Evening star., 1938-01-21
By JOHN c, HENRY,


theories and suggestions OF leaders
OF Government. industry and labor.
BY JOHN c. HENRY.
John D. Biggers, director Of the
recent unemployment census, recon-
nended to the Senate Unemployment
Committee today that there be Gre
ated national unemployment COM
mittee to direct itself to finding suit
able jobs in industry and agriculture
tor all willing workers"
Such q group. he said, should con-
tain representatives Of labor. industry,
agriculture and both legislative and
executive government.
The Toledo industrialist chosen to
direct the jobless count admitted
frankly that the census experiment
has proven the impracticability of
getting a precise mathematical meas
ure Of unemployment"
Il do not recommend any further
census Of unemployment prior to the
regular check which will be taken
in the decennial census of l94O," he
added.
Too Rapid Boom Feared.
Questioned on this viewpoint. MIR.
Biggers held fast to his position on
the ground that the Intangible re-
suits which might be obtained In the
intervening years would not warrant
the expense.
optimistically. Mr.. Biggers OBJ
served that this recession has been
so sharp that I believe excessive in
ventories will be reduced soon enough
to afford us hope Of improvement in
the near future.
II think we'll have a real problem
to see that the rebound from this
depression. If supplemented by arti-
fetal methods, is not too rapid"
Reporting on city and State sur
vey Of relief conditions, completed
January IS. Fred K. Hoehler, director
of the American Public Welfare AS
sociation, noted there had been an
increase Of or per cent in number of
cases in Washington from August
through November, with decrease of
rs per cent in amount Of aid granted.
Fund Cuts Raped.
Critical Of curtailment Of funds
here, Mr.. Hoehler said Of the District
relief:
Standards are at minimum SUBJ
eistence level, with the result that
intake has been limited in order to
maintain those standards. From 1900
to l,4o0 applications are rejected each
month. While there is Inadequate
staff to investigate properly, It is esti-
mated that at least tWo-thirds OF the
people rejected are in need Of relief.
Limitation on administrative expense
has proved serious handicap in ad-
ministering the program properly"
Mr.. Hoehler contended in q brief
filed with the committee that "the
increase in juvenile delinquency so
widely reported in our press and in
crime records has a definite correla-
tion to the lack of relief or to poor
standards Of relief: in fact, there has
always been evidence of the relation
OF dependency to delinquency In all
age groups.
Delinquency Increased.
periods Of economic depression or
recession throw greater loads upon
police departments and courts, which
further increases costs of local govern
ments and reduces their ability to
carry the financial responsibility for
direct relief
tr Since the withdrawal of Federal
funds for relief in States and the
transfer Of larger share Of financial
responsibility to local communities,
the record is written increased ju-
tenile delinquency.
;. Iraditionally, it has been the prac-
oce OF teen age youth to earn occa-
Gonal spending money by odd Jobs,
Whlch jobs now go largely to heads
q families. With the withdrawal Of
8 source OF income, or frequently be-
cause OF the absolute need in their
homes and the withdrawal or reduc-
ton Of relief funds. the turn to petty
thieving has been inevitable"
Census Value Yet to Come.
admitting the shortcomings Of the
voluntary mail census Of last Novem-
Der, Mr.. Biggers declared its most val
liable contribution is yet to come in
the results Of an analysis being made
Of questions answered on the census
cards.
y. Mere figures" he declared, ARE far
less important than other vital facts.
sr Perhaps We have all overempha-
sized the Importance Of knowing ex-
sctly how many are unemployed. That
exact number, even if ascertainable,
has no direct bearing on the determi-
nation Of relief needs. Many people
who are not financially compelled to
work consider themselves unemployed,
yet they may never need nor seek re-
lief.
Numerical measure Of q problem,
although important, is not essential to
It's solution. When an epidemic
strikes and all the medical resources
a. the community are called into
ssrvtce, 1t would be unwise for phy-
stcians to devote time, to quibbling
oxer the counting of the affiicted
when their time and effort could so
much more effectively be devoted to
akcertaining the source, nature and
cure.
$50 the knowledge Of whether there
ate 100000 or II 200, 900 unemployed
NJ the United States is of relatively