Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-12
House Changes Just Ahead
Reappor to Be Linked With

, plOyment situation than has ever been
attempted In the past will be made as
a part OF the new census II Congress
approves an amendment recently placed
in the bill by the Senate commerce
committee to authorize this additional
| feature.
In one or two previous enumera-
tons OF population the Census Bureau
included data as to the number OF UNI
employed, but, AS Census Director
Steuart told the senate committee. the
results were unsatisfactory and were
not published. On those former Occa-
sions the enlmeratorS, III counting the
population, merely inquired Are you
at work." or something 10 that effect
Government officials have advised Con-
gross that they desire to collect the
unemployment data III way that will
produce statistics Of value and not
represent merely q given number Of
persons out Of work On certain date.
Secretary OF Commerce Lamont told
the committee when IL WAS consider
ing whether to include an employment
survey that the subject of unemploy-
ment is talked of great deal, some
claiming large nsures ana others giving
smaller estimates.
Big Shift Always Goes On.
I'VE do not know" the Secretary of
Commerce continued. There is a big
shift going on constantly on account of
men being displaced by machines, and
we do not know how long IL takes for
those men to be absorbed ia other in
dustries or in other services. and 1t
would be very valuable to have basis
to work on. 1t is not an easy thing to
do. 1t is not always easy to know when
man should be called or can be said
to be unemployed. He might be Grip
pied and not able to work he might be
sick and not able to work. He might
be temporarily out OF employment but
still he should not be claSsed as unenl-
ployed.
1T would require q good deal of care
ful preparation OF the questions to get
the facts AS they should he. But If the
matter can be arranged now there will
be time to do that for this next census"
Census Director Steuart has prepared
tentative list of SAX questions to form
the basis OF the unemployment phase
Of the census taking task. They are:
Usual occupation ct person enumerated?
Is this person now without = job OF any
kind? 1t so, for how long has he been
out of job? If now out Of q Job, is
he seeking employment? Or, Is he un-
able to work by reason of sickness or
physical injury? Ii this person has a
job, is he now on lay-off without pay?
How complete unemployment data Is
to be depends OH whether il is COL
lected as part OF the population Ques-
tionnaire or on a separate schedule
Director Steuart points out that if il
is made a part of the population sched-
Tile not more than two or three general
questions could be asked. whereas ii a
supplementary schedule Is used it would
be possible TO frame as many questions
AS seem necessary to develop the true
situation. He said that before the list
of questions is definitely determined he
would want 10 consult with representa-
tives of the Department Of Labor. OF
the Federation of Labor. economists ana
others who are experts on unemploy-
ment statistics. 1t was estimated that
the cost Of gathering the unemploy-
ment data will be approximately 81 ,OOO,-
900. The inclusion Of the amendment
to cover ali unemployment survey is in
line with suggestions heretofore ad-
Vanced by Senators Wagner OF New
York and COuzens Of Michigan.
Another New Research.
Another new field Of research to be
explored in the 1880 census, II the
pending bill is enacted. is the proposed
census of distribution through mercsn-
tile establishments, similar to the data
on production obtained by census of
manufactures.
II has been pointed out in support of
. census Of distribution that nearly all