The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-12-17
HOUSE GROUP
HEARS SAVING
WAGE APPEAL
Frank E. Herring Explains
Eagles Bill to Prevent
DepreSSions.
SOUNDS DOOM WARNING
Measure Plans Commission
for Sterilization of
Employment.
SOUNDS DOOM WARNING
BY LAWRENCE SULLIVAN
Times staff Correspondcnt

WASHINGTON. Dec. l7.-De-
scribing the unemployment cycle
as the most pressing problem con-
fronting the nation today, Frank E.
Herring Of South Bend, Ind, told the
house judiciary committee today
that unless depressions are elimi-
mated ''our civilization is doomed"
Herring, for more than a quar-
ter century a leader in the Frater-
nal Order of Eagles, appeared to
sponsor the Eagles bill for creation
of a federal industrial commission
which would work for industrial
sterilization ana improvement of
living standards by development of
the Saving wage" for industrial
workers.
1.-The recurring periods of depres-
sion and unemployment bring dis
tress to millions of men and Wom-
en-, who are powerless to control
them, or to hasten their end. once
they have arrived" Herring told the
committee. This bill would eStab-
lish a new agency of the federal
government, charged with the re-
sponsibiity of smoothing out the
business cycles"
Introduced by Ludlow,
Herring was introduced by Repre-
sentative Louis Ludlow of Indian
apolis, who described the Eagles
bill as the only measure thus far
presented in the present session of
congress which approaches the
problem of business depression from
the long time viewpoint.
This is no mere emergency
measure, designed to tide the idle
through the hard winter" Ludlow
said. 1T is bill to launch the
nation on new policy of indus
trial control. Never was a measure
inspired by more benevolent pur-
poses"
Committee members indicated by
their questions that they regarded
the bill as too broad in scope. Others
suggested that some of the func-
tions contemplated for the proposed
industrial commission already are
involved in legislation in connection
with the Wagner unemployment bill,
now in conference between the house
and senate.
New Commission Required
F1I,o ;--,,ao,, (.roloa,,, oF +1,o i,,rJi
ciary committee asked if the pur-
pose of the bill was not generally
along the lines of the federal trade
commissions activity.
Ludlow responded that a new and
separate commission was required
to deote itself exclusively to the
problem of sterilization.
Representative Clyde Kelly of
Pennsylvania, who also spoke for
the bill, emphasized that the pres
ent national economic problem is
not one of "overproduction," but
rather one of maladjustment be-
tween producing capacity and pur-
chasing power.
THE tremendous expansion of
machine production has aggravated
the problem of the business cycle,
by Fastening its frequency" Kelly
said.
Supported by Kelly
Chairman Graham interrupted TO
ask how a federal commission
might deal with "the problem of
overproduction.
Kelly said the measure under
consideration was not concerned SO
much with that aspect of the prob
lem as with the balancing of pur-
chasing power. He suggested that
the shorter work day might be the
solution.
There is nothing paternalistic
in this BILL Kelly declared. ct is
measure of self-help. America
has the intelligence to eliminate
these recurring periods Of want and
suffering in the midst of plenty"