The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-04-27

certain portions of the Social Security
Act, including the provisions for un-
employment compensation. During the
hearings held by the Special Commit
tee on the Byrnes Bill, Matthew Vol,
chairman of the American Federation
of Labor Committee on Social Sc
curity, made statement to the COM
mittee outlining the unemployment
compensation policy Of the A. F. Of
l.. The text of Mr.. VOLTS statement is
included in this article.
BY MATTHEW WOLL
Chairman, American Federation of La
Dor Committee on Social Security.
The purpose of unemployment COM
pensation is to provide income during
unemployment for workers accustom-
ed to be self-supporting.
The function Of unemployment COM
pensation administration is to pay
benefits in accordance with legal re-
quirements.
The past ten years have demon
strated beyond question that the un
employed are, for the most part,
without jobs for reasons quite outside
their control, and have right to in
come to tide them over the period of
search for another job.
Self-supporting citizens should not
be subjected to means test so long
as they have chance to remain self
supporting.
The American Federation Of Labor
holds that unemployment compensa-
tion should not be handicapped by
other and conflicting duties that would
limit it's ability to perform it's sole
function.
The American Federation of Labor
is gratified that the recommendations
of this committee are based on recog-
milton of the need of uniformity in
unemployment compensation legisla-
tion and coordination in it's admins
tration. That we believe is the i'm
mediate next step, building on what
we nave and moving definitely toward
national uniformity.
Compensation Is Workers Right
Unemployment compensation is a
right of wage earners regularly seek
ing Industrial employment to earn a
living. The consequences of loss Of
job through no fault of theirs should
not be borne entirely by those per-
sons who are essential to industry but
should be shared by the owners.
The fact Of unemployment is estab-
lished by inability to find work through
the public employment office. The ad-
ministration of unemployment COM
pensation is, therefore, tied in with
the job-findng agency to which the
worker must report at required inter-
walls. t,e "a -e...... - ,dl
Importance of Employment Service
The Employment Service reaches
out into employment opportunities of
all industries and all other types of
employment and operates in the light
of the full body of labor legislation
affecting conditions and terms of en-
ployment. It's primary function is
connecting workers with jobs for
which they are fitted. Wage earners
are in employment offices during their
work years and are covered by un-
employment compensation during the
same period.
The American Federation of Labor
holds that the Employment Service
should be located in the Department
of Labor, that division of the Execu-
tive branch of our Federal Govern
ment to which labor looks for under
standing of it's problems, it's rights,
and it's welfare.
Ability to get suitable, satisfactory
jobs conditions the whole of wage
earners' lives. We cannot consent to
the transfer of this vital function
from the location where labor is pro-
vided representation in the Presidents S
Cabinet.
1t is equally obvious that the ad-
ministration of unemployment COM
pensation can not be carried on eff
GENTLY unless there is coordination of
unemployment compensation pay
ments and the placement functions of
the Employment Service so that both
administrative fields are developed
with domination to neither.
Unemployment Compensation Unit
Should Be In Labor Department
Representatives of the American
Federation of Labor were members Of
the Committee on Economic Security
which recommended draft bill plac-
ing old age benefits and unemploy-
ment compensation in the Department
of Labor, and the Federation still be-
lieves that administration Of benefits
which are matter of right should be
in the Department of Labor.
The Executive Council Of the AM
erican Federation of Labor in it's re-
port to our 1888 convention recon-
mended that the administration of un-
employment compensation be trans
ferred to the Department and put
under an Assistant Secretary of Labor
who should also be charged with re-
sponsibility for the U. S. Employment
Service.
Pooled Compensation Fund Urged
The American Federation of Labor
believes that the sole function of un-
employment compensation is to pay