Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
LABOR SEEKS AID
FOR UNEMPLOYMENT
IN SHORTER HOURS
CONTINUED From First Page.)


amount contributed, goes to the local
chapter.
Payne said that corporation of the
type local chapters might give was en-
tirely different from the assistance
given during emergencies, such as
drOughts and floods, where the Red
Gross feels free to expend its resources.
In these cases the national organiza-
ton directs all expenditures.
Judge Payne said he did not know
how many OF the chapters wafted;st
participate with other agencies in re
lief work.
StRdy Personnel Cuts.
The rail union leaders, meeting in the
Machinists' Building, devoted the great
er part of yesterday to q discussion Of
conditions brought about by the Nation
wide Slashes of personnel that have
grown out Of declining revenues of
the carriers. Business depression, COM
petition, replacement OF manpower by
machinery, ali have contributed to the
present situation, and the union lead
eFs, 1t was said, believe it is time for
management and employees to get around
the table and see what can be done
nationally.
D. B. Robertson, head Of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemen and En-
gineHen, who presided over the local
conference rs chairman of the Railway
Labor Executives Association declared
that unemployment is costing the unions
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars for
relief, and that, in addition to this, in
dividual members who are employed are
contributing to the maintenance Of the
less fortunate.
Seek Pension Plan.
The railroad unions, it was made
known, also are seeking to work out q
national pension plan. Under this the
workers and employers would contribute
to a pension fund. The majority Of
railroads, 1t Is said, have no pension
plan, and those in existence, 1t was
said. are considered inadequate by the
employees.
While the question OF the proposed
four system merger OF the Eastern car
riers was to have been talked over here
it was said that 1t was not brought up
The employees are standing on the
premise that their rights must be pre-
tected in any merger, it was said.
In his statement, President Green
predicted that 1000, 900 workmen would
be without work next Winter IL the
usual seasonal unemployment comes
after the Fail pickup. He estimated
that 5 200 900 workers were idle In July
this figure being based on Federation
statistics.
Machines Speed Production.
Green said that survey of 1e4 cities
by the National Association of Com
munity Chests showed that relief needs
this Winter would probably be twice %
great as last. In advocating the shorter
working week, Green pointed out that
modern machines have made 1t possible
for o workman TO do as much in "a
hours row as was accomplished In 50
hours in 1919.
Secretary Doak declined to comment
on Green's figures, saying there was NO
accurate way Of checking.
As for the shorter work day anC
week, D0ak said that he had advocated
that before he entered the cabinet anC
saw no reason to change his views.
Doak said the efficiency Of his de-
partment had been maintained undel
the 51a-day plan.
Injection of the rail wage issue II
the freight rate increase hearings wa
| definitely barred yesterday afternoon
when Chairman Brainerd, Of the In
terState Commerce Commission said tina
the proceedings before the commission
would not include the question Of wages