Montana labor news., 1938-03-03
$3.50, 600, 900 More for Relief of JObIess


The supplemental appropriation of $780,
100000 asked by the President for relief Of
the unemployed in addition to the $780,
100000 already appropriated for this pur-
pose for the current fiscal year and the
prompt enactment of the measure apprOpri-
ating this amount by the House of Repre-
sentatives, with equally prompt and favor
able action indicated by the Senate, are out
standing evidences that Congress is not deaf
to the distress of the additional millions of
workers whom those who own industry, and
consequently control job opportunities, have
thrown into the army of the unemployed
since the advent of the business recession a
few months ago.
The action of the President and the House
of Representatives followed the strongly
phrased declaration by the Executive Coun-
Gil of the American Federation of Labor at
its mid-winter meeting in Miami, Florida,
urging the appropriation by the Federal gov
eminent of a much larger amount for the
relief Of distress made absolutely necessary
because of the decided increase in unem-
ployment' since the change in the industrial
and economic situation which began last
September.
Pointing out that thousands of workers
have been laid off in mass production, tex
tile, manufacturing, transportation and min
ing industries" and s~tressing the fact that
mo one can definitely determine as to wheth-
er a new peak of unemployment has been
reached or whether the tide will soon turn,
marking improvement in industrial and eco
nomic conditions" the Executive Council de-
clared that adequate funds should be pro-
vided by the Federal government in order
to supply a necessary amount Of relief for
the unemployed. The demand for assistance
ome from practically every city and COM
munity throughout the land. The Federal
government is obligated to increase relief
expenditures rather than to retrench and
reduce at this time"
The immensely and intensity of the added
distress which employers have recently in
ficted upon working men and women in all
parts of the country by closing the doors of
employment to them was pointedly revealed
in the definite statement by the President to
Congress that fully 100000 workers have
been deprived of their jobs during the last
three months. This poignant fact was
stressed by testimony before the House APP
preparations Committee accomplishing the
paramount necessity for additional relief
funds. Aubrey Williams, assistant WPA adj
ministrator, told the committee that the addi-
tional $3.50, 600, 900, s%upplementing the regu~
lar Works Progress Administration appropri-
alton Of 81, 0 600, 900 for this year, will en-
able the government to carry $780, 900 per
sons on relief work during March, 100000
during April, 100000 during May and q
100000 during June.
The estimate of the number of unemployed
submitted by Mr.. Williams was based on the
guess that the depression has reached its
depth. If his guess was wrong, if the de-
preston grows more intense, if employers
continue to throw workers into the streets,
there should be no hesitation on the part OF
the Federal government to provide whatever
additional funds may be necessary to safe
guard the lives and health Of Americas UNI
employed millions and their dependents.