Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-27
BIZ DIR. MAX w1NKLER.
Special Dispatch to The star.


NEW YORK, September 26.-Men-
bers of President Hoover's Committee
on Unemployment Relief are united In
the conviction that continuance Of en-
ployment and maintenance OF wages in
accordance with the purchasing power
of the dollar will go long way toward
alleviating the present economic dis
turbance
The men, the majority of them big
employers, expressed this conviction IN
answer to letter which was sent them.
Among answers received were the
following:
Walter s. Clifford, president Of the
American Telephane g. Telegraph Co.
and head of the Committee on Unem-
ployment Relief-"Nearly year ago,
/ was asked the same question, to which
I then replied as follows: We have done
and will continue to do everything pos
sible to maintain the maximum of en-
ployment. Through close contact with
our employees We keep them advised Of
our intent and plans. We regard this
as the best method for ourselves Of
preventing uneasiness on their part as
to the security Of employment. But
conditions are so different in different
businesses that our method may not
apply to others or theirs to u.s.
Wage Changes Few.
Charles L. Edgar Of Boston, chair
man of the committee organized under
the auspices of the National Electric
Light Association to work out plans for
the sterilization of employment as re-
lated to the electric light and power
industry-"There Is greater stability Of
employment and wages in the electric
light and power industry than in any
other major industrial group reporting
to the United States Bureau of Labor.
This exceptional achievement, Ilustrat-
ing the public service rendered by the
electric utilities as a shock absorber
during periods Of depression, Is shown
by preliminary studies made by the
committee"
Pierre s. du Pont Of Wilmington,
Del.-"No doubt there is some justifi-
cation In the fear that wages and sala-
ries are to be cut. Many believe that
such changes are necessary before we
can have return to prosperity. I
myself am not convinced that such Is
the case. AS far as my own employees
are concerned, I have made no change
and at this writing do not expect to
make one, but I confess that II the
whole scheme of salaries and wages is
altered, might be obliged to follow"
William Cooper Proctor head OF the
Proctor g. Gamble Corporation of Gin
c1nnatl-"I am one of those who be-
i1eve that wages should and must be
adjusted In accordance with the re-
duced cost of living before we can begin
to move from the present depression"
Walter G. Teagle, head of the Stand
ard OH Co. Of New Jersey-"I do not
see how any employer can tie his hands
so that he will not be free to act ac-
cording to the needs of his business at
some future date"
s. p. Bush Of Columbus, Ohio-"I be-
lieve employers will without delay at
firm publicly that 1t is their intention
to retain, as far as possible, those now
in their employ, and as far as feasible,
at the wage or salary scale now In
effect. and I will urge employers in
the state OF Ohio, through suitable
II might say, however, in relation to
the above, that when it comes to main
tanning wage or salary scales now in
effect, an employer can do no more than
say he will do this so far as it is
feasible, because he is the victim under
existing circumstances, which recur
from time to time, of our vicious sys-
tenn OF unrestrained and unregulated
competition, which is wholly incon-
sistent In most of our basic industries,
with either the maintenance of profits
or the standard of wages which he
might like to maintain, and until the
destructive element of our competition,
commonly called 'cut-throat COMPETE
tion,' or selling below cost, Is eliminated
from our economic system, the average
employer is helpless"
Lay-Offs Have Been Necessary.
w. G. Stuber, president Of the East
man Kodak Co.-"During the past two
years we have made every effort posi-
BILE to keep employees on the pay roll
operations, We have as far as possible
put the force On part time, but It has