,
dicated that American industries a.
a whole are at present employinl
from 20 to 25 per cent fewer per.
sons than they did in July, 1920
The total number of unemployed, a.
of June 1, 1921, was estimated by
the National Industrial Conference
Board to be $500. 900 persons. The
average number of unemployed dur.
ing normal times Is little over l.
100000.
j. B. Williams, representing the
industrial commission of Mime
sofa, presented statistics compiled
by the State to show present unem-
ployment of 41,74S.
A the hearing today on public
employment service, DR.. John Price
Jackson, formerly commissioner OF
labor and industry of the state OF
Pennsylvania; Morris L. Ernst, of
New York; Fred C. Croxton, Of CO.
lumbus. Ohio, and a representative
Of the Federal employment service,
are among those who are expected
to present their experiences.