Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-15
Consumer Demand
Reported Larger
In Many Sections
Slow Gain in Sales Is Aid
in Effort to Maintain
Wages.

Consumer demand in this country Is
being maintained. In fact, it is being
slowly built up. Production in most in
dustries has been brought within reach
ing distance of demand. Both produc-
ton and demand have approached closer
to balacing man power in the indus
tries. This is shown by a slight, but
unmistakable increase in employment
in the key industries reported both by
Government officials and by the Amer
lean Federation of Labor.
The Government specialists and the
labor executives are battling vigorously,
however, to prevent reduction Of wage
scales at the present time. Far-sighted
business executives feel equally strongly
on this question, because they say that
the present wage scales are essential in
maintaining consumer demand, since
the workers themselves are the greatest
buyers Of the country.
Encouraging Factor.
One encouraging factor which has
been overlooked is the granting Of a
five-and- halliday week to Government
employees. Many people felt that this
applied simply to the Government clerks
in Washington and in a few other CEN
ters. This is not the case. 1t applies
also to tremendous number Of skilled
artisans and mechanics who are en-
ployed at the navy yard, the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing. the Govern
ment Printing once and other govern
mental activities throughout the whole
country.
It is estimated that this alteration
In working hours will cost the Govern
ment $27,000,000 a year. This will not
represent one cent for additional clerk
hire, according to labor experts The
Government clerks, they say, are amply
able to do as much in five and half
days as they have been doing in six,
and they add 1t may prevent some of
the so-called o'clock watchers from
staring the governmental timepieces out
Of countenance.
The new legislation, however. will
mean the employment of additional men
in the mechanical departments of Gov
eminent work. The change in outlook
with regard to capital and labor is
plainly shown in one of the late an
nouncements Of the American Fedora
ton. This cites the vigorous rise in
stock prices in recent weeks as a de-
cided factor in the betterment of the
situation.
There was a time when nothing tied
up with the name Of Wall Street could
be regarded as favorable to. labor, ac-
cording to old-time labor leaders. To-
day, however, the formal announcement
declared that this advance in stocks has
had the effect of spreading optimism
and resulted in the increased produc-
ton OF industrial plants. The latter. it
is said, can be traced directly to the
more cheerful spirit resulting from
higher stock prices.
Low Point Passed.
Another development almost as rad
ical is seen in the fact that decidedly
friendly attitude has been observed in
the informal discussions which have
taken place between business executives
and labor leaders with regard to the
affect on labor Of proposed industrial
consultations. There has been dis
played q mutual consideration which is
most encouraging to the prospect of ac-
cord on this important question.
Figures compiled by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics show that there has
been a decrease in the quit, lay-off and
discharge rates for the country as a
whole for the last few weeks, while the
expansion rate has been increased. All
of these rates, both those of hiring and
firing, are less at this time than a year
ago. This would indicate that the low
point of unemployment has been safely
passed.
(CopyriRht, 1872