Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-30
Labor Department Shows
Further Employment
Drop in July.
FEDERATION STATISTICS
ACCURACY is ADMITTED
Hoover Relief Organization Turns
to Radio-Workers Head
First Speaker


OF 100000 made by William Green.
president Of the American Federation
OF Labor, went unchallenged yesterday
although Labor Department officials an
nounced that employment continued to
decrease in July and published statistics
showing wage reduction of about 10
per cent affecting 21o,675 workers, had
been reported during the first six
months of the year.
Government officials refused to hazard
an estimate on total unemployment at
this time. The federation leader on
Friday said that from reports sent
INTO his Office here from local union
headquarters he placed the number of
Jobless throughout the country at s.
100000 as Of August /.
Some criticism of Mr.. Green's eSti-
mate was voiced in Government and
labor circles yesterday. but ranking
Government officials admitted that the
federation'S statistical system was as
perfect. if not better, than Federal or
other agencies methods. Criticism was
directed chiefly at the 100000 Winter
estimate. 1t was contended that this
mark was too high and that it had a
tendency to discourage capital ventur-
ing further on what is considered a
troubled sea, and therefore invited
either further unemployment or reduce
ton in wages.
Critics Not Upheld
However, it was pointed out. the
Industrial Employment Information
Bulletin, published yesterday by the
Labor Department, failed to back up
the critics of Mr.. Green. With few
Lab
by this official organ as existing in
almost every city from Maine to Cali
fornia
Meanwhile. relief problems were being
studied by President Hoovers organi-
Zation on unemployment relief several
Government departments. the United
States Chamber of Commerce, the
labor federation and national welfare
organizations
plet1on, Walter S. Clifford national re-
lief director, returned to New York
late yesterday TO attend to private BUSH
ness affairs and his assistant Fred c.
Croxton, was surveying distress among
unemployed coal miners of West Vir-
ginia.
Mr.. Clifford had planned to spend the
week end in Washington, but was sud-
denly called to New York
The Presidents organization will
turn to the radio this week in cam
paign to keep young people in school
this Winter instead of competing with
their elders for JOBS, according to an
announcement made yesterday at Mr..
Gifford's Office.
Green to Speak First.
The first speech will be made over
the Columbia Broadcasting system at
BIS pm. Wednesday. by the Fedora
ton of Labors president Mr.. Green,
who is also member of the Presi-
dents Advisory Committee on Relief
Other addresses over the Columbia
chain will be at pm, Thursday. by
Willis Sutton, superintendent of schools
at Atlanta, Ca; 3 pm, Friday, by
William j. Cooper, United States Com
missioner of Education, and at 4.45
pm, Saturday by Morris Leeds, chair
man of the Philadelphia Chamber of
Commerce Unemployment Committee.
The Labor Department in its monthly
issue on the trend of employment said
it decreased 2 per. cent in July as COM
pared with June and payroll totals
decreased 4.8 per cent.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics
weighted index of employment for July
was announced as 704 as compared
with 1871 in January, when Secretary
of Commerce Lamont estimated there
were $3.50 900 unemployed. basing these
figures on a special Federal census
taken in 19 Of the larger cities. The
Statistical Bureaus index figure, how
ever did not include farm or road con-
struction work.
A compilation of figures showed that
during the first six months of the year
33 establishments reported wage in
creaSes averaging 60 per cent and sf-
fecting 2,022 workers.
Cuts were listed by units in virtually
every one of the 81 industries reporting
Wage Cuts Listed.
Since last February Is. when reports
were compiled for the period beginning
January Is. the monthly reports show
the number of establishments reducing
wages and the number OF employees af-
fected as follows;
February. 228 establishments and
SO 069 workers. March, IT'S and %, SOP;
April, 1875 and 22,543: May 293 and
46 ,377; June 2l0 and 25, 645, and July,
23S and 1928.
During the period from January l,
employment reported has been as fol-
lows:
January. total employment, 4.575,056.
of which 2,877 ,351 were in nanufactur-
ing 4liQuhbt 7su9osGH4 anu
3 ,9l6, SGT: March. 4,697 ,222 and 1857
1862: April, A,764, $50 and 2,014,008:
May, 4,73816S and 3,01s,212: June.
4 ,584,074 and 1894 ,593; and July, 4,491,-
521 and 1892, 694.
The Industrial Employment Infor-
nation Bulletin also commented on
conditions. pointing to cur
tailed operating schedules in many
manufacturing establishments during
July, but saying public construction was
''at high peak"
Municipal Improvements. public uti-
ity work and the installation of natural
gas pipe lines in various sections of the
country" the report added engaged
large numbers of skilled and unskillcd
laborers. Demands for agricultural help
increased and thousands OF
men were given employment in the
harvesting and other crops. While
many cities had large building pro-
grams under way, the general surplus
Of labor included building trades men,
general surplus of labor was ap-
parent throughout the month in the
District of Columbia, according to re-
port published in the Labor Depart
ment's organ by Agatha D. Ward, dis
JTict director of employment.