Evening star., 1934-01-21
MISS PERKINS ASKS.
OLD AGE PENSIONS.
Unemployment Insurance Also
Urged in Labor Secre.
tary's Report.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Unemployment insurance and old
age pensions were strongly urged yes
terday by Secretary Perkins of the
Labor Department.
In her annual report Miss Perkins
recommended that States set up some
form of insurance in an effort to pre-
vent future suffering from unemploy
ment and old-age pensions to remove
aged men and women from competition
for jobs.
She also recommended full use of the
Government employment service by
workers and employers; planning Of
production by factories to stabilize en-
ployment; provision for proper low-cost
housing; greater efforts to secure safety
for workers in industry. and greater
cooperation between State and Federal
labor departments.
Wants N. r. A. Gains to Last.
Miss Perkins expressed. the belief that
In some way the principal accomplish
permanent. including shorter working
hours, higher wages. permanent aboli-
tion OF child labor, use Of Government
purchasing power for supplies and
equipment to maintain high industrial
standards, boards to pass on local in
dustrial complaints and general recog-
milton Of the desirability Of competent
wage earners' representation. selected
through organization. in all matters
affecting industry. labor conditions and
civic development"
Some form Of unemployment re-
serves" she said, should be set up in
the different States so that in the fu-
ture it may take the place of the bread
line or other charities as sympathetic
honorable method of tiding over a
slump period for those who want work
and lack it.
Unemployment Cure Elusive.
mo one has yet found a cure for
unemployment although we are expert
menting in that direction under the
national recovery act. In urging un-
employment reserves realize that its
adoption would not mean the throwing
up Of economic bulwarks for all wage
earners. Properly safeguarded. it will,
however, constitute a certain definite
measure of security for many workers
and their families. This is a social
as well as an industrial problem and the
cost should be spread as widely as
possible. The fund should be collected
from fair but not excessive premiums
and should be safeguarded so that it
will be adequate for the heavy drains
of a possible widespread period of un-
employment There should be a def
mite and fairly long waiting period. The
number Of weeks of benefit should be
limited to bear a definite rela tionship
to the amount of contributions made or
the premiums paid
Wsuld Be Industrial Hazard.
premiums may be paid wholly by
the employer or by the employer and
employees contributing. or by the Gov
eminent participation where States de-
sire 1t, but the cost should be assessed
as one Of the industrial hazards for
which industry itself must provide
The old age security idea Miss
Perkins said. has gained many fol-
lowers in this country in recent years.
People who are past the years when
they are expected to work hard should
have some sort Of security. They
should not be competing in the mar
ket for the relatively few Jobs. There
is problem here which must be met
and solved by making systematic and
dignified old-age provisions in the
States which already have not adopted
such forward looking legislation. Fed
eral assistance in this field would not be
inappropriate If needed