Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-20
Census Pressed for
Employment Report
BY HARDEN COLFAx.


bear on the Bureau Of the Census, both
by private and governmental organiza-
lions, to speed up the reports on un-
employment So far these efforts have
been unavailing. William M. Steuart,
director of the Census Bureau, declines
to promise that the unemployment f1g-
ures will be available within a year.
although he hopes to announce them
within that time.
Mr.. Steuart asserts that the popula-
ton figures must come first. These, he
says must be available before Congress
meets in December to decide on con-
gressional reapportionment. Various
factors, chief among which Is illness
of personnel, may keep tabulation fig
ures back, he points out, but 1t is hoped
the employment figures will be closely
hitched with the population"
Officials Of the Department Of Labor
and of the American Federation OF
Labor In protest declare that year
from now the unemployment figures
complied by the census may be abso-
lutely valueless. The extent of unem-
ployment now Is of paramount interest
to both workers and producers. The
latter have recognized the fact that the
workers buying power Is the mainstay
of industrial production and that their
own workers serve as an index Of the
possible volume Of sales throughout the
Nation.
Labor leaders object vigorously to the
prior dissemination of population fig-
ures for individual cities and towns.
These, they assert, are purely local mat
tiers which give individual committees
an opportunity to point with pride"
Growth in population, they say, well
may reflect a growth of unemployment
which IL highly dangerous.
State labor officials and labor leaders
are, therefore, inclined to place q mimi
mum value on the unemployment fig-
ures to be forthcoming from the census.
They add that the census Is not de-
signed to reflect modern conditions.
Transfers of employment, they say,
do not mean unemployment. These
changes in the numbers employed do
not reflect actual conditions In various
sections, but show rather changes In
the location of industrial activities.
This has been thoroughly exemplifled,
they state, In the radio, aviation and
automobile industries.
A new policy has come into existence
in regard to the training Of workers,
the Bureau Of Education points out.
Manufacturers who are changing their
by-lineS are likewise seeking to change
the adaptability of their workers. The
day when manufacturers measured eff
fciency has passed. They have studied
waste OF motion, lighting problems and
fresh air circulation with reference to
efficiency until they have arrived at
definite conclusions. Now they are
studying the mental attitude of the
worker toward his job and toward his
efficiency in that job.
This Is just another way Of saying
that they are striving for development
Of captains of men" as well as cap
tairs of money. They have found by
reliable statistics that workers do more
efnctent work and produce less per
man-power hour in some plants where
lighting, sanitation and hard-and-fast
factory practices are in effect than In
other factories where advantage Is taken
OF direction and psychology.
Time and motion studies are valuable,
but the deciding factor, 1t has been
found, lies In the mental attitude raised
in the consciousness of the worker.
As a result Of realization of these
facts the General Electric Co. is work.
ing in conjunction with the American
Federation of Labor. So are q half
dozen other big industrial concerns.
The Western Electric Co. Is conducting
experiments in conjunction with the
Massachusetts, Institute of Technology
and with Harvard University.
r n
Still other companies are seeking per-
sonalities that have the possibilities of
worker inspiration. The railroad world
has not forgotten the achievement Of
Roaring Dan" Lyons, who was field
superintendent for the Fitzpatrick
Bros. in the building of the railroads
west of the Mississippi. Wearing an
Irish frieze ulster and straw hat Win
ter and Summer, Dan Lyons inspired
his crews to feats of track-laying which
never since have been equaled. He did
1t because he was a captain of men.
The same study Is being given the
career of John McSorley, superintend-
ent Of the Daley West Mining Co., and
a score of others
All had their individual methods, but
all aroused desire for emulation
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