Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-09

Possible benefits are seen by many
III the passage by the Senate of two
out OF three measures for the relief OF
unemployment, introduced by Senator
Wagner of New York. One of these
provides for revolving fund of $780,
100000 to be used by planning board
Tor public works where needed. The
second bill would establish a system of
statistics on jobs and job hunters. The
third bill. pending, is intended to deal
With employment activities.
The Wagner bills are described by the
Rochester Times-Union as 1.-THE first
combination of the kind ever to come
before Congress" and that paper be-
lieves that their worth will endure for
years" The Lowell Evening Leader
records that the principles involved in
the two bills approved in the Senate
are precisely the same as those on
which President Hoover based his pro-
gram for relief" and suggests that "the
Senator's mind and that of the Presi-
dent have evidently been moving in the
same channels"
X X X 4
Essentially sound" is the verdict
of the Houston Chronicle on "the plan
to encourage the construction of public
works In times of economic depression"
and that paper concludes: "Stabiliza-
ton OF the workers income must be
accomplished, else we will have State
social insurance on scale hitherto I'M
dreamed of. This Nation will be bur-
dened with unemployment insurance.
OLD age insurance, burdens which will
place us In the same class with Eng
land, whose dole to unemployed workers
is such a drain upon her resources.
Many great manufacturing concerns in
America have stabilized their dividends.
In lean years or good, the man who
owns shares In the company gets his
return on his investment. American in
dustry will have to take from it's surplus
FUNDS In the good times so that the
workers can be aided in times that are
bad. Unless some such system is put
into effect, this preliminary $150,O0O,-
600 voted by the United States Senate
VIII be but the beginning of a success
sion OF Government 'doles which must
be paid ultimately by us all in the shape
of higher taxes"
Expressing the hope that the House
VIII give approval, the Cleveland Plain
Dealer comments: THE unemployment
situation is serious; it involves millions
OF persons and hundreds of thousands
or families. The Federal Government
cannot afford to be oblivious of it any
longer"
Calling the proposal "a weak scheme f"
the Milwaukee Journal explains that
big cut though the $3.50, OO0. 900 is into
Federal revenue, it is a triling sum
when unemployment mounts" The
Journal contends that better plans
have been put in practice in many
private enterprises" and advises ut
Is possible to study the consumption
habits of the public-in some cases even
to change the c0nSrnnptior Hohite. Il,
others to use cold storage, as in the
case of such perishable products as
dates; in others to change merchandise
Ing policy. with the result of keeping
employment on fairly even keel. Here
is the intelligent way of attacking I'M
the profitable field for |
study by Federal and State governments |
and individual industries. We have |
long known that the coal industry |
needed such constructive study. It Is !
fairly clear that the great steel industry |
does also. and the automotive industry. |
For We can either do it by adjustments |
within industries or we can, by at |
tempting to unload the problem on |
private charity and on government,
really assume 1t ourselves In its most |
Encouraging and least constructive
FORM"
Few economists believe" according
10 the Chicago Daily News, "that these
measures would prove adequate for the
purpose intended, since the unemploy-
ment problem is exceedingly complex.
Carefully prepared construction pro-
grams are desirable, and President
Hoover is one of the foremost cham
oions OF that partial but sound remedy
or unemployment. But States and