Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-12
Schemes to Aid Employment
Are Discussed by the Nation

Suggested methods for overcoming
unemployment, which have been placed
before the country, are being subjected
to varying degrees of criticism. Gov.
Roosevelt's speech before the Conference
OF Governors, in favor of the insurance
method, and the experiment announced
by the General Electric Co., which
promises relief through Joint contribu-
lions OF employer and employees, are
debated. President Hoover's report on
the results of emergency measures deal
ing with construction program is also
subject of comment.
economic necessity" as emphasized
In the Roosevelt address before the
Governors is considered by the Harris
burg Telegraph, with the statement:
Roosevelt is voicing in politics what
the General Electric is in industry.
Those slow to indorse progressive meas
ures might give thought to these two
incidents. UnqueStionably, they are
torerunners of issues which the country
will have to face and to which there
Is only one answer. 1t is apparent that
we are definitely entered upon a period
In which humanitarian legislation and
policies will become increasingly sub
Iects for popular discussion"
Shorter working days and shorter
weeks, dammmg up OF work to tide over
periods of depresSion-Such plans, a"
according to the Asheville Times, may
help, but Gov. Roosevelt seems to be
justified from all past experience in
contending that they will not eliminate
unemployment" The Times is con-
WINGED that unemployment insurance,
including old age security, qualified as
the theory is in the New York Gov
ernor's address, must be accepted as a
policy as sane and sound as can be
devised today" The San Bernardino
sun declares: There Is no Disgusting
the fact that unemployment insurance,
even though it might approach the dole
system, would have very considerable
support. INDECENT aid for the aged has
become popular through the guise of
old age pensions. Many want ii who
are not entitled to it, because they have
other means of support"
4 X X
Right now. with several millions of
unemployed men," thinks the st. Louis
Times, ''it is easy to impress the need
for insuring the jobless, but in the long
run the most important of the two
phases discussed by the New York Gov
ernor is that of old age security Z"
Agitation of the question is service to
the American people. There was a time,
not long ago. when such insurance was
regarded as Socialistic, but those who
branded 1t that way have changed their
opinion and now pray for it. The pres
ent period OF unemployment has done
much to change views of citizens who
previously had been hostile to the theory
of guaranteeing any one job"
The General Electric plan is called
by the Chicago Daily News "a different
solution of the problem and one which
N1-o hol oil -l.k
be expected of State insurance with
out many of its disadvantages. De-
scribing the corporations purpose. that
paper states: An insurance fund will
be set up when requested by so per
cent of the employees in any branch.
The employe when working half time
or more, agrees to pay into the fund
per cent of his earnings over a period
of three years. The company will match
that contribution, dollar for dollar, and
in addition guarantees interest of per
cent to the fund. If the empleye is laid
| off temporarily he will receive half of
his wages, but not more than $40 a
| week, for 10 weeks. Special provisions
, cover periods of abnormal and pro-
longed unemployment The plan pre-
eumes. as it well may, that periods OF
industrial depression in the United
States and In the electrical industry are
not likely to be prolonged. 1t assumes
also that, in so far as its resources
| permit, management is duty bound t.
stabilize employment conditions"
X X X
This plan is supposed to act both
for the prevention and cure of unem-
ployment," says the Jackson Citizen
! Patriot, observing that when business
is on the increase it Is stipulated that
the company shall expand its working
force as slowly as possible and shall