Omaha daily bee., 1921-09-28
Wage Cuts
Blamed for
Many Idle
Aversion Of Labor to Work at
Reduced Figures Cause Of
Unemployment, Declares
Massachusetts Official.
Government Is Blamed
By Tho Associated Press.

Washington, Sept. 27.-Aversion
OF labor to accepting work at re-
duced wages was assigned as 4
cause OF some unemployment by
Roswell +. Phelps. director o. labor
statistics OF the Massachusetts, labor
department. the first witness heard
today by the national employment
conferences committee on rnem-
ployment statistics which set TO
work to determine the extent and
volume OF the nations involuntary
idle.
Unemployment is due in some
measure" Mr.. Phelps told the conf
mittee, "to the fact that labor will
not accept reduced wages
Skilled Men Working.
Harry d. Jacobs, president OF the
ex-scrvicc mems employment bu-
reau OF New York, the next witness,
estimated that there were 75,000 un-
employed former soldiers in New
York City, and said the establishment
OF vocational training schools in
army camps. as proposed by the
government. would solve the unem-
rloyment problem, as far as the un-
skilled world war veteran was con-
cerned. There was no trouble find
ing work for skilled former service
men. he said.
Mr.. Phelps declared that the trou-
bic in Massachusetts at present was
not that there was not employment
but that people Could not find jobs
at the wages they wanted, he said.
Government is Blamed.
He added that some improvement
has been noted in Massachusetts,
where now the figures show but Is
applicants for each position offered
as compared with Sc applicants for
each position in May.
Luther c. Steward, president of
the national federation of federal
employees, presented a prepared
statement in which he declared that
the federal government in its
capacity as employer has been
contributing cause to the present un-
employment situation where it
should have been an alleviating
agency" His statement was referred
to the subcommittee on emergency
state and municipal measures and
public works.
r.; r. Lutz Of the national indus
trial conference board presented al
report by the board Of survey of
the 100000 manufacturing and
building trade workers in the coun-
try.
Seek More Witnesses.
On June |, he said, one quarter of
these wage earners, estimated att
3,500,000, were idle as compared with
a normal unemployment Of 100000.
A census made by the board in the
latter part of August and the first
part of September, he added, showed
from 20 to Is per cent fewer wage
earners employed than in 1920. Nor
NAL unemployment in these indus
tries, he stated, was about II per
cent.
Unemployment in Minnesota was
estimated by ]. B. Williams of the
industrial commission of that state
at about $1,000. He declared labor
department estimates OF unemploy-
ment in Minneapolis. St. Paul and
Duluth were unreliable.
The commission exhausted the list
Of witnesses within an hour and a
Ealf after it convened and adjourned
until additional witnesses have been
summoned.
Ledoux may be given a hearing
before the committee seeking to de
termine the volume and extent of un.
employment, officials of the confer
snce said today. Coincident with
his statement, Ledoux announced
that he had issued orders for
of representatives OF the
unemployed on Washington. The
human documents" in the case OF
.he unemployed, as he called them,
will come to Washington by motor
.ruck and will consist Of between 50
and 100 men from Boston, New
York, Philadelphia and Baltimore.