New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-23
City to Make
Survey to Aid
Army of Idle
Board Of Estimate Names
Coler, Sullivan, Deegan to
Offer Recommendations
for Relief OF Unemployed
Industrial Bureau Urged
Officials Hope to Prepare
Program of Public Works
TO Provide for Laborers

committee Of three was appointed
at a special meeting of the Board Of
Estimate and Apportionment yester-
day make a survey OF the uaem-
ploym~At situation and report back to
the board on September 7, with recon-
mendations for remedial measures. The
question was brought to the attention
Of the board by a communication writ
ten by Mayor Hylan at the request Of
Bird S. Coler, Commissioner of Public
Welfare.
The committee named to investigate
the unemployment situation consists
of Commissioner Coler, John Sullivan.
president of the Central Trades and
Labor Council, and Major William F.
Deegan, of thp American Legion.
Commissioner Coler said M~jor Dee
gan had called his attention to the
matter, and after a preliminary survey
he had come TO the conclusion that
the coming fall and winter would see
the greatest lack of employment in
this city in his experienced
Constructive Program Urged
The Mayors letter on unemployment
said in part:
dependency. due chiefly to unem-
ployment of the breadwlnners in many
families, is already rapidly increasir g.
This is shown by the greater number
Of dependent children now being cared
for in municipal institutions as com
pared with tho corresponding period
last year
Moreover, widespread unemploy-
ment means misery to the unemployed
and their families and potential dan
ger to the community, q s we'll as heavy
drains upon the welfare departments
of the city
There is need, therefore. Of a con-
structve program which will take into
consideration existing conditions with
view OF relieving present distress
and the prevention of future hard
ships by evolving a possible solution
Of the unemployment problem. Such a
plan to be effective should be for
mulated and put in operation at the
earliest possible moment.
81 would suggest that the Beard of
Estimate and Apportionment take some
action to establish an industrial aid
bureau"
Would Coordinate Relief Agencies
Commissioner Coer said last night
that, although he was far from feeling
that he had complete information on
the present labor situation in the city
he believed that he was justified 1T
preparing as best he could for a winter
of unemployment.
Such preparation, he said, would pre-
vent 'ardy and Intellectual attempts tC
deal with the crisis whom it was 81
hand He intends to correlate the work
Of existing agencies which come in con
tact with the unemployment problem il
such way as to obtain clear survey
of the situation and at the same time
form an organization which will be
competent to meet any crisis.
He intends to consult various re-
ligious organizations, the American
Legion, the Chamber Of Commerce and
numerous other bodies interested in
that line of endeavor. The American
Legion already has promised its CO.
operation, he said.
Water Front Situation Serious
A committee consisting Of six Catho-
lies. six protestants and six Jews,
which works with the welfare depart
ment in connection with the admins
tration of institutions for the care of
children, will be asked to furnish one
ment committee of which Commissioner
Coler is the head.
Commissioner Coler's preliminary
survey convinced him that the situa-
ton along the water front already is
serious and that it is one for which
the city should not be held responsible.
Church missions, he said, already were
caring for hundreds of seamcn, virtu-
ally all Of them aliens, who had been
thrown out of work in this port by
reason Of the slump in shipping.
Such victims of Unemployment, he
believes, should not be charges upon
either the private or the public chart
ties Of the city, and one Of his first en-
authorities in the case of these seanlen,
with view to getting their own gov
ernments to help them.
Seeks to Keep Out Jobless
Commissioner Coler also will get in
touch with men having duties similar
to his own in other cities, with the in
tention Of preventing The influx Of ho-
boes and jobless workmen which so
often floods New York when dull times
come in the winter. He is Of the
opinion that New York is going to
have plenty to do to care for its own
needy next winter, ana ne intends to
see to it, so far as possible, that bona
fde residents of the city get preference
and that others are kept out or sent
home.
If the facts obtained by his commit
tee warrant it, Commits sioner Coler will
try to have the Board of Estimate pro-
vide for a prompt start on a program
Of public works which will supply work
for large numbers of skilled and I'M
skilled aborers
The Board OF Estimate approved yes
tcrday the award by the Board of Edu-
cation of a contract for the construc-
ton Of three schools in Brookly n-No.
1873. No. 1S4 and No 1856 The contract
was awarded to T. A. Clarke & Co.. the
lowest bidders. for s2,3l7 900