The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1936-09-04
CONTINUANCE OF
BUSINESS GAIN
Dependent on General In
crease In Wages


Washington, d. c. (ILNS)-Con-
fidence that the "force of recovery
has now gained enough strength to
prevent any serious setback from
political uncertainties next fall" is
expressed by the American Fedora
tion of Labor in its latest monthly
survey of business.
The federation found that business
news points toward stronger fall
pickup than was expected after the
summer dull season.
However, the federation warned
that employment and wages are still
failing to keep pace with business re
covery 1t reported more than H.
100000 men and women still unem-
ployed in industry and said $4,000
possible jobs were lost by lengthening
of the work hours after the end Of
NRA.
IF recovery is to put the un-
employed to work, present hour
schedules must not be length
ened," the survey declared.
Food, rent and other costs are ris-
ing and living costs in general in
creased per cent from April to
May, the survey said Wages must
rise proportionately,' it added.
Pay Must Go Up
Reporting on increase of business
profits, the survey said:
Industry in general is now oper-
ating on wider profit margins. I'm
less income increases are shared with
workers by a general lifting of wage
levels, buying power will not increase
enough to keep industry moving up
ward for more than brief period"
1T is important that increases in
wealth be shared with wage earners
as well as stockholders"
Nation Short of Homes
As possible means of absorbing the
unemployed, the federation sug-
gested:
|. eve are short Of the comfort
living standard today by 100000
homes; it would take 1894 man
years of work (9,334,oo0 men work
ing one year or 3,111,oO0 working
three years. to build these homes.
? There are 1O,148,00o homes
which are not yet provided with cleo
trio current; to electrify these and
provide electric power for them would
provide ,667 900 man-years Of work
Economic Planning Needed
The survey sums up the loss by
wasting labor power and outlines a
remedy as follows:
I'm every industry where work
ers have lost by this failure to pro-
duce, employers and persons working
for themselves have lost also. I'm
employment is a national waste, af-
fecting every citizen.
There is no one for whom it is not
d major concern to discover how this
idle man-power can be put to work
and kept steadily at work producing
goods and services. Space prevents
discussion here Of measures to ac-
complish this, but one basic require
ment may be pointed out: We need
(a) organization Of labor so that it
may become functioning unit in
society; (b) information to show what
production is needed and when it
can be produced; (c) coordination of
industrial activity so as to produce
what we need"
Labor Greatest Loser
The survey shows that labor has
been the greatest loser in the de-
preston, basing its report on United
States Department Of Commerce fig
ares and adds:
Since wage earners' buying power
IS more essential to our industries
than that of either business men or
owners, wage increases are
now more important for stable, long
time prosperity than either gains in
profits or increased dividend pay
ments."
Some people complain about mer-