The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-11-03
BY HERBERT MOORE
TlnIted Press STAFF Correspondent

lfONOOINs WV pCNAe"R N@ADNs
sands, bitter over a government
regulation that so TAR has deprived
500, 900 unemployed Of their dole
benefits, are battling police this
week in an attempt to reach parlia-
ment with protest.
Britains nearly 100000 unem-
ployed see, as result Of dole re-
strictions and economy in relief
measures, a winter Of hunger and
deprivation before them.
Their increasing complaints are
aimed at government economies put
into effect to balance the budget
The national unemployment insur-
ance systematic worlds most gi-
gantic iobless insurance machine
still exists. but it has been clipped
and economy-axed almost beyond
recognition.
The cumulative effect has been to
upset the standard of surviving" y
which the dole guaranteed Britains
unemployed from 1911 to 1882.
Attitude Changes Violently
An unprecedented change has
come in the attitude of the jobless.
They, with their dependents, num-
Der almost 25 per cent of the entire
population. The 10 per cent cut in
the weekly dole benefits year ago
did not stir them to violence.
But the operation of the means
test" has embittered them to a
dangerous decree. Communist in
f1uences are exploiting this growing
resentment.
When the means test" was insti-
tuted, it was estimated that it could
be applied to $4,000 persons, with
q saving to the government of APP
proximately $50,0000O0 a year. Thus
far more than 100000 have been dis
qualified and approximately $40
100000 has been saved.
Still the unemployment insurance
fund is in debt to the extent of
$575,000,000, and is running further
into debt at rate of $1,000,O00 a
week. The government is meeting
these deficits out of current rev.
enue, while waiting for recommen-
dations from the royal commission.
Branded as "InquisitiOn"
The means test" was brought
into operation on Nov. IL, 1881, I'M
der the national economy act. Ac-
cording to Labor party leaders, it
amounts to an "inquisition," and is
reducing nearly a million honest ana
willing unemployed persons, out of
work through no fault of their own,
to the status of paupers.
The national government, for the
sake of balancing the budget, had
cut the dole benefits and increased
the contributions into the dole fund.
1t decided at the same time that all
jobleSS persons drawing the tran
sitional benefit" would have to prove
the extent of their means and their
right to draw such payments.
1t was decided further that the
1ully-inSured unemployed drawing
the dole could do so only for twenty
six weeks in period of twelve
months. After this right is ex-
hausted, they must qualify for fur
Their transitional benefit" by prov
ing their need again.
The weekly dole benefits, always
paid in cash, have been reduced by
10 per cent. while the weekly con-
tributions by the insured workers,
their employers, and the govern
ment, have been increased by about
20 per cent.
Married Women Barred
Under the removal of anomalies"
act, married women out of work
were disqualified in most cases from
any sort of dole. Seasonal workers
who habitually work only two days
or less each week likewise can not
share dement's.
1t has been estimated that about
100000 women and at least $1,000
seasonal workers have been dis
qu2Ssfied under these regulations.
mus the general effect of the
governments alterations in the dole
have been to disqualify ap-
proximately 10000 since November
of last year.
BY the time it has reached it's
Full effect, the figure probably will
reach 100000. The only recourse
these disqualified persons will have
will be the poor law or private
charity