The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-16
Industries lob

Compulsory unemployment insurance probably
will come in the United States
Whereas in Europe nine nations have compulsory
insurance laws protecting 100000 workers. our own
voluntary systems seem too puny to mention After
two major depressions and one minor one here since
the World war only thirty-flve companies have job
security plans for their workers Today hardly more
than 10000 American workers are protected
through the benevoence of their employers company
plans.
Hackneyed phrases about rugged individualisrn"
and "the American way not obscure this fact
either the workers of the United States will be fed
upon charys costly and debasing "dole" during de-
pressions they will be carried over by means of
reserves built up from industrys profits during good
times.
If industry fails to do for it's workers what it does
for its investors and its machines then the government
probably will force it to do so eventually
Il hate" said Owen D. Young recently mot only
the term but the dea of coercion yet we are forced
to recognize that every advance social organization
requires voluntary surrender Of a certain amount of
individual freedom by the majority and the ultimate
coercion of the minority"
America seeking workable plan, undoubtedly viii
founder a bit. 1t may however, draw upon the ex-
periences Of Europe of forwardlookng employers and
unions, and of pioneering states.
For instance, Frances Perkins, New York state in
dustrial commissioner following long study of various
systems here and abroad urges for America the part
nerhip of states for creating and administering lob
insurance reserves.
Specifically, she suggests that seven industrial
States-New York, New jersey Pennsylvania Connec-
ticut Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Ohio-unite
under an insurance authority" like the New York
New Jersey port authority, to insure their workers
against unemployment.
Wisconsin has before its legislature an original
measure the Groves bill, to compel employers to in
sure workers by plants and guarantee them ten weeks
on half pay if the job runs out The reserves are
financed exclusively by the employers on the theory
that this will force sterilization
Ohio and Michigan have pending measures SINH
lar to the model act Of the American Labor Legisla-
ton Association, providing for worker-empoyer con-
tributionS Last winter various bills were introduced
into twenty state legislatures.
Despite anticipated adverse majority report bv
the special committee of the United States senate
Senator Wagner will press his measure for $3.50 fed
eral aid to states for job security reserves
No insurance system can be effective completely
unless it is national in scope because the sources of
depression unemployment are national, rather than
local. few states like Wisconsin a few industries
like General Electric, few union company systems
like that of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, can
not stand alone.
Just thirty years ago the first industrial accident
law was passed Today it is accepted generally that
industry is responibe for its injured workmen In
dustrys responsibility for making its workers Jobs
secure should be equally binding
If industry can afford to pay out $2OOOOoOOO an
nualy to injured workmen and their families it can
afford the burden of caring for it's victims of irregular
employment.
AS Justice Brandeis says, the right of regularity
OF employment is coequal with the right of regularity
in the payment Of rent interest bonds or reserves
for depreciation
And he adds. mo business is socially solvent with
out it,"