Evening star., 1937-12-12
DISPUTE |SSEEN
IN JOBLESS COUNT
Figures Said to Reveal More
Unemployed Than
Expected.
BY HARDEN COLFAx.

by HARDEN COLFAX.
First reports to trickle from the
counting rooms are to the effect that
the recent voluntary census Of un-
employment Is turning up . larger
roster of names than the Government
experts had expected.
As q result, the original skepticism
OF the statistical experts concerning
the accuracy or the value Of this
count Is being accentuated. Their
view Is that large numbers Of indi-
viduals could report themselves as
unemployed who were unemployabls
or who had no particular desire to
be employed, and yet the Government
would have no way to check the report,
The fact Of the matter is that re-
lief administration oficials already
are getting set to use information
that Is turned up as an argument
why further appropriations will be
needed to care for those out of work.
A good deal of exaggeration is being
indulged in concerning estimates of
the present volume Of unemployment,
based upon records of the United
States employment service, the De-
partment of Labor, the Social Security
Board and other agencies.
100000 Estimated Idle.
Best estimates, based upon what
is regarded as information that will
prove more accurate than that turned
up by the recent census of unemploy-
ment, are that the employable idle
In this country during September
numbered 100000, compared with
about 13,500,000 at the peak of the
depression. These are figures pre-
pared for the Committee on Economic
Security and are accepted by Gov
eminent officials as near TO accuracy.
The estimate is that during Oc-
tober there was a slight upturn in
the number of jobless, bringing the
total to 100000. November saw
this total rise to 6,500,oo0, and the
preliminary figure is that December
will find ii around 100000.
Those who have charted the course
OF unemployment for the last few years
say that winter normally adds about
l,500 900 to those out of work. They
expect that the present setback in
business will add another 100000 to
that total. This would mean about
100000 more out of employment at
the February peak in 1888 than in
September, when 6,100 900 lacked Jobs.
The total, therefore, would be about
10000
Government Confident.
An unemployment total OF that size
represents major problem, but the
Government regards itself as fairly well
equipped to deal with it on the bakis
Of available funds.
Along with the rise in the number
Of jobless is going the beginning Of
unemployment insurance On the 1st
OF January, % States and the District
| Of Columbia will have functioning sys-
TENS Of insurance against loss Of Jobs.
There will be available about $3.50 ,00O,-
900 to meet demands for benefits and
there will be $3.50 100000 more to the
credit Of other States with systems
coming into operation at different times
! during the year.
This is one definite cushion against
the shock Of industrial lay-offs.
Then, in addition, the Works Prog
ress Administration has cut its rolls
drastically during the first six months
OF the present fiscal year. The result
Is that it has cushion Of funds that
now can be utilized to step up the
rolls by as much as 100000 from the
present 100000. Here would be a
oennlte provision for a large number
OF those who get out Of work and have
no resources.
Furthermore, the Government ex-
perts are satisfied that States and cit
ies-With credit ratings good-are in a
better position than they have been at
any time during the depression to take
over care of larger number of idle.
In 1act, President Roosevelt is consid-
erlng a request of Congress to require
that State and local governments
meet at least rs per cent of the w. PA
burden as a means of lessening the
load on the Government in Wash.
ington.
Ammunition Problematical.
The big question is, however-will
the final tabulation of unemployment,
as recorded by the recent voluntary
card census, show a sufficiently large
total to give ammunition to the Rroup
In Congress which is demanding huge
increase in the appropriations for work
relief?
omcials say that with the beginning
OF unemployment insurance they will
nave the means of testing the accu-
racy OF the voluntary census in %
| States. because in those States persons
who have lost their jobs will need to
register with employment services.
The United States Employment Serv-
ice now has the names of more than
100000 idle, with their case his
tories. Officials of the service saw
that their best estimate is that this
figure represents about two-thirds of
the total jobless.
At the present stage. President
Roosevelt is less inclined to rush into
the picture with big new spending
program. His idea rather is to try
this time to get things going again by
striving for a balance between outgo
and income. The rising number of idle
makes that idea rather hard to apply.
| Copyright, 1877