Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-16
Both Sides Right on the
Employment Question
BY HARDEN COLFAx.

Ideas about unemployment vary to-
day, according to whether one has jobs
to give or q job to get. Those who are
employing men naturally take the atti-
tude that there are plenty Of Jobs for
those who want them. Workers with
out jobs assert that there are two idle
persons for every position open.
Balancing Of reports from all sections
of the country seems to indicate that
there Is still considerable amount Of
unemployment, but that the situation
Is improving and more men are being
put to work each week.
Disagreement as to the trend and
extent OF unemployment Is noticeable
even between the Government depart
I1ents. Executives Of the Department
of Commerce have commented in highly
favorable terms on the business situa-
ton and the trend of unemployment.
The Treasury Department Is known to
feel that business Is now well on its way
back to normal and that employment
is taking the same course as business.
On the other hand, the Federal Re-
serve Board has indicated that no stem
should be left untaken which will in
duce the resumption of expansion Of
business and commercial enterprise and
that the main object OF easier credit
and lower money is to get the fac
tories on full time again."
\ 4 \
The Labor Department in an offlcial
statement declares that all its reports
indicate an upward swing of employ
nleHt. 1t says, however, that there was
undoubtedly . great volume OF unem-
ployment early in January and that
there Is considerable unemployment
even now, although there has been
some improvement. The department
believes 1t will take go to 90 days to
put the country back on a normal en-
ployment basis. Secretary of Labor
James j. Davis declares there are thou
sands of men standing at the factory
gates in some sections of the country
in search of Jobs which cannot be
found. He adds, however. that the trend
of employment has picked ND markedly
during the last three weeks.
Labor officials in the States take n
somewhat gloomy view Of the situation,
Frances Perkins, State labor commits
sioner of New York, believes the Situa-
ton Is very serious one. She asserts
that not only is employment far below
the level of a year ago, but that there
is acute distress. She adds that the
reason this has not been brought more
clearly to the attention Of the public
generally is that the workers have suf-
fered in silence.
There has been no silence so far as
the headquarters Of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor Is concerned. There 1t
Is asserted loudly and incessaY1tly that
the condition of the workers, 40 far ss
jobs are concerned, is worse than II
has been for five years. The labor
leaders declare that approximately
100000 wage earners are out of en-
ployment. They also complain that
when they entered into the agreement
In November and December not to press
for increases In wages 1t was on the
assurance from the industrial leaders of
the country that employment would be
maintained. They deny that the en-
ployers' side Of the bargain has been
kept.
The National Industrial Conference
Board, on the other hand. takes =
bright view Of the situation, DECLARING
that employment in the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
industries, while lower than 1t was In
october and November, was higher in
December than in December 1928. and
that improvement has taken place
since.
Unprecedented observers, after weigh.
ing all OF the conflicting statements.
come to the conclusion that none Is en-
tirely right or entirely wrong. They
declare that unquestionably there was
a. drop In industrial activity and ems
ployment in November and December.
They state that conditions then COM
menced to improve and that the move
Is toward levels attained in 1928 and
1929. They conclude that none can saw
Just when the country will get back
to q state Of normal industrial activity
and employment. but they do not an
ticipate that this will be delayed be-
yond late April or early May.
In support Of this, they point out
that the key industries, such as iron
and steel and the automobile factories.
are showing q high rate Of production
and are increasing their rates. The
same is true Of the coal industry to q
lesser degree. There is a decided de-
mand for skilled mechanics and ma