Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-14
WORK INSURANCE
URGED IN ADDRESS
Prof. Gray of American U.
Fears Winter Riots.
Leaders Scored.

Riots and much bloodshed" this
Winter as result of the depression
were predicted by Prof. John Gray of
the Economics Department of the Amer
lean University Graduate School, speak
ing at q meeting of the Washington
Council of Social Agencies in the Bur-
lington Hotel yesterday afternoon.
Declaring persons will not quietly
submit to poverty and starvation" and
that "it is right they shouldn't" Prof.
Gray expressed the fear there will be
bread riots" and other conflicts, which
police officers frequently will be called
upon to suppress.
Deploring the economic depression,
Prof. Gray declared that with but few
exceptions have leaders in this Nation
made any suggestion as to how to avoid
a return of the present conditions once
they are relieved. He urged unemploy-
ment insurance, on which the principal
speaker at the meeting, John Fitch, pro-
lessor of industry of the New York
School of Social Work, delivered an
address at the meeting.
ANY Relief q Dole"
Prof. Gray's remarks were In the
nature of discussion of the subject
of Mr.. Fitch's address.
Choosing specifically "the Dole" as
his subject, Mr.. Fitch advocated I'M
employment insurance and asserted
that relief aid, however given, is In q
sense a. dole.
While asserting unemployment in
the unemployment situation, Mr.. Fitch
recommended it as the best form for
furnishing relief to the unemployed.
Declaring the unemployed can de-
pend on only two things for liven-
hood - savings or charity - Mr.. Fitch
introduced figures to show that a small
percentage of the larger industries pay
on an average what authorities con-
slider a living wage.
Mr.. Fitch gave long list of rules
for guarding unemployment insurance
funds.
To properly guard the funds, he said,
benefits must always be less than sala-
ries, so as not to encourage worker
to take vacation" AS a beginning,
he suggested the maximum insurance
benefit amount to approximately so per
cent Of the wages.
For Compulsory Insurance.
Advocating compulsory unemploy-
ment insurance rather than Just VOL
untary, Mr. Fitch said it would be ur1-
fair competition If some employers car
ried it for their employees and others
did not
John Troxell, executive director of
the Municipal Commission on Employ
ment Sterilization, Baltimore, Nd,
said he believed it would be inadvis-
able to adopt the unemployment insur-
ance unless it could be assured 1t would
serve to greatly reduce relief work.
Yesterdays meeting of the council
was held under direction of its Family
Welfare Committee. Paul Benjamin,
chairman of the committee, introduced
the speakers, after being presented by
DR.. Frederick w. Perkins, acting presi-
dent of the council.
Reports were made at the meeting as
follows: BY Miss Helen Story, Insur-
ance Committee; Miss Clyde B. Schu-
man, director of nutrician service,
American Red Cross, VINO reported' for
the Budget Committee of the council;
Miss Edith Coulson, Legal Aid Commit
tee, and Miss Edith Spray. Case Work
Technique Committee. Miss Schuman
told of booklet her committee has
gotten out giving budget tables and
yi,rrf1a sing YriceS of food and clothing