The Washington herald., 1921-09-27
Will Seek Exact Facts on
Number of Men I'm
employed.
HARDING URGES
NEW CONFIDENCE
City EN- plo y ment Bu-
reaus and Public Work
Are Advocated.
By ROBERT ,. BENDER.

Eesioent harolng mas spoken the
word and the machinery has been
started for one of the most impor-
tant domestic readjustment. efforts
Of the administration - providing
work for the nations. IDLE and
breath Of optimism for the nations
business.
Proceedings Of the first session Of
the unemployment conference here
yesterday bespoke confidence in the
outcome and a demand for prac-
ticable measures. 1t was made
plain that there must be no drafts
upon they public treasury. The
dole" system, practiced in Euro
pean countries to relieve the work
less, was denounced as the most
vicious" in the world
First Words spoken.
The initial words having been
spoken and the organization Of the
| conference having been completed
with Secretary of Commerce Hoover
as chairman, IL is now possible to
set forth the measures for relief
contemplated by the administration
and to be effected. IL possible. by
the group of distinguished Amer
leans here, called for this Impor-
tant duty from all walks of business
! life. Briefly. here is the program:
l. Hold open hearings, beginning
Tuesday. to establish the exact un-
employment-as to numbers classes
and locations affected Labor leaders
and the Department of Labor have
declared there are 6.00o.0 600 idle in
statistics compiled by other business
agencies declare there are less than
S,5oo.00o without work. Reporting
Of the higher unemployment figures
has slowed down buying. manufac-
turing and has had a detrimental In
fuence on business all down the
line, delegates here report. SO ~
was deemed advisable at the outset
to correct this misapprehensfou
and Immediately strike a shaft of
optimism into the present business
depression.
VIII Open Bureaus.
2. Employment bureaus are TO be
recommended for establishment in
all leading cities where unemploy-
ment is high. The work Of these
bureaus will involve the registra-
ton by munic 'palities of ali men
who desire work and can't find IL
only local residents-not transients
will be so registered
;. State and municipal executives
after this registration is completed
and classified, will be urged TO co.
operate with municipal and state
departments to put as many to
work as possible on improvements
contemplated new projects, and
seek the Cooperation OF local IN.
dustries and others in adding Il
employment
Seek shorter Day.
4. To obtain added employment
in industries, manufacturers will
he urged to adopt emergency meas,
ures such as will shorten the worl
day given per cent for those nov
employed, in order to permit of ,
corresponding percentage Of In
crease inthe number of employees
This would entail, perhaps, a re
duction of wages. corresponding Z,
the reduced hours, for those nov
employed, but IL would provid,
against suffering for thousands VIII,
! are out of work.
: These four measures are the one
upon which the conference leader
L
date results. All require co-opera
tion among civic and State authori
ties, merchants, manufacturers an,
labor. Their success, once they ar
: launched in definite form. will de
pend altogether upon the spiri
with which communities get behin
= the idea, ii is pointed out.
|. Other Vital Questions.
D p
consider how to effect emergenc
i transportation work, increased con
I struction, emergency mining meas
ures and emergency shipping meas
{ ures.
Behind these emergency meas
ures are broader plans for NOR
permanent remedies which will b
considered during the conferen,
These will take the conference int
the field of freight rate adjust
ments, modification of buildin
a trade regulations to encourag
: home building and adjustment q
:, admittedly bad conditions in tn
n mining industry, which three ele
ments are regarded by authoritie
!, here as the basic obstacles in tn
path of a business revival
e Until business is better" sal
James Couzens, millionaire mayo
IS of Detroit, and one of the confer
I, ence delegates, there can be n
general relief from the unemploS
i ment situation. II readjustmen-
Il can be worked out satisfactoril;
v next spring will see business an
a industry in a healthy condition"
y Here is list of those attendin
n the conference:
: winslow B. Aver, Of Portlani
n president Eastern and wester
, Lumber Company. Portland Ore.
A Julius H. Barnes, Duluth. chair
man institute for public service.
william NJ. Butler of Bosto
president Butler Mills, New Rec
ford Cotton Mills, Hoosac cottc
Y Mills.
w. S. Carter of Cleveland, pres
is dent Of the brotherhood Of Locomt
D tive Firemen and Enginemen.
as Elizabeth Christman OF Cchcag
b. secretary of the Information
e. Glove workers Union. secretar.
es treasurer of the National Women
N Trade Union League.
Edgar z. Clark OF washingto
lc d. c., former president Order
es Railway Conductors.
90 John T. connery Of chicas
in