The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-15
Perkins Tea Party To
ForestaIl Social In
gurance Bill
PROTEST TODAY
House Bill 1898 Still
Held in Committee
Ry MARGUERITE YOUNG


DAILY Worker Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-While
Civil Works Administration was pol
ishing off the axe that falls tomor-
row, TO chop off 100000 C.W.A.
Jobs by March /, President Roose-
welt today casually informed the
press that he thinks unemployment
will never be abolished. apparently
he meant in the United States-it
no longer exists in Soviet Russia.)
And at the same time Roosevelt's
Secretary of Labor, the lorgnetted
Frances Perkins, was asking" for
order in a '1abor legislation" con-
ference of American Federation Of
Labor oficialdom and reformist So
cial-worker representatives of 3S
state Governors.
Large Scale Tapering OF
Perkins had carefully placed the
subject Of unemployment reserves"
(the conference will not even con-
slider unemployment insurance)
seventh among the topics of discus
sion, and she completely skipped this
subject in discussing the program.
Later she announced it would be
taken up tomorrow.
The Office Of C.W.A. Administra-
tor Harry L. Hopkins told this cor
respondent that layoffs already are
under way, but that '1arge scale
tapering off" will begin tomorrow.
The plan is to take the first million
Jobs from C.W.A. workers in San
Diego, Cal, Key West and Miami,
Fla, San Antonio and other Texas
towns, on the theory that "Spring is
just around the corner" in these
areas. presumably Spring" will be
substituted for food.)
Land Planning" Again
Rules and regulations giving de-
tails of the process by which local
C.W.A. officials will completely shut
down by May will go forth within
a few days-along with revised
regulations on the wage scale, it was
said. Present rolls, it was stated
carry 100000 C.W,A. jobs. Recent
regulations forbade replacement Oh
C.W.A. workers who dropped out be.
cause of accidents, deaths, etc.
President Roosevelt disclosed hi
point OF view on unemployment ii
speaking to the press about his Ma.
tional land planning program. H,
said it would take the place OF public
works in course Of long-range plan
ming and would help TO relieve unem.
ployrnent, which, he added matter of
fsctly, We shall always have with us
Perkins conference was for all TIL
world ike kindergarten class, tn,
pupils were chiefly well dressed ladie
ooztng sweetness and Tight and cigar
smoking 4. p. Of L. leaders. The.
recited on worknaen's compensation
abolishing child labor, and healtl
protection by proper physical equip
ment In industry, all venturing TIN
thought that all these are desirable
precious few suggesting ANYTHING con
crete.
Trying TO E0restall Workers Bill
In an opening address, Perkins adj
nlitted that she put all the othe.
matters on the agenda because SIN
was afraid that talk OF unemploy
ment insurance and old-age pension
would "overwhelm" the conference
She rebuke news photographer, say
ing she didn't "fawncy having m,
photograph taken with my mouth
open," and declared that "the mos
important thing before the confer
ence" is Coordination Of the WORT
Of the Federal Department Of Labo
with State Labor Departments"
The Perkins conference Is on
method by which the Roosevelt gov
eminent hopes to forestau mass pres
sure for the Workers Unemployment
and Social Insurance bill Oh. r. 1889
This bill now before Congress, wa
ignored In Labor Department sum
many of-SuppoSedly-all unemploy
nent plans for unemployment relief.