Evening star., 1928-04-03
The Six.Dollar Dole.

Students Of economies should care
fully follow the proceedings OF the con-
ference OF the unemployed which
opened in this city yesterday morning.
They will learn much about how to run
big business, how to avoid crises, how
to keep everybody supplied with funds.
This conference has brought together
the ablest minds of the country on un-
employment. The delegates are experts.
Many Of them have been unemployed
for years. They have made profession
of unemployment, and now that the
numbers Of the out-of-workers are
somewhat larger than for several years
past, they are proposing remedies for
this condition which. though they may
not be worked out in terms Of Law and
practice. are interesting contributions
to the subject.
At yesterdays convention resolutions
we're passed favoring shorter hours OF
work, higher pay for work and unem-
ployment maintenance by the Govern
ment. The conference went even 10
the point Of fixing upon the rate of this
maintenance, at $6 day. Nothing was
said about how this money was to be
raised or disbursed. d. Those are small
details that are, Of course, easily worked
out. II Is really not up to the confer
ence TO decide how the money is to be
provided, or even to figure on the "den.-
milton total" as Mr.. Mantiiini used To
say.
But. just for illustration. 1t would he
interesting TO calculate what q s6-a-day
unemployment dole would mean to the
country. On the basis Of 3i2 working
days In the year--six times fifty-two-
to pay l.50o,o 900 people at the rate OF
IS q day. that being the number of un-
employed estimated by the conference.
would cost q little more than s2.so0.-
O00. 900 annually. And this would prob
ably not reduce the number OF the un-
employed. because at s6 a day paid for
not working there would be little In
ducement for the recipients OF the dole
TO go to work II the figure Of unenl-
ployment which was cited yesterday in
the Senate by Senator Shipstead is coz
rect. no less than 100000 people
would be in position TO draw s6 a day.
which would call for an annual expend-
iture Of approximately $4,000, ,ooo, 900.
This Is undoubtedly sound economies
II must be sound or 1t would not be the
remedy proposed by so competent
body OF delegates as those now in se.s-
sion in Washington seeking solution
Of the unemployment problem. II Is
pity that the conference is working
under time limit. 1t should remain
longer in session here. There Is no eyi-e
dence. indeed. that those attending are
urgently needed on any particular Job
and it would be really helpfu! and con-
Structiye II they we're to stay here un.
III they worked out the equation little
further ard determined, for example.
Just how the billions needed for the
unemployment dole, whether close to
three or nearly fifteen. according 70 the
guess at the number of unemployed,
are 10 be found.
Unemployment ig really great mis-
fortune. There are some, however. VINO
do not altogether agree With the prin-
ciple that the cure for 1t lies In the
dole. whether at the British rate OF
twenty shiilings a week, or at the pro-
posed American rate Of $6 day, which
on & six -dsy-a-week basis Is IA shil-
lingE . week England is not finding
the dole q curative expedient. II has
not stimulated industry or made JOS
for the out-of-gorkers
There s one thing to be said for the
recommendations Of the conference In
this city. II the number Of working
hours are sufficiently reduced by Law
and the rate Of pay is sufficiently In
creased. the proposed dole OF % will be
suficiently less than the compensation
Of worker 10 cause him 70 prefer EN-
pIoyment to unemployment. And, after
all. the economic health Of the coun-
try is dependent upon the working
spirit as well AZ the working oppoi :
tunity.
Books have been written by Presi-
dents, II tg the rank outsider who