The Washington herald., 1921-09-25
An Unemployment Policy.

has ntimated that it would affect wages offer
employment to any part Of the millions who
now idle 1t is not expected to do anything
spectacular, to turn the unemployment river up
stream nor build bridge across But it may be
hoped that it will offer this country an unem-
ployment policy, thing it has never had even
in any of the States, though attempted in two,
and that beginning may be made in its oper-
alton in time to help relieve the condition now
serious
.o The membership will form small and rather
compact body representative of conditions in the
larger employing industries, and in the various
sections of the country with the points OF view
and remedial judgment of the interests involved
.iemploying, financial and labor. They will have
an advisory board of experts who are recognized
authorities in the various phases of economics
who know the history of unemployment here and
elsewhere, with the remedies used and what these
have demonstrated 1t is not surprising that this
country has had unemployment policy.
The size of the country, the variety OF its in
dustries the extent of public free lands, and the
mobility Of labor account for this. There have
been but comparatively the few bound by
tom and generations of inheritance, to one indus
try and fixed locality. Labor has been able to
float to demand and has had facility of adjust
ment to demand On but few and distant occa-
sions has unemployment become nationally a seri-
economic and social menace
This menace becomes more acute now largely
because of world conditions which involve domes-
tic depression with world depression its chief
cause. The nearly complete collapse of foreign
markets with the downfall of foreign credit sta
bility, reactng expansion Of industry and
extra burdensome taxation, form new elements
added to the unwholesome growth of cities and
the congestion of industry in the northeastern
States. Such things have demonstrated the
sity for unemployment policy and it is this
which is generally expected to come from this
conference.
Our States have but recently adopted disability
insurance from the older countries. Old age in
surance is almost unknown save as to Federal
employees, and unemployment insurance is total
stranger in the United States as an accepted
policy, while in but two States-Idaho and Penn
: syivaniz-has an attempt been made to provide
employment for the involuntary idleness. So far
there has been semblance to national policy
it has centered in charity which is little less than
4 hideous revolving makeshift.
Of the four general kinds of unemployment
this country finds, now, but which is
material as demand a changed attitude from
that of indifference let it alone and it will
itself. This is that of an extended period
due to long continued and marked industrial de-
preston. Seasonal unemployment is usually met
by the unemployed turning to some other kind
of work, maybe in some other place. In the
Northwest, miners, example, often own
piece of land which they prepare for production,
or they go to the woods loggers etc. The
casual job is confined mainly to- common labor
of which many large plants can tell how much
will be needed only from day to day, and
employment from industrial changes has ceased to
be serious, was, in this country.
The remedies far tried anywhere
Unemployment insurance, which may be of many
kinds, voluntary compulsory, including the
worker employing industry, the individual plant,
and the government any two of these, and
administered in equal variety of methods. This
10 the most usual and general remedy in some
form. With it goes free employment agencies,
either plant industrial State charitable or by
organized labor. 1t would seem that experience
had shown this country made decided mistake
when the Federal free employment organization
built up during the war; was abandoned.
Employment cannot be adequately handled in
the United States as local or State problem
as that of co-ordinating industries by trades,
of trade organizations 1t is essentially national.
1t involves varied conditions, seasonal and other
WISE in widely separated sections. 1t demands
a system of information as complete
ket reports, and agency free from personal
inducements any collisions. Such an agency
would facilitate and greatly aid the accuracy.
the statistics gathered by the Labor Department
under which any unemployment agency would
function.
The most complete and thorough system of
meeting unemployment by public works is found
in Canada. Indeed, even in Great Britain and
France, this agency is used rather haphazard
and as an immediate recourse rather than a
settled policy. These countries had planned and
prepared for rapid return from to peace
production. In this they did not forsee the col
lapse of markets. They expected to absorb the
returning armies in peaceful industry. They
could and did transform plants. but they could
not invent markets. The United States did not
prepare even to this extent
But Canada in 1918 organized government
employment service with branches in all provinces.
She also made large appropriations for public