Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-03
|DR. RYAN PREDICTS
100000 NEEDY;
urges MORE FUNDS
Norman Thomas Tells Job
Farley Riots Are Likely
I Unless Congress Acts.
80. HOUR WORK WEEK
ASKED AS AID MEASURE
q. s. Move to Stabilize Prices and
Elimination of Tax-Free
Bonds Advocated.

Predicting that "25,0o0, 900 persons
would be dependent upon charity" dur
ing the Winter, Dr. John A. Ryan, d.
rector Of the National Catholic We'll
fare Council, told the Joint Committee
on Unemployment in session here today
that the $500, 900 Federal appro-
priation for direct relief through loans
to the States was "scandalously insult
flcient"
DR.. Ryan estimated $4,000, 900 per-
sons would be without Jobs for the
Winter months, and this will mean
some 25,00C,0 1000 persons who must look
to charity for the necessities of life.
The speaker assured delegates at the
two-day session in the Ambassador
Hotel that the $500, 00o,o appropriated
for relief, combined with funds from
private contributions and local public
authorities, will not permit the Gus
tomary miserable allowance of "a per
family per week"
Norman Thomas Speaks.
Another speaker, Norman Thomas,
Socialist candidate for President, pre-
dicted riots unless Congress assists the
farmer and worker. He said the only
possible means Of balancing the budget
Is an increase in the income and in
heritance taxes.
The committee, composed Of repre-
sentatives from II organizations in
terested In social service work from "a
States, heard Thomas assaN the sales
tax as burden on workers and farmers
and an advantage to the income-tax
paying group. Thomas asserted 80 per
cent of general purchases are made by
families with incomes Of less than
$4,000 q year.
The 30-hour week in industry, sta
Utilization Of prices under Federal di-
rection and elimination Of tax-free
and Federal bonds were urged before
the committee last night as immediate
steps toward business recovery.
The committee was addressed on be-
half Of the hunger marchers last night
by two unscheouled speakers-Miss
Sylvia Feningston Of New York City
and william Jones Of Baltimore.
Shortened hours in industry to en-
ploy workers thrown out Of jobs by
modern machinery and efficiency meth
DDS were advocated by W. Jett Lauck,
former secretary of the War Labor
Board, and Joseph Schlossberg. secre-
ry-treasurer of the Amalgated Cloth
ing Workers.
Mr.. Lauck told the gathering that
sterilization of prices and production
under Federal supervision Is the only
practical method for economic recovery
which can now be adopted. The crisis
at the present time is so serious that
Congress on converting should declare
that National emergency exists, which
necessitates immediate adoption Of
such q program"
Economist Makes Talk.
DR.. John H. Gray, economist, assert
ed that talk Of balancing the budget
by cutting down the public service or by
taxation under present circumstances
Is economically impossible.
IF we had the psychological and po-
litical power to take by capital levy the
surplus idle cash held by banks and big
corporations, he continued, cash that
is not needed by the people who hold
1t. and distribute it to the masses Of
the people, business would revive at
once" 1t would be possible then, he
said, to raise funds by taxes and balance
the budget
I'VE must have a tax law that meets
the major needs of the Government by
greatly increasing by rapid stages the
income and profit taxes in the higher
brackets and by greatly increased estate
and inheritance taxes. We must abol-
ish tax exemption on Federal securities
and by a change Of Constitution or
court ruling, on State and local securi-
ties. It is probable that the present
Supreme Court would approve statute
taxing not such securities, but the in
come from them; not as a special tax
alone on them, but as incidental to a
general taxing scheme. To all this
should be added tax on the surplus Of
corporations"
Gloomy Pictures Presented.
Gloomy pictures of unemployment in
the four great industrial States of I'LL
nois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York
were outlined to the conference this
morning by speakers from the various
States.
DR.. John Dewey, chairman OF the
Joint Committee, told the meeting the
civilized countries of the world are
coming to recognize the right Of every
normal individual to "live upon a Ger
tain plane Of decency. security and OPP
portunIty for culture
There are now 10 European nations
having unemployed insurance systems, ("
he continued. II do not admit that this
method OF relief really meets the need
for keeping up the standard OF life for
all. Yet at least three countries have
admitted that there is a social respon-
sibility and they have done something
to recognize 1t practically.
1.-The United States, the most indus
trialized nation OF all. Is the only indus
trialized country in the world which has
no systematic social method of meeting
the responsibility"
The delegates were to confer later
today with members Of the House and
Senate on Capitol Hill to discuss a
legislative program recommended by
the committee.