The Washington times., 1930-12-02

GLIdJ sui OlL4CoO dLIQ 1IIuCPCIluCIlCS
which built a great nation.
Quick to Respond
Our people are responding to
these impulses in remarkable de-
gree.
The best contribution of govern.
mente lies in encouragement Of
this voluntary co-U peration in the
community.
The Government, National a ],
State, and local, can join with
the community in such programs
and do its part.
A year ago I, together with
other officers of the Government.
initiated extensive cooperative
measures throughout the country.
The first of these measures was
an agreement Of leading EN-.
ployers to maintain the standards
of wages and of labor leaders to
use their influence against strife.
In a large sense these under.
takings have been adhered to and
we have not witnessed the usual
reductions of wages which have
always heretofore marked depres
sionS.
The index of union wage scales
shows them to be today fully up
to the level Of any of the previous
three years.
Buying Power Gains
In consequence the buying
power Of the country has been
much larger than would otherwise
have been the case.
OF equal Importance the Nation
has had an unusual peace IN In.
dustry and freedom from the pub,
lie disorder which has character
lied previous depressions. .
The second direction Of coop.
Grafton has been that our govern
ments, National. State, and local.
the industries and business SO
distribute employment as to give
work to the maximum number OF
employees.
The third direction of co-opera
tion has been to maintain ana
even extend construction work
and betterments in anticipation OF
the future.
It has been the universal ex-
perience in previous depresslon5
that public works and private con
struction have fallen off rapidly
with the general tide OF depreS-
sion.
On this occasion, however, the
increased authorization and gen.
erols appropriations by the Con.
gress and the action OF States ana
municipalities have resulted in the
expansion of public construction
to an amount even above that IN
the most prosperous years.
In addition the cooperation OF
public utilities, railways, and other
large organizations has been gen.
erously given in construction and
betterment work in anticipation OF
future need.
Construction Increases
The Department of Commerce
advises me that as q result. the
volume of this type OF cOnStruc-
ton work, which amounted to
roughly $4,000, 100000 In 1929, in
stead of decreasing will show q
total of about $7,OOO,OOO,OOO for
1880. There has, of course, been
a substantial decrease in the types
of construction which could not
be undertaken in advance of need.
The fourth direction of eoopera-
tion was the organization in such
States and municipalities, as was
deemed necessary. of committees
to organize local employment, to
provide for employment agencies,
and to effect relief Of distress.
The result Of magnificent coop
Grafton throughout the country
has been that actuSI suffering has
been kept to q minimum during
the past IL months, and our un-
employment has been far less in
proportion than in other large In
dustriaI countries,
Some time ago 1t became evi-
dent that unemployment would
continue over the winter and
would necessarily be added to
from seasonal causes and that the
savings of wOrkpeOple would be
more largely depleted.
We have as q Nation definite
duty to see that no deserving per-
son in our country suffers from
hunger or cold.
NEavnrs Tnr1a In Art
I therefore set up a more ex-
tensive organization to stimulate
more intensive cooperation
throughout the country.
There has been a most graft
flying degree Of respone, from
governors, mayors, and other
public officials, from welfare or
ganizations, and from employers
in concerns both large and small.
The local communities through
their voluntary agencies have
assumed the duty Of relieving in
dividual distress and are being
generously supported by the pub
lie.
The number Of those wholly
out of employment seeking for
work was accurately determined
by the census last April as about
2,5OO,O0O. The Department of
Labor index IF employment in
the larger trades shows some de-
crease in employment since that
time.
The problem from a relief
point Of view is somewhat less
than the published estimates Of
the number of unempIoyed