Evening star., 1937-12-23
TOTAL OF IDLE UP
100000 IN FALL,
W.P.A. AIDE SAYS
100000 More May Lose
Jobs in Next 2 Months,
Henderson Asserts.
SENATE PLANS INQUIRY
OF BUSINESS ST Jump
Government and Industrial Lead.
ers to Be Called to Testify in
January Investigation.

Degree OF national prosperity al
,0dys is important part OF political
picture as each administration
claims tull credit TOR good gears
and dtsclaims responsibility for bad
ones. Enjoying four years of rising
business dctiuity, present admtnis-
trdtion is noD being concerned at
sharp decline starting last summer
determination of fundamental
causes might lead to effective cures.
By the Associated Press.
Works Progress Administration
official estimated today that 1900, 900
persons had become unemployed since
September l and that 1000, 900 more
might be out of jobs by the end of
February.
These estimates were made by Leon
Henderson, consulting economist,
while preparations were being made
for a Senate unemployment investiga-
ton beginning January 4.
Mr.. Henderson gave no estimates of
the total number now out of work.
The Labor Department reported yes
terday that industrial employment fell
off So per cent last month-570, 900
workers losing their jobs
Harry L. Hopkins. w. P. A. ad-
ministrator, announced recently that
w. P. A. rolls would be expanded to
care for an additional $4,000 needy
unemployed.
Meanwhile, members of the Senate
Investigating Committee indicated
their study would develop into a broad
analysis of the extent of the business
recession
Governmental and industrial leaders
will be called, they said, to testify
on present industrial activity and pros
poets for the next few months.
Some informed persons forecast
that the inquiry, under the direction
of Senator Byrnes, Democrat, of South
Carolina, would be one of the most
significant events of the 1888 congress
sional session.
1t probably will provide the back
ground, they said, for the dominant
issue OF the session-Governmen ex-
penditures and budget balancing.
Relief Program of Own.
Furthermore, the inquiry will con-
stitute the first attempt by Congress
to study the relief problem for itself
and devise a program of its own,
distinct from the recommendations Of
President Roosevelt.
This was the primary purpose of
the inquiry when it was conceived
more than year ago by Senator
Hatch, Democrat, of New Mexico.
When the Senate ordered the investi-
cation. the Senate economy bloc seized
on it as vehicle for cutting down
expenditures.
Vice President Garner, who played
prominent backstage role in the
campaign last session to reduce ex-
penditures, appointed Senator Byrnes
to head the inquiry. The South Caro-
Imam proposed an amendment to the
relief bill which would have thrust
more of the financial responsibility on
local communities.
Changes Course of Inquiry.
The recent industrial recession,
however, has changed the course of
the inquiry. Even some of those
most determined to economic have
come to the conclusion that greater
relief spending temporarily may be
necessary.
Committee officials said the first
week of the inquiry would be devoted
to finding out the facts about the re-
cession and its effect on unemploy-
ment. The first witness will be John
D. Biggers, director Of the Unemploy-
ment Census.
He will be followed by Secretary
Perkins and Isador Lubin, director of
the Bureau Of Labor Statistics, who
will be asked to bring the unemploy-
ment count up to date and to fore
cast likely developments during the
first half of 1888.
Committee aides said John L. Lewis
of the Committee for Industrial Organ
ization and William Green of the
American Federation of Labor would
be asked to present reports from their
affiliated unions.
Industrial Information.
The committee then will turn to in
dustrial leaders for information, CEN
tering on spokesmen for the steel.
automobile and textile industries,
which committee aides said were at
the core of the recession"
Other experts to. be called probably
will include Mariner S. Eccles, chair
man of the Federal Reserve Board, and
Leonard P. Ayres, Cleveland statis-
tician, who has estimated an increase
in unemployment for 1898.
Once the size of the relief problem
has been established, the committee
intends to ascertain to what extent ex-
isting facilities will care for the un-
employed and how much emergency
treatment will be required.
This will include an analysis Of the
extent of unemployment benefits start
ing January /; assistance to be ex-
pected under other sections of the
Social Security Act and from private
charity, and whether present public
relief funds will cover the remainder
of the need.
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