Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-22

STATISTICS are the 0ryeSt klHo OF redo-
ing that can be written-except Just
when they are vital to some problem
momentarily timely.
There are two kinds of data which
ere quite unavailable in the United
States-statistics Of crime and statistics
of labor. It is impossible to show the
exact trend Of crime because nowhere
are there reliable figures on the sub
ject. It Is also impossible to declare
how many workers are without en-
ployment. because there Is no means OF
gathering the facts.
Next April /, the census will ascertain
for the first time In our history the
number Of unemployed. In the mean
while, the guesses of partisan poll
ticians have varied according to the in
tensity Of criticism against the policies
of the party in power. 1t Is said that
President Hoover in his next annual
message to Congress will discuss the
subject Of stabilizing employment
throughout the country by establish
ing a fund. in time of prosperity. which
can provide for public works-construc-
ton, principally-in times OF depres-
sion and will give employment to the
idle.
At the last session Of Congress two
bills were introduced in the Senate, one
by Senator Wagner DemocraO OF New
York and the other by Senator Jones
Republican, Of Washington, both in
tended to carry out the idea OF en-
ployment upon Government enter
prises in time of depression, but neither
bill reached vote.
While President Hoover is on record
as favoring such a measure as would
provide employment to offset depressed
commercial conditions, he does not as.
sumo that any possible measures would
totally avoid unemployment, especially
of the unintelligent and unframed
Various authorities estimate that there
are always between 100000 and 2,SOO,-
600 out Of jobs, no matter how pros
porous may be general conditions. Even
q decrease In the total number OF work.
ers does not necessarily indicate de-
creased production, for new machinery
and new methods of production may
displace human labor and yet greatly
augment output
The inadequacy Of merely supplying
construction work to create artificial
means Of employing the jobless is OBJ
vious when 1t is noted that not all men
are competent to work as builders or
roadmakers, in any capacity. OF what
use Is a factory hand in laying bricks,
or riveting steel g1rders?
In 1927, as estimated, there were IN
continental United States 80. 695 600
non-agricultural workers. OF this total.
only 422. 600 builders were out of work.
At the same time, there were unemploy-
ed 727,000 who were accustomed to
work In manufacturing: 100000 in
mines uuarries and oil wells; 1872 900 In
Transportation and $4,000 In mercantile
and public service, etc.
The plans proposed to relieve depres-
sion and its unemployment Will provide
for the 422, 900 accustomed to constitute
ton work, but will scarcely touch the
miners, the transportationists or the
merchants and, clerks. Nor can 1t be
exnected that a large percentage. even
in distress. can shift from one class to
another. for work for which they have
no training. Building work requires
expert trade training, and while some
of the construction work may be han.
died without expert Knowledge, that
part Is taken UP more and more each
year by machinery or by supplies man.
ufactured in centers devoted to the spe.
cialties. For example, where is the old.
time l1od-carrier, who ,laboriously
climbed ladders from the ground to the
cornice, bearing bricks or mortar on his
shoulder? Steam lifts now rush the
SupDuSS nuuQTeO LuIlcS uAOAC ~SOAoLh~
ically than did the old hod-carrier.
where would q store clerk mt into con.
struction work?
+ n n II !.
In the study of this problem, nothing
seems quite 80 surprising as the state
nient Of an expert economist, Prof. H.
M. Feldman of Dartmouth College. that
'the most pervasive disturbances in
employment are those due to seasonal
fluctuations in production" and that
these are growing greater, rather than
less.
Why should they become greater, II
industry Is being developed nationally
ana economically It was the custom