Evening star., 1937-09-19
BY JOHN C. HENRY.
YEARLY 10000 able bodied men,
most Of them in their middle

YEARLY 10000 able bodied men,
most Of them in their middle
VI twenties and with founda-
4 ton training in some so trades
or professions, are to be placed In the
job market on October l..
Veterans of the G. C. c., these men
are being cut from present enrolment
of the corps for three principal rea-
sons: Because 66,510 of them already
have served more than 18 months and
could not serve another six-month en-
listment under the two years allowed
by law; because 1855 of them have
reached the age limit of "a, and be-
cause II 1859 of them are ineligible by
present law pertaining to working ex-
perience.
Their success in finding employment
tions are matters Of interest and con-
Germ not only to those who are admin
istering this particular bit of New Deal
experimentation but also to the tax
payers who have paid for it and to
that part Of industry which is expected
to absorb these men.
Unfortunately, no thoroughly COM
prehensive records have been kept OF
what happens to c. c. C. boys after
they leave the three squares" day
served in Uncle Sans camps. Hap
hazard figures and related informa-
ton, however, do give some idea OF
their fates.
Research Tried to Find Answer.
For instance, back in the early
months Of New Deal testing, the Fed
eral Emergency Relief Administration
undertook as one Of their statistical
and research projects to find an answer
to this very question.
Their discovery was that during the
Winter Of 1933-34 there were 1922
former c. c. C. enrollees holding down
private employment jobs. Covering
81, ,459 men who had served during the
initial six months enlistment period OF
the corps, this employment record was
considered reasonably satisfactory in
view Of business conditions during that
Winter and the fact that the men did
not have Is extensive opportunity for
vocational training In the early camps
as has been provided since.
An improvement In employment
was shown in connection with the
next enlistment group with 40,326 OF
those who left during or after the
six-month period ending March 81,
1884, being IN private employment
during the Summer of that year.
True, business was better and there
fore Jobs were more plentiful, but
the graduates Of the corps also were
thought to be somewhat better quail
ned.
These 4Q326 johholders were found
among 'iI6s14l former enrollees, the
percentage Of success in finding work
being about 36.3 in this instance as
compared to 1874 In the previous
group.
With the evident intention Of con-
tinuing this type Of check on their
graduates" c. c. c. ofhcials re-
quested that . similar survey be
made for men leaving the third six
month enrolment term, but the prof.
ect never was completely carried
through. Records Of the corps do
show that during the period end
ing in September, 1884, more than
$4,000 men we're given discharges to
take employment.
Figure Reasonably Dependable"
That this figure is reasonably
dependable one may be seen from the
precautions which are taken to be
sure that q bona flde job opportunity
exists before any man is given an
honorable discharge short of his en-
listment period.
First requirement IS the mans own
sworn statement that he has such
an opportunity. Thist must be backed
up by certificate from the prospec-
tive employer. And on top Of this
is the requirement that the company
commander or some designated officer
must attempt to ascertain II the
prospective employer Is of sufficient
standing in his community to employ
men.
Lest all these requirements have
no effect of curtailing job opportuni-
ties or discouraging enrollees from
attempting to get employment before
their enlistment expires, camp officers
are charged with the duty of going
to equal trouble to facilitate such
efforts. For instance. in cases where
boys report a tentative offer of en-
ployment, officers frequently give the
men brief leaves of absence to allow
them to demonstrate their fitness to
a prospective employer. In many in
stances, officers will make personal
calls upon the interested employer
to help clinch the enrollee's job.
Perhaps an even more important aid
in the search for jobs is the instruc-
ton given in the procedure of applying
for employment. Men are taught how
to write letters of application and how
to talk to prospective employers. In
most cases rehearsals of job-hunting
interviews are held before the officers.
With the release of nearly 10000
men at the end of this month, efforts
have been intensified. throughout
the country camps are filing with the
State employment agencies and the re-