The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1938-05-12

| III WHiSIl eilC ollelllI|loy iHeilI SoiiiPSii-
sation acts became operative last
January
at will be remembered, however,
that of these acts the most liberal
limit the period of benefit payment to
% weeks while the average benefit
payment is only 16 weeks. In conse-
quence of this during the next four
months some 100000 unemployed will
be deprived of even the meager bene-
fits they have been receiving in the
form of unemployment compensation
at may be expected that small
proportion of these jobless workers
will be returned to private employ
ment, but the majority of these un-
employed will be dependent on work
relief as their only source of sub
sistence.
"The return of this group to the re-
lief rolls, together with other factors,
makes it clear that during the re-
naming months of the current calen
dar year there will be a more even
distribution of the relief load, with
considerably greater relief needs, dur
ing the Summer months than was the
case in the past three years.
"There can be do doubt, therefore,
that the proposed appropriation for
the seven-month period will be barely
: sufficient to meet the most insistent
need among the unemployed workers.
'This certainly is not the time to
limit our relief program. Any hesi-
fancy on the part of the Congress in
continuing the Federal work-relief
program on an extended basis in the
immediate future may we'll endanger
the recovery from this recession.
Building Trades Workers Severely Hit
BY Unemployment
"In considering the work relief pro-
gram, want to focus your attention
on one of its phases which is of funda-
mental Importance. 1t is the partici
patton in this program of workers en-
ployed in our largest industry-one
which in size and Importance is second
only to agriculture-the building and
construction industry Throughout the
entire depression the brunt of unem-
ployment was carried by building
trades mechanics and laborers.
"This year again the building work
er had to shoulder disproportionate
share of unemployment. Thus, accord
ing to our trade union unemployment
reports, 40 per cent of our building
trades workers were without jobs in
| Anvil 1000 OF in,
April of 1897. Yet unemployment in
all trades was reported to be at 20
per cent in April of this year.
Wage Standards Undetermined on
WPA Projects
"In the face of this it would be only
fair to expect that the building work
er would receive his equitable share
Of relief work on projects which call
for construction labor.
GAS a matter of fact, however,
workers displaced from other occupa
tions in manufacturing industries
have been to an increasing extent as
| signed to construction work under
WPA
"Not only that, but in large num-
ber of instances, workers without any
skill or training on construction work
have been assigned to perform the
work of first class building mechanics.
And on many projects, the wage
standards locally prevailing have not
been maintained.
"The latter has been true of projects
on which part Of the work has been
assumed directly by the sponsors The
direct result has been the consistent
undermining Of wage standards of
construction workers.
Hopkins Agrees to Remedy Abuses
"The direct and widespread effect of
these developments, which assumed
considerable proportions during the
past year has been keenly felt by the
building trades mechanics and laborers
throughout the country. Last week,
we received assurance of the WPA
Administrator, Harry l.. Hopkins, that
these practices and abuses will be
corrected. | want to emphasize the
Importance of having this done at
once
| IupOItduCc vi P4oV,UOV,OOU 1 uDiS
Works Program
'ln addition to the WPA appropria-
ton the President recommended the
extension of the Public Works Pro-
gram by the expenditure of $45O, ,000,-
coo. The American Federation of La
Dor is already on record in support
ing this step. This was one of my
basic recommendations made last
January to the Special Senate Com
mttee to Investigate Unemployment
and Relief
81 believe it is imperative to re-
vitalize our Public Works program
and initiate it's expansion in the next
few months. In doing this, serious
consideration should be given to the
placing of the Public Works Admin
istration on permanent basis.
"The American Federation of Labor
offers its strong and unreserved sup
port of the proposed appropriation in
a firm belief that it will constitute the
most important and necessary step tc
be taken by Congress at the present
time"