The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-09-09
What Can Be Done
For Unemployment

Continued From Page One)
was confined to committees of pri
vate bodies or citizens, it was found
that in most cases the committees
were formed to bring about closer
cooperation between existing relief
agencies"
Avoid bread-lines, soup kitchens,
money gifts or other indiscriminate
giving of charitable relief! That,
according to the report, is the
warning coming from nearly all
| cities that had any experience with
the demoralizing results of "pauper-
| ization." Especially vigorous con-
demnation of these methods came
from "a cities, including Pittsburgh,
Toledo, Tacoma, Milwaukee, Den
yer, New Haven, Rockford, New
Orleans, New Bedford, Springfield,
Mass, New York City, Syracuse and
Dayton. Undue publicity of relief
plans or funds, it is stated, was
especially condemned as harmful in
reports from cities.
Sixtysix cities contributed their
conclusions as to the proper methods
| of relief and prevention of unem-
ployment, summed up in the re-
port as follows:
"Of these cities, % laid stress
| upon expansion of public works as
the most successful measure within
their experience; 16 emphasized
temporary jobs and the giving of
material relief, where necessary,
only when earned; Is regarded
proper community organization, in
GLIDING mayors committees as a
prime necessity; IA were especially
aided by the efforts of employers
to provide part time employment by
means of the short day, short week
and the making to stock, and eight
secured notably good results through
public employment bureaus. On
the whole, reports indicate that
many of the lessons of 1914-15 had
been taken to heart"
| Many cities specifically reaf-
| firmed the effectiveness of the
STANDARD Recommendation for the
! Relief and Prevention of Unem-
| ployment" issued by the American
Association for Labor Legislation
after a similar survey of unem-
ployment in 1915, declaring that
where adapted to local conditions
they have proved most successful.
These recommendations include the
| appointment of representative city
committees; education to avoid
either an ostrich policy of refusing
to face conditions or hysterical ex-
| aggeratlon of them; avoiding dup
lication of the work of existing or
CARNATIONS in providing emergency
| relief, as far as possible supplying
aid by means of part time employ
ment; separate treatment of the
unemployable and the unemployed;
industrial training for unemployed
workers; full utilization of public
employment bureaus and their ex-
tension and improvement; definite
suggestions as to method when
addressing general appeals to the
public to "Do it now" Hire a
man." and the like; and urging en-
ployers to make full use of part
time employment and making to
stock so as to make available work
go as far as possible.
Especial care has been found ne
cessary in making the most of
emergency public works to relieve
the unemployed, the report states
along the lines of the following
recommendations
Start or push forward special
public work, using private contri
buttons in time of urgent need if
public funds cannot be obtained.
This should not be made or I'M
necessary work, but needed public
improvements in as great variety
as possible, so as to furnish en-
ployment to other sorts of persons
besides unskilled laborers. Give
preference to resident heads of
families if there is not work enough
for all applicants. Employ for the
usual hours and wages, but rotate
employment by periods of not less
than three days. Supervise the
work carefully and insist upon rea-
sonable standards of efficiency. To
avoid the difficulties of emergency
action make systematic plans for
the regular concentration of public
work in dull years and seasons bv
special provisions in the tax lew
or by other appropriate method. !
Urge the repeal of laws restricting
N.1,eo w CouIrdcI WORK. Secure the |
aid OF state and national officials
IN stimulating local action. Steady
the employment of the regular
force, retaining employees on part
time in preference to reducing their
numbers"
Cities must prepare for a hard
winter ahead, according to the
warnings coming from many sec
lions, the report declares.
MOI, only have relief agencies
pointed out that the unemploved
have exhausted their own savings
ana yaluables and cannot continue
to help themselves as they did last
winter, 1t asserts, "but they also
lind that unemployment has been
increasing faster than community
activities have been planned to