Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1935-01-25
Is Workers Unemployment Insurance
Bill "Practicar
How Much Will Genuine Jobless Insurance Cost!
Where Will the Money Come From?
"American Civilization Depends upon Solving the
PrObLem'' - Mary Van KIeeck

> 1t would go for clothing, which
would help textiles and such ag-
ricultural production as is in
VOWED in fabrics for clothing,
such as cotton and wool. In all
these directions there might be
expected a revival OF employment
and a lessening of the number OF
unemployed which might be a
very rapid lessening.
How Could the Cost of Unemploy-
ment Insurance Be Decreased?
The enactment of the Workers
Unemployment and Social Insur-
anee Bill should be a signal for
concerted efforts to revive en-
ployment.
Not for a moment is it claimed
that payment of unemployment
insurance under conditions which
leave untouched the planless
production of the United States
could release productive forces
and establish economic security.
In a planless production it Is
impossible to predict or control
security. But at least these sug-
gesitons can be made as to the
possibility of increasing employ
ment in areas which government
does control, and hence decreas-
ing the cost of compensating for
unemployment.
A comprehensive housing plan
by the government, with profit
by the government, with profit
making eliminated from current
rentals, would enormously stimu-
late the construction industries
and hence revive employment.
Here it is vital to observe that
continuity of workers income
would be an insurance of rentals
which would go far toward max
ing a housing plan feasible.
A genuine public works pro-
gram, developed with a view to
raising standards of living of COM
munities as whole, would like
wise serve to give employment
and thus decrease expenditures
for insurance.
Increase in the budget for edu-
cation, involving construction of
new school buildings, opening of
new schools and of old ones closed
during the depression, employ
ment of unemployed teachers and
raising of teachers salaries would
also increase employment, be-
sides directly fulfilling Americas
aims in public education.
Similarly, expenditures for a
public health program would to
some extent insure continuity
of income for a group of needed
professional workers in the med
zeal service, while at the same
time meeting needs in an import
ant element in the standard OF
living.
These are merely illustrations
of the type of governmental pro-
gram which would increase OPP
portunities for employment and
hence decrease the number of un-
employed because of lack of Op-
portunity to work.
Sources of Funds
The primary source of funds
has been put forward in the
principles of the Workers Bill,
calling for taxes on inheritances
and gifts and on higher incomes.
Here is a big subject, The mo-
vement for economic security
should compel a fresh examina-
ton of it in the light of the de-
mand for social and economic Sc
curity for the American people,
and the necessary revision of the
whole method and program of
taxation in the light of that OBJ
jective of government.
Here only a brief outline can
be given of the places where leg
islators might well look for funds
to insure continuity of workers
income.
First of all is the possibility
of improving the federal income
tax law. Incidentally in any con-
sideration Of the constitutional
ty of the Workers Bill 1t should
be recalled that the income tax
which is put forward as the pri-
mary source of funds is clearly |
constitutional, as the Constitu- |
Continued on Page Three)