Evening star., 1921-09-27
Government HELD
RESPONSIBLE FOR
MANY UNEMPLOYED
Federal Employees Union
Charges Injustice in Dis
missaI of Employees.
PSYCHOLOGY OF UNREST
LAID TO FEDERAL DOORS
Political Play Scored-Courageous
Policy Urged at Hearing of Pres
ident's Jobless Conference.

ident's Jobless Conference.
Charges that the United States gov
ernment has thrown thousands of per-
sons out of work and spread the
psychology of industrial unrest" were
made by the National Federation of
Federal Employees at the first hearing
today of the Presidents unemployment
conference at the Department of Com
merce.
Luther c. Steward. president of the
federation, sought to lay bill of par
mittee on unemployment statistics show
ing wherein the government has been
a contributing cause to the present
work stagEation. He was stopped be-
fore he had proceeded far with the
charges on the ground that they did
-! not come within the scope of the COM
= mittee's investigation.
1t was suggested by Chairman
Harry S. Robinson of Los Angeles
who presided at the hearing, that the
submitted to the committee on emer-
] Sency state and municipal measures
! and public works. Mr.. Steward said
this course would be followed.
! Holds Efficiency Sacrificed.
In its statement. covering two type
written pages. the federation charges
federal authorities with having
thrown thousands Of men and women
INTO Unemployment without intelli-
gent planning. without discrimina-
tlon, without justification and with
out even the humane consideration of
SO much as one days notice"
Not only have the previous stand
ards or ehciency, such as they were.
been sacrificed the statement said.
but the standards of employment
conditions, which the government en-
forced on other employers when it
took supervision over private indus
tries. are being violated by admin
istrative officials who are now over
borne by. the hysteria for so-called
economy"
) Mr.. Steward said his organization
requested the government to set up
an employment policy which shall
be courageous enough to resist DO
iiticai clamor; intelligent enough to
discriminate between true and false
economy and to continue necessary
public woh-busiHessiike enough to
make adjustments for efficiency and
not for spectacular political effect
and just enough to provide that en-
ptoyeS who must be released shall
have at least due notice of dismissal"
Four Remedial Policies.
The National Federation of Federal
Employees, he continued. stands for
four remedial policies. These are: An
uouncement of the ultimate aims of
the administration as to the size of
government establishments and per-
sonnel; transfer of released employees
in preference to new appointments
from new civil service examinations;
release of efficient employees to be
made in order of juniority where re-
ductions in force are necessary and
on thirty days notice in all cases Of
release.
Hundreds of employees. mostly wo-
men, In the bureau of engraving and
printing have been laid off without
notice, Mr.. Steward said. He added
that in many other government es-
adjustments throughout the country
employees have been released without
warning.
Steward, were heard by the commit
tee on statistics, which met in the
auditorium of the Commerce building.
They threw considerable light on the
Unemployment situation in New York.
Massachusetts and Minnesota
Roswell F. Phelps. representing the
department of labor and industry of
Massachusetts, told the committee he
believed labor itself to be responsible
for much of the unemployment in that
state. The aversion of labor to ac-
cepting work at reduced wages he as
signed as the principal cause of idle
ness.
Improvement Reported.
Conditions are showing improve
ment however, according to the Mass
achusetts witness. Some industries, he
declared, are employing more men
than they employed in 1914. He said,
that the peak of unemployment appar-
entity was reached last May. when
there were thirty-siX applicants for
every position offered. Records of
last week, he stated. showed only
thirteen applicants for each availa-
BILE position.
Harry G. Jacobs, of New York, gave
the committee Illuminating data re-
garding unemployment among ex-
service men in New York city. He es-
timated the number of idle former SOL
diers now living in the metropolis at
$4,000, of whom, he said, approximate
ly 10000 were ''fioaters." or transients
A survey made by the eX-service mems
employment bureau. Jacobs said.
showed that Is per cent of the former
fighting men are unskilled and that
so per cent of the unskilled are Hit
crate, these two factors being respon-
sible for their inability to obtai in
work.
Rehabilitation Likely Relief.
The witness said the only relief
that appears to be in sight for these
men is the proposal for a rehabilita-
tiOn training camp, where they can
be fitted for various kinds of service.
Representing the national indus
trial conference board, R. r. Lutz
presented the committee with unem
ployment figures obtained in a recent
survey conducted by the board, esti-
mating the total number of unem-
ployed workers in the United States
at the present time at 3,5O0.04O. The
average unemployment in normal
times he estimated at 100000.
Mr.. Lutz said that the most recent
inquiry instituted by the conference
showed that during the last half of
last month American industry gem
orally was employing from 20 to 25
per cent fewer persons than in July,
1920.
j. D. Williams. appearing for the
Industrial commission of Minnesota.
said the commissions estimate of
unemployment in that state at the
present time is approximately $4,000.
Mr.. Williams will present later some
suggestions for relief in connection
With public works.
Witnesses Cross-Examined.
Today's hearing before the COM
mittee was called to order by Samuel
McCune Lindsay, chairman of the
committee on public hearings, who
made an announcement as to the
scope of the statistical inquiry. He
then turned the meeting over to
Chairman Robinson of the statistical
committee.
All of the witnesses were crcss-ex-
mined, Prof. Allyn A. Young of Har-
nard University being the principal