Evening star., 1935-02-05

that 40 per cent had worked for one
employer for a period as long as four
and half years
The Government is confronted with
the problem of determining whether
or not these people shall continue as
the objects of Government charity,
averaging S24 per month, or be en-
abled to return to work on useful
projects at an average of $50 per
month. To that question there can be
but one answer. The present system
is not only source of constant irri-
tation to the taxpayers who furnish
the money, but is certain to per-
manently impair the morale of the re-
cipients of the money.
Jobs Held Primary Aim.
The primary purpose of this legis-
lation is to solve this problem by CIV
ing jobs to the employables on the re-
! lief rolls. 1t is not the primary pur-
pose to inaugurate a public works
program. Public works are involved
only because they are necessary to ac-
complish the purpose of the legisla-
ton.
No matter how useful the project
may be, the fact is these projects
would not be undertaken by the Fed
eral Government if these 3500,00C
people were not broke and out of
work. That is the only reason they
will be undertaken. We simply give
to them an opportunity to work for an
amount which is twice as much as
they are now receiving on the relief
rolls, but which is less, If you figure
1t on an hourly basis, than they would
receive in private industry. 1t should
be remembered that the compensation
received by a worker on an hourly
basis is not the measure of his pros
perlty. Many worker in your COM
munlty who receives a wage, which,
on an hourly basis, is, in your opinion
so high as to arouse criticism, is en-
ployed not more than 10 days in a
month, and the monthly and annual
wage he receives is not greatly in ex-
cess of the monthly or annual wage
that would be received by these per-
sons under the plan proposed. 1t is
the amount of money in the pay en-
Velope of the worker on Saturday
night and not the wage per hour that
measures his prosperity.
In any discussion as to the effect
this program would have upon a wage
scale, it must be remembered that be-
tween 80 and 80 per cent of organized
labor is working in industries where
the wage scale is fixed by code agree
mentS. The administration has some
thing to say in the determination of
these wage scales. The wage earners
OF the country can rest assured that
there will be no decrease of the wage
scale fixed by these code agreements.
Profit to wage Farmers.
Wage earners are certain to profit
as a result of the program because it
will result in doubling the income and.
therefore, the purchasing power of
3,500,OOO people. This will prove a
tremendous stimulant to business. The
proposed expenditure of approximately
81 800, 100000 for materials and trans
portation Of materials will likewise be
a stimulant to every industry. When
as a result of this stimulant to indus
try, employers seek additional workers.
they must go into labor market from
which 100000 workers have been re-
moved by the program of the Presi-
dent. With the increased demand for
labor and the decrease in the number
of unemployed, there is bound to be
an improvement in the condition of
the wage earners of the Nation. It
must not be forgotten that under the
program of the President, large pro-
portion of this fund will be spent for
the development of such projects as
soil erosion, rural electrifcation, re-
forestation. rural housing and other
projects, which are socially desirable,
but which will compete in no way
either with private employers or with
employed labor. 1t is urged by those
who profess to speak for the con-
tractors of the country. that this leg
islation should contain a provision
that wherever possible the work be
done under contract. Thousands of
kilograms have been received by Sen
ators and Representatives, urging sup
port of such provision. It has been
stated by those representing the Pres
ident, in explaining the bill, that, so
far as possible, the services of con-
tractors will be utilized. However,
when they are used, to accomplish the
purpose of this bill the contract should
provide that contractors use the serv-