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

Of eligibility should be such as to
eliminate casual workers and cover
only those regularly in the labor mar
ket. A uniform period will simplify
administration and reduce costs.
Since unemployment compensation
is to be paid only to persons accus-
toned to work, eligibility require
ments must be based on weeks Of en-
ployment in an administrative period.
If thirteen weeks is the benefit period,
and the benefit 80 per cent of full time
weekly earnings, the proposed require
ment that the person eligible must
have worked within each Of 26 weeks
in the year preceding his claim for
benefit is reasonable.
Importance of. Defining Work Week
The Federation hopes that a way
will be found to define a work week
so as to substitute definite number
of weeks instead of the standard
worked in each Of 26 weeks"
We would prefer a simple standard
of weeks of work which with a sepa-
ration report would provide the ad-
ministration with basis for quick de-
cision. However, we recognize the
trend has been in the direction of
quarterly reporting, with the require
ment that applicant must have earned
definite sum as evidence of benefits
contributed in his behalf. The mini
mum requirement of $3.50 or 80 times
the minimum benefit rate is reason
able to assure restriction of benefits
to those regularly employed.
The Federation is in favor of the
principle of making grants from Fed.
eral funds for public assistance in
proportion to the inability of the State
to maintain minimum national stand.
ards. Average per capita income in
some States is less than half the natl
onal average per capita and under the
corporate method Of financing, income
from production is drawn off by the
great financial centers. Only the Fed.
eral Government can return funds fol
the handicapped to those regions sup.
| plying basic national needs. The
method of variable grants recognizes
this fact.
Classification Of those needing pub.
lie assistance into categories that in.
dicate the cause of dependency, will
help us meet their PROBLEMS by set.
ting up permanent agencies with ade.
quate appropriations. We need to sep.
arate permanent from emergency
needs.
We emphatically endorse the pro.
posal to apply the merit system in the
establishment and maintenance of al
the administrative personnel, but we
insist with equal emphasis that ad
ministrative experience in the unior
should be considered as equal to Other
administrative work and that all ad
ministering laws involving the right
Of workers shall have knowledge anc
understanding of the problems and de.
sifes of wage earners.
The Federation urges amendment
of the Social Security Act along the
proposed S. 1865. We urge the in.
clusion of an additional Federal stand
ard as condition for approval for Fed
eral funds-a pooled fund.
In addition the Federation recon-
mends an Advisory Committee SINH.
lar to the Advisory Committee created
by the Senate in the last Congress tc
study old age benefits, such commit.
tee to be charged with consideration
of experience under unemployment
compensation together with exploring
the possibilities of a Federal Unem.
ployment Compensation Law and max.
! ing recommendations to Congress.