The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-01-27

The Workers Bill is perfectly clear.
1t provides that each and every
worker without discrimination shall
for the full period of idieneSs caused
by no fault Of his or her own, whe-
ther for unemployment, part time,
sickness, accident, old age or mater
nifty, receive insurance equal to the
full average wage Of the respective
industry In the locality, but at no
time shall it be less than $40 a week
plus S3 for each dependent. No
worker shall be obliged to accept
work for which he is not fit, or
where strike is in progress; nor
shah be he compelled to take work
which is long distance from his
home. The funds shall be raised ex-
clusively through progressive taxa
ton on all incomes above 5000,
through the use of all war funds,
through capital levy on the wealth
of the multi n1illiOlaires and billion
aires The fund shall be controlled
and administered by commission
elected by workers organizations.
This bill is simple, clear and con-
else. Let us explain bit. The
amount of insurance shall be such
that the unemployed may not be
used to lower the condition Of the
workers in the shops. Therefore, the
proposal Of the average wage in the
respective industry and locality" On
the other hand, it shall not be al
lowed to descend to an amount that
would mean starvation-as some Of
the codes Of the N. I. R. A. do
laundry. Therefore the minimum
of $40 a week plus So for each de-
pendent.
For Whole Period OF Unemployment
Insurance shall continue for the
whole period OF unemployment. I'M
employment will remain as long as
capitalism exists. give to ten mil
lion will never return to work." said
Roosevelt. Millions work part-tdne,
earning hardly enough to keep body
and soul together. Workmen's COM
pensation laws contain provisions
that make ii difficult to secure relief.
Old age pensions exist in few states
and provide hunger subsistence for
the veterans Of labor. Provision for
maternity does not exist whatever.
The demands that the funds be
raised exclusively by the employers
and the government is based on the
fact that the workers are not re-
sponsible for unemployment. They
want to work, but are denied the
right. The capitalists, who have
enriched themselves through the ex-
ploitation of the labor power OF the
millions, and the government, which
is supposed to consider the welfare
of the whole population, shall pro-
vide means whereby the masses may
live. The proposal that all incomes
above $1,000, all war funds and tax
levy on the wealthy shall be used
for this purpose Is based on placing
the responsibility where it belongs
and fromwhich adequate funds may
be obtained without any Hardship"
on its bearers.
Wins Wide Endorsement
The Workers Unemployment and
Social Insurance Bill has been en-
dorsed by millions of workers and
thousands of working class organiza-
lions. 1t has the support Of more than
1,400 locals of the A. F. of L., three
state declarations of labor, numer-
Gus central labor bodies, independent
and T. u U. L. unions four municipal
councils, the masses of workers sup
porting the Unemployed Councils, the
Fraternal Federation for Social In
surance, professional groups, etc.
To offset this wide sweep of the
Workers Bill, various fake memploy-
ment bills have been introduced in the
q. 8. congress and State legislatures.
In 1888, 90 bills were introduced in the
state legislatures. A bill was enacted
in Wisconsin, then shelved. Another
was introduced in Ohio-a model
bin-but was not adopted. In New
York as result of the findings of
commission appointed by Roosevelt
when he was governor, a bill was in
troduced, but even this miserable con-
coction failed Of adoption.