Evening star., 1939-02-28

through the w. P. A. and the P. w.
A., the R. F. c. and the c. c. c.,
the F. H. A. and the N. Y. A. and
all other alphabetical agencies Gre
ated at different times and with
different objectives. The emergency
required that they be created hur-
riedly and without relation to other
agencies. There was no opportunity
to view the whole picture and to CO.
ordinate the emergency efforts. But
now the time has come to consider
the whole question and standardize
and coordinate the methods of
assistance.
Three CategOries.
We should look first to unemploy-
ment insurance; second, to public
assistance, and third, to public
works.
Unemployment insurance is
shock absorber. To date we have
not had an opportunity to fully test
its effectiveness, but we have had
an opportunity to discover the
weaknesses of the existing system.
The laws of the States vary. In all
States, there has been too much
delay in the worker receiving his
compensation benefits. In some
cases he has given up in disgust.
In other cases the worker at the
end of long period of waiting re-
ceived a check for 50 or 81, or some
other sum so inadequate that he
Immediately made application for a
job on w. P. A. projects.
The bill have introduced has
for its objective the payment of
more liberal benefits and the simpli-
f1cation of the law. It provides for
minimum payment of $5 per week:
reduces to one week the period a
man must wait for his benefits:
provides that if he is eligible he will
receive payments for at least 13
weeks if he continues unemployed,
and by simplifying the method of
determining eligibility avoids delay
in making payments to workers and
lessons the burden of reports by
employers.
Let us see the effect of this change.
OF the 100000 gainfully employed
people of the country 100000 are
now covered by this system. The
only large groups not covered are
the agricultural workers, the domes-
ito workers and those employed in
establishments having less than
eight employees. Approximately 30
per cent of the industrial workers
are covered. Therefore if there is
a recession in business, 80 per cent
of the industrial workers who lose
their jobs will after one week re-
ceive compensation benefits. Be-
cause of the increased benefits
promptly paid they will not be try
ing to get on the relief rolls. It
will improve the morale of the in
dividual. The worker feels that he
is entitled to unemployment COM
pensation as matter of right, be-
cause of his contribution through
the pay roll tax. He prefers it to
registering for relief. Relief means
being subjected to investigation by
social workers to determine his need,
and once he has been placed upon
the rolls, being the object of the
jokes of the people who rejoice in
ridiculing w. P. A. workers.
Employment Service.
Today we have an employment
service. While in many States it is
in the same office with the Un-
employment Insurance Bureau, the
employment service is under the
Labor Department, and the Unem-
ployment Insurance Bureau is un-
der the Social Security Board. EN-
ployes in these local Offices receive
funds from two different depart
ments and from the State. The
department that supplies the funds
insists upon its right to issue regu-
lations to control expenditures. Be-
cause no man can serve three mas
ters, the local officials have diff
cult time accounting to State off,
cials and then to two departments
in Washington.
want these services consolidated
in the States and consolidated in
Washington. I want the worker
to have an opportunity to walk in
a door, file claim for insurance,
and in the same Office register for
a job, giving a statement of his ex-
perience and the name of his en-
ployer. I want that official to get
busy finding a job for the worker.
Through the same Office, the worker
should apply for job on public
works when his benefits are ex-
hausted and no private job is avail
able. have provided that the en-
ployment service be transferred to
the Social Security Board because
1t administers unemployment COM
pensation. However, as long as the
two services are united I do not
care in what department the con-
solidation is placed, provided it is
placed where it will command the
confidence Of employers. If an en-
ployment service does not command
the confidence of employers it can
not be Of service to the man without
a job.
Need for Minimum.
4uc AcCcSSICy lOT MINIMUM pay.
ment per week is that when q man
does receive compensation benefits
he should receive enough to remove
him from the ranks of those seeking
relief. The increase in the pay
ments out of that particular fund
is more than justified by the reduc-
ton it will permit in the cost Of
work projects where the annual
average expenditure is $1,000 per
man. That fund has a reserve COL
lected before payments commenced.
AS long as the payments do not
exceed each year the amounts COL
lected, the increase Is wise. It Is