Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-22
WORKS
TO STABILIZE
EMPLOYMENT,
Kenyon Bill OutgrOwth of
Conference Over Labor
Conditions.
SOLUTION MAY RESULT
Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.

Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-Leaders in
the Presidents conference on unemploy-
ment regard as a milestone in economic
progress the bill introduced by Senator
KENYON of Iowa The measure would
prepare against future cyclical periods of
business depression and unemployment
by giving Government department heads
more latitude in placing public works.
The Kenyon bill, referred to the Sen
ate Committee on Labor, provides that
the Secretary of Commerce shall publish
monthly reports on Ine trend of business
and on the approach Of periods of bust
ness depression. These summaries of
conditions, together with any recon-
mendatiOns Of the Secretary Of Com
merce, are to be forwarded 70 the Presi-
dent, heads of executive departments and
to Congress. in order that they, as well
as Governors, mayors and private indus
trial enterprises, may prepare for and
tUrbances.
PUBLIC PROJECTS To
RELIEVE DEPRESSION.
The measure further provides that the
head Of each executive department, with
the advice Of the President. may postpone
the start or retard work on such portions
Of public projects within his jurisdiction
as may be deemed necessary in helping
counteract an impending period Of in
dustrlal depression and unemployment.
Otto T. MalIery, member Of the indus
trial board of Pennsylvania and secretary
Of the committee on public works Of the
Presidents unemployment conference,
believes a national public works policy
such as is cOnteL plated in the Kenyon
bill, may check unemployment in its
worst year by one--hird.
Periods Of acute industrial depression
have been occurring once in every seven
or ten years during the twentieth cen
fury. If public works were increased in
years when private industry decreases,
sterilization OF employment would re-
suit. Statistics recently collected for 1920
and 1921 indicate that S2,5OO,0OO00O in
wages represent the difference between
boom and depression in the factories Of
the United States; 81, 80 600 difference in
wages in trade and transportation; 49,
100000 difference in agriculture. fishing,
domestic, personal and professional serv-
ices, and Sj0O000000 loss to miners, max
ing a grand total wage loss between 1920
and 1921 of 5000 10000.
YEARLY AVERAGE SPENT
ON PUBLIC WORKS LARGE.
Five billion dollars decrease IN total
wages is our yard stick measure OF acute
unemployment. The total average of all
public works within the United States
by all governmental agencies without
considering those public works paid for
by current taxation, is SS2j. 100000 an
nually. If we should adopt a national
policy of expanding public works in
years Of depression and contracting pub
lie works during the other years, is it
too much to believe we can execute three
times the average in the year Of unem-
plOyment, likely to occur once IN ten
years? If so, cur figures for public
WORKS will be S2.475 900 600 in a bad
year. or 81. S35. 600 600 Increase for a year
Of depression over an average year.
Ninety per cent Of this expenditure for
public works, or 81, GO. OO0, 900 may be es-
timated as the amount 70 be spent for
wages. and this figure will represent the
potential usefulness of a national public
employment in a year Of depression In
works program a safety valve for IN
private industry. Copyright, 1921, by
Public Ledger Company.