The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-02-09

whole problem of caring for the I'M
employed of the largest number,
when the greatest amount of money
is needed to care for the unem-
ployed. then the tax is only partially
applied, and the full tax is held in
abeyance until conditions improve.
For these and many other reasons
that might be stated, the Commu-
mist Party is opposed to the under
lying theory back of this bill, and
we propose that the workers bill,
H. R. 1927, be substituted for this
and adopted in the present session
Of Congress.
The Chairman. The time Of the
gentleman has expired.
Mr.. Mccormack. I ask unani-
nous consent that the witness time
be extended 2 additional minutes.
The Chairman. without obiec-
ton, the witness may proceed for
2 minutes.
Outlines Workers Bill
Mr.. Hathaway. Briefly, to state
the principles of the workers dill,
as distinct from that of the Wagner
bill:
This provides payment to all I'M
employed workers without any walt
ing period, basing itself on the
theory that the welfare of the peo-
pie Is the first consideration and
that, regardless of how long a worker
may have been unemployed, regard
less Of residential requirements
regardless of his contact or attach
ment to one or another factory or
industry, this worker is entitled to
unemployment insurance inasmuch
as he is not responsible for the facr
that he is unemployed. He Is
ready and anxious to take Job, He
has no Job only because industry is
unwilling to give him Job, with
the profit motive the determining
factor in employment at the present
time.
Secondly, the workers bill pro-
vides for caring for all unemployed
workers entirely at the expense OF
those who can afford to pay, those
who are responsible for the indus
trial system in America. We pro-
pose, in short. to tax the bankers
the manufacturers, etc, and that
they, together with the government
assume full responsibility for the
care of the unemployed.
Thirdly, the workers bill provides
for full average wages for the work
ers with a minimum of $40 to any
unemployed worker, and an addi-
tionsI amount for workers with de-
pendents.
Finally, the workers bill, as dis
tinct from the Wagner bill, provides
for the administration Of unemploy-
ment insurance by the workers
themselves, through the workers Or
CARNATIONS. through the trade
unions, etcetera, the only SOUND
principle on which unemployment
insurance can be administered foi
the benefit Of the workers.
Mr.. Vinson, Do you have any
tax features in the workers bill?
Taxation on the Rich
Mr.. Hathaway. Yes; the tax fea-
lures in this enbody direct taxes
on the rich, and the specific
amounts you can get by looking al
the bill
Mr.. Vinson. How do you arrive
at your figure of 81 week for old
age pensions under the bill that we
are considering?
Mr. Hathaway. 1t proposes that
the Federal Government shall pro-
vide to the States an amount OIL
$3.50 week and that this shall be
matched, dollar for dollar, by thc
States, giving, of course, to the
State, the opportunity, if they wish
to grant an additional amount.
Mr.. Vinson. How do you arrive
under any condition. at that figuref
How do you arrive at your conclu-
sion that the bill under considera-
ton provides an old-sge pension Of
ST a week. Point TO the language
in the bill.
Mr.. Hathaway You see, I have
had about Is years of experience In
the working class fight and I know
from that experience that they
never give me anything. If the bill
provides for a maximum Fedora,
appropriation of $3.50 a week or,
think, SIS month, to be matched
dollar for dollar by the State, the
States are not, out of the kindness
Of their hearts, going to add very
many dollars to it.
Mr.. Vinson. You say you do not
favor employment reserves. Did ]
understand you correctlyq
Mr.. Hathaway. That is correct.
Mr. Vinson. BY that you are re-
ferring to the private reserves that
may be set up under the bill?
Mr.. Hathaway. I am referring to
the whole theory that had developed
in the United States during the re-
cent period, that is embodied in the
Wisconsin law is now being brought
forward by all of the various Com
missions in the various States. and
by the Federal Commission, that is
the Commission appointed by
Roosevelt, as the basis for insurance
Ia the United States