Evening star., 1930-12-02


governors, mayors, and other public
officials, from welfare organizations,
and from employers in concerns Doth
large and small. The local COM
munities through their voluntary
agencies have assumed the duty Of
relieving individual distress and are
being generously supported oy the
public.
Unemployment Decrease Seen
In Ofilciai Tabula tions.
The number of those wholly out of
employment seeking for work was
accurately determined by the census
last April as about 2,500,000. The
Department of Labor index of en-
ployment in the larger trades shows
some decrease in employment since
that time. The problem from a re-
lief point OF view is somewhat less
than the published estimates OF the
number OF unemployed would indi-
cate. The intensive community and
individual efforts in providing spe-
ciAl employment outside the listed
industries are not reflected In the
statistical indexes and tend to reduce
such published figures. Moreover,
there Is estimated to be O constant
figure at all times of nearly ,OOO, 900
unemployed who are not without
annual income but temporarily idle
IN the shift from one Job to another.
we have an average of about three
breadwinners to each two families,
so that every person unemployed
does not represent a family with
out income. The view that the relief
problems are less than the gross
numbers would indicate is confirmed
by the experience of several cities.
which shows that the number of
families In distress represents from
40 to 20 per cent of the number of
the calculated unemployed. This is
not said to minimize the very real
problem which exists but to weigh
its actual proportions.
AS a contribution to the situation
the Federal Government is engaged
upon the greatest program of water
way. harbor, flood control, public
building, highway, and airway i'm
provement In all our history. This,
together with loans to merchant
shipbuilders, improvement of the
Navy and in military aviation, and
other construction work Of the Gov
ernment Will exceed $500 900 900 for
this fiscal. year. This compares with
$25S 100000 in the fiscal year 1923.
The construction works already au-
thorized and the continuation of
policies IN Government aid will re-
qaire continual expenditure cn.
wards OF half billion dollars
annually.
All Necessary Work Should
Be Put Under Way.
I favor still further temporarv
expansion bf these activities in aid
TO unemployment during this Winter.
Tne Congress will, however, have
presented to it numbers Of projects.
some OF them under the guise of,
rather than the reality Of, their use
fulnesS In the increase Of employ
ment during the depression. There
are certain common-sease liinita-
tons upon any expansions of con-
stTuction work. The Government
must not undertake works that are
not OF sound economic purpose and
tnat have not been subject to
searching technical Investigation,
and which have not been given tade.
quate consideration by the Congress.
The volume Of construction work in
the Government Is already at the
maximum limit warranted by 'hnan-
cial prudence as a continuing policy.
To increase taxation for purposes of
construction work defeats its own
purpose, as such taxes directly
diminish employment in private in
dustry. Again any kind Of con-
struction requires, after its author
1zation, a considerable time before
labor can be employed in which to
make engineering, architectural, and
legal preparations. Our immediate
problem Is the increase of employ
ment for the next six months, and
new plans which do not produce
such immediate result or which exc
tend commitments beyond this
period are not warranted.
The enlarged rivers and harbors,
public building, and highway plans
authorized by Congress last session,
however, offer an opportunity for
assistance by the temporary accel-
Grafton Of construction of these pro-
grams even faster than originally
planned, especially II the technical
requirements of the laws which
entail great delays could be amend
ed in such fashion as to speed up
requirements Of land and the let-
ting of contracts.
With view, however, to the pos.
sible need for acceleration, we, i'm
mediately upon receiving those
authorities from the Congress five
months ago. began the necessary
technical work in preparation for
such possible eventuality. have
canvaSsed the departments Of the
Government IS to the maximum
amount that can be properly added
to our present expenditure TO ac-
celerate all construction during the
next six months, and feel war
ranted In asking the Congress for
an appropriation of from 100000
600 to $3.50 ,000, 900 to provide such
further employment in this emer-
gency. In connection Herewith we
need some authority to make en-
larged temporary advances Of Fed
eral highway aid to the States.
American Price Level Held
Above Rest Of World.
recommend that this appropria-
ton be made distributable to the
different departments upon recon-
mendation of q committee of the
cabinet and approval by the Presi-
dent. It's application to works al
ready AUTHORIZED by the Congress
assures It's use in directions Of eco
nomic importance and TO public
welfare. Such action will imply an
expenditure upon construction Of all
kinds of over $650,000,000 during
the next IL months.
The, worldwide depression has
affected agriculture in common with
all other industries. The average
price Of farm produce has fallen to
about 80 per cent Of the levels OF
1928. This average is, however,
greatly affected by wheat. and cot
ton. which have participated in
world wide overproduction and have
fallen 70 about go per cent Of the
average price Of the year 1928. Ex-
cluding these commodities, the
prices of all other agricultural
products are about "a per cent OF
those of 1928. The average whole
sale prices Of other primary goods,
such as nonferrous metals, have
fallen to about 76 per cent OF 1928.
The price levels of our major agri-
cultural commodities are, in fact,
higher than those in other principal