Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-28
conference CITES
AID FOR JODLESS
Welfare Leaders Advocate
Five Billion Bond Issue
for Public Works.

A five-biIlion dollar bond issue to
finance public works, more equitable
division of the national income and a
social conscience alert to the dangers
Of recurring unemployment were adj
vocated by social welfare leaders of
three faiths last night at dinner clos
ing the National Conference on Perma-
nent Preventives of Unemployment at
the Hamilton Hotel.
The speakers were Rev. DR.. John A.
Ryan Of the faculty of Catholic Univer-
sity and director of the Social Action
Department, National Catholic Welfare
Conference; Rev. DR.. Harry F. Ward of
New York, professor of social ethics,
Union Theological Seminary, and Rabbi
Edward l.. Israel of Baltimore, chair
man of the Social Justice Commission,
Central Conference of American RabbiS.
The conference was under auspices of
the social welfare organizations of the
bodies which Father Ryan and Rabbi
Israel head, In addition to the Social
Service Commission, Federal Council of
Churches.
Speaking on 1.-THE Demands of
Justice" DR.. Ryan said it is the OBJ
legation of the Government to furnish
the means of food, clothing, shelter
and other necessities of life" to the
unemployed, when private sources are
inadequate.
Private Charity Not Adequate.
Despite the complacent attitude of
men in high places" he declared, sit
seems fairly we'll established that pri-
vate charity will not bring adequate
relief to all those who are in grave
need in many of the United States this
Winter"
Five billion dollars would not be an
excessive expenditure for public build
ings, roads, navigation. flood control
and other public enterprises. Dr. Ryan
stated. In two years, he said, If this
sum were divided equally for wages
and material, with the average wage
$1.250 q year. 100000 persons would
obtain employment for the two-year
period.
DR.. Ryan also approved compulsory
unemployment insurance, public en-
ployment agenci:S, higher wages and
shorter hours as methods of unemploy-
ment prevention.
DR.. Ward said the "Siamese twins"
of overproduction and underconsump-
ton are born of the. way tn. national
income Is divided. The method of divi-
sion, he said, is competitive profit
seeking" the motive is "the hope Of
financial gain and far of loss" and the
principle is "the right OF the strong
to rule"
Ills Must Be Remembered.
Rabbi Israel summarized discussions
of the conference as follows:
First of all, we must serve notice
on society that we will not tolerate
the easy forgetfulness by which we
slip out of the worries of depression
when times of prosperity again come.
The ills of today must be remembered
Permanent commissions must be set
up. The primary demand is to insure
employment and not compensation for
unemployment.
I'VE must voice the need of thorough
going reforms based on human values
It is these human values which must
be stabilized and the economic order
made more flexible. We must support
the public employment agency because
private agencies have too often meant
exploitation of misery"
DR.. Cloyd Heck Marvin, president
of George Washington University. pre-
sided at the closing session. which was
attended by more than 400 economists,
educators, social welfare workers, repre-
sentatives Of employer and employed
clergymen and others The conference
adjourned without adopting formal
resolutions or program.