The Washington times., 1921-09-27
HEAR|NCSOPEN
TOF|ND Relief
FOR JObLESS
First Witness CHARGES Refusal
To Accept Reduced Wages
BIamabIe for Situation.
ny GEORGE r. HOLMES.
international News seryics.

Tactful manipulation was neces-
sary today to prevent the National
Unemployment Conference from
running foul Of those controversial
questions. which It Is hopeful Of
avoiding, such as wage reductions
and their effect on unemployment.
Boswell Phelps, director Of labor
statistics in Massachusetts,, was the
first witness today before the com
mittee that Is trying TO ascertain the
extent of unemployment. He said
it has been found In Massachusetts,
that the present widespread unem-
ployment was due not so much to
lack of work, as TO the unwillingness
Of workers TO accept the wages Of
fered. Unemployment, he said, dated
generally from the time the employ
ers began reducing wages.
Questioned by Labor Member. =
Mathew Vol. the labor member Of
the committee. questioned Phelps
closely concerning his statements
greater factor In unemployment, but
Phelps stuck by his guns and Vol
desisted from his questioning with q
smile. ~ ~ ar.tI
Phelps expressed the hope that
controversial questions" could be
avoided, and this was echoed by
Henry N. Robinson. OF Los Angeles.
the chairman. z
There 10 not as much unepnploy-
ment now az there was some months
ago. He thought the situation was
growing better. az ks.-z
This is illustrated" he said, by
the fact that last May In our public
employment office there were thirty
five applicants for every position.
People have exhausted their re-
sources now and are willing to 20 to
work at wages offered" =
Then" said Vol. ''they have been
forced by economic necessity to accept
q reduction Of wages?'
Yes"
Harry d. Jacobs, war veteran, sue.
ceeded Phelps and informed the com.
mittee there are 100000 ex-service men
out Of employment OF that number
5000 are In New York, he said.
Eighty per cent Of the unemployed
ex-seldiers In New York. he said, are
men and many Of them are
them to obtain work.
Luther Steward, president Of the
National Federation OF Federal EN-
ployes, was the next witness. ..
The Federal Government" he said,
IN its capacity as employer, has been
a contributing cause to the present
situation when II should
have been an alternating agency The
Government itself. without intelligent
without discrimtnat ion.
without justification, without even
human constellation or 30 much as one
days notice. has thrown thousands OF
men and women into the ranks Of un.
employed, and spread the Psychology
Of industrial unrest" -
|. Testimony Shut Off. ...
That's enough" interposed Chair.
man Robinson. That IL something
out Of the province Of this
. 81.
Steward was advised TO seek another
=. a i
r. r. Lutz, of the National Indus.
trial Conference Board. said q nation
wide survey conducted by his orgafii-
sation last June showed there were
!, 500, 900 unemployed In the industrial
.ields such a. manufacturing and
mining. That number, he estimated,
Is about 1900 900 above the normal
number OF jobless. The basis for the
figures was found in New York and
80
j. b. williams, OF the Minnesota
State Industrial Commission. esti-
mated the unemployed In his State at
%, 900.