Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-30
AID FOR JOBLESS
URGED IN SESSION
Catholic Charities Speaker
Says U. S. Should Prepare
for Trade DepreSSions.

Presenting to the National Confer
ence of Catholic Charities a construc-
tive program for the remedy of unem-
ployment and business depressions, j.
Rogers Flannery, Pittsburgh mariufac-
turer and prominent lay social worker
declared today that government that
is spending millions in getting ready
Lor war tnat may never happen should
spend little time and energy in pre-
pairing for business depreSsions or
pantcs, which our industrial leaders In
sist Will always happen"
Chief among the remedies which Mr.
Flannery outlined were suggestions that
President Hoover create a national en-
ployment sterilization council, repre-
sentative OF all business and industrial
interests, and q commission on public
improvements to develop q plan whereby
Federal, State and municipal govern
ments might lay out q definite program
OF 10 years or more On public improve
ments TO be available for operation in
times of depression.
FIannery Principal Speaker.
Mr.. Flannery. who also outlined sue-
gestlons for unemployment insurance
ana other remedial measures, was the
prlnclpal speaker before q group meet
ing OF Catholic social service workers
devoted to social and economic problems
winch AFFECT in a material way the
work OF charity workers throughout the
country. DR.. Leo Wolman, research di-
rector OF the Amalgamated Clothinp
workers OF America, who discussed un-
employment insurance In more detail
ana Leuur MagnusSon, director OF the
washington branch Of the International
Labor ONCE. who dealt with the ni,es-
ton OF unemployment and public work
also addressed the meeting.
EiaDoratlng on his suggestion for A
National Employment Stabilization
council, Mr.. Flannery expressed the
opinion 1t should include EMPLOYERS Of
every grade and class of business and
INDUSTRY, private and public, with the
into effect equitable, reasonable and ef.
ment.
May Mean Fiye-day Week.
A five-daV week or fewer hours per
day may be decided upon, he suggested
not only for the sterilization of EN-.
ployment, but also to give everybody
more time for leisure and for the en-
Joyment OF modern comforts and luxu-
RES, the consumption of which, he
STRESSED, depends so much on the indi-
vidual.
I'VE must keep In mind the fact that
labor must receive the necessary pllr-
chasing power otherwise these conn
forts VIII not be purchased by Them"
he said.
Another field to tap in considering
plans for combating Unemployment in
depressed business periods, he pointed
out, lies In public works program.
More than 5000, 0OO, 600 is expended
annually in public works, he declared,
but it Is impossible for these govern
mental agencies to embark on q cam
paign OF Improvements within a few
months because of the innumerable OBJ
stacles that retard preparations. In
order, therefore, to have some reserve
in public work available for future pc
RODS OF business depression, he sug-
gested that the creation of q National
Commission for Public Improvements
would do much toward remedying this
situation. State and municipal authori-
ties should be invited to cooperate in
this direction with the Federal Gov
eminent Mr.. Flannery pointed out, for
the purpose Of definitely establishing q
building program for the next 10 or IS
years
While Mr.. Flannery conceded that
American labor Is opposed to the dole,
and some are afraid that compulsory
insurance Is q step in that direction, he
suggested that some form of protection
against unemployment must be put into
effect pending other attempts to sta
billie employment. Unemployment in
Surance seems to be one of the most
logical steps In this direction" he de-
clared.
Must Recognize Minimum.
Mr.. Magnussen, in his paper. de-
clared that the first step in any pro-