Evening star., 1939-02-03
W. P. A. Bill Passed ,
Byrnes 10 Attack
JobIess Problem
Several Methods of
Reaching More Permanent
Solution Weighed
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

Will GllC W. "A
relief bill ready today to 60 to the
White House for signature, Senator
Byrnes. Democrat, of South Carolina
will start work Immediately on legis-
lation aimed at q more permanent
solution of the unemployment prob
lem.
1t will follow the recommended
tions recently made by the Senate's
Special Unemployment Committee
of which he was chairman. The
major features of the program, as
outlined in that report, will be:
/. Merger of w. P. A., P. w. A.,
N. Y. A. and C. C. c. into a depart
ment of public work, or into uni
fled division of an existing depart
ment
2. Liberalization of the unemploy-
ment insurance system in the Social
Security Act and transfer of the
United States Employment Service
to the Social Security Board to CO.
ordinate payment of compensation
to laid-off workers.
Would Hasten Payments.
8. Advancing the date for begin
ming payment of old-age annuities
under the social security program
from 1912 to 1910
4. Provisions similar to the
amendments in the new w. P. A.
appropriation bill to keep politics
out of any permanent unemployment
plan.
Meanwhile, a special subcommit-
tee appointed yesterday by the Sem
ate Privileges and Elections Com
mittee also was preparing to start
a study of permanent legislation to
strengthen existing laws to safe
guard Government employees from
political coercion. The subject is
covered to limited degree in the
new w. P. A. measure.
The subcommittee consists of Sen
ators Hatch of New Mexico, Minton
of Indiana, Green of Rhode Island,
Nye of North Dakota and Austin
of Vermont. Only one of the amend
ments in the w. P. A. bill is general
in scope, namely, the ban on offer
ing Jobs as a reward for political
activity. The others are limited to
safeguarding work relief from
politics.
Approach to Problem Weighed.
Senator Byrnes said the first ques-
ton to decide is whether the per-
manent unemployment solution
should be presented for considera-
ton in one general bill or split up
into series of measures. Because
Of the diversity of subjects involved,
another preliminary question to be
determined is whether it should go
to one or several committees.
An increase in the weekly benefit
paymnts under the unemployment
compensation system to workers
when they are laid off was called
"the first line of defense" in per-
manent solution of unemployment
by the special committee.
The public work program would
be provided for those not covered by
unemployment compensation, or
whose period of benefit payments
had expired There was conflict in
the special committee over formula
for the ALLEGATION of projects under
the permanent public work program,
and this probably will be one Of the
most controversial phases of the
forthcoming legislation.
Local Share Factor.
Merger of existing work relief
agencies is proposed, not only for CO.
ordination. but to obtain a uniform
local contribution from the States
OF one-third of the cost. In the
past the local contribution has been
% per cent toward w. P. A. projects
and S. per cent on P w. A. work.
"As long as we regarded unem-
ployment as an emergency problem
We could excuse the continuance of
emergency agencies the special
committee reported, in summing up
its recommendations. There is now
gram. We cannot continue to per-
NIT the unemployed worker to apply
for unemployment compensation
only to learn after some weeks that
the amount to which he is entitled
Is $2.79 per week; then have him
apply for public work, only to be
informed that he is eligible for I'M
employment benefits and therefore
may not have a job, and thereby
force him to go to the relief Office
of the city or State for direct relief"
Senator Byrnes said last night
he hopes to concentrate his atten-
ton on the proposed legislation in
order to have it considered early
in this session.
House Accepts Report.
The last step in the passage of
the temporary w. P. A. bill was
taken by the House yesterday after
noon, when it Abandoned its fight
for limit on wage differentials in
separate localities and agreed to the
conference report. This means the
prevailing wage rule will remain as
to hourly rates or pay, with the
number OF hours regulated to arrive
at the monthly security wage.
Representative Tarver, Democrat,
Of Georgia urged the House to give
the conferees another chance to
seek a compromise on the House
wage provision, which would have
limited differentials to Is per cent.
On a roll call vote, however, the
House agreed to drop the provision.
The remainder Of the conference
agreement already had been agreed
to. 1t was indicated by the debate
the wage problem will be considered
again when the w. P. A. bill for
the year beginning July | is taken
up. The pending measure is to keep
w. P. A. going after February 7,
with members of Congress at odds
as to whether the $725 100000 will
he enough tn Ia ct until limo an