Evening star., 1939-06-06
STAR WASHINGTON D. c. TUESDAY, JUNE s. 1889
House Member Urqes
Long-Range Spending
To Cut Job|ess Rolls
KeIIur and w. P. A. Aide
Urge Greater OutIoy to
End Unemployment

Instead of economizing the Fed
eral Government must spend more
money in long-range program of
reducing unemployment, speakers
said today at a National Emergency
Conference on Unemployment and
Religious Responsibility at the Con-
tinental Hotel.
Howard O. Hunter. deputy admin
istrator of the Works Progress Ad-
ministration, told the conference
delegates that Federal spending to
create employment and provide for
those in need is "a perfectly decent
moral thing to do"
Representative Kent Keller, Demo-
crat, of Illinois declared that the
Federal Government, in the matter
of spending is Not going far enough
or fast enough"
Mr.. Keller advocated spending
5000, 900 900 a year ito give every
man a job who wants to work. "
This, he explained, would raise the
national income to 100000 900 900,
which would produce, at existing tax
rates, enough revenue to keep all
men at work and pay off the small
debt we have accumulated
Sees 9 Billions More Taxes.
Mr.. Keller estimated the 500 ,0O0.-
100000 would produce 100000 ,OOO
OF this amount, half could be used
he said, for a program of public
works creating employment, and the
remainder for the usual govern
mental expenditures.
Mr.. Keller said the Federal Gov
ernment cannot spend lin dribbles'
and expect to raise the national in
come to $780, 900 900 900 or the $780,
600 900 900, suggested by President
Roosevelt.
Mr.. Hunter, objecting to describ-
ing Federal relief expenditures as
"pump-priming," suggested tina,
Federal spending on a long-range
program of public health, flood con-
troll and conservation should be re-
garded as the new frontiers of the
country. He compared such a pro-
gram OF creating employment to the
development Of railroads and the
growth of the automobile industry
Mentioning the estimates of 9'2
to ii million now unemployed in this
country, Mr.. Hunter said it is evil
dent the problem is going to be with
the country for long time.
Would Combat Propaganda.
In response to a question as to
what such a group as represented
at the conference could do to solve
the problem, Mr.. Hunter suggested
the most important thing was for
every one to get the facts. Agreeing
with this, Mr.. Keller added that
knowledge of facts would enable in
dividuals to combat propaganda di-
rected against Federal spending for
relief.
Another speaker, E. L. Oliver, ex-
ecutlve vice president of Labor S
Non-partisan League, said democ-
racy must be established in this
country if the unemployment prob
lem Is to be solved. He declared that
the lives of workers are not con-
trolled by economic laws OF supply
and demand but by "despotic, auto
cratic men" heading the Nations in
dustrial enterprises. Some means,
he said, must be evolved for control
ling such men.
Among those organizations listed
as sponsors Of the meeting are the
Methodist Federation for Social
Service, the Church League for In
dustrial Democracy, the Central
Conference of American Rabbis, the
Fellowship Southern Churchmen
and the Fellowship of Reconcilia-
ton.
After round-table discussions dur
ing the afternoon the conference
was to close with adoption of reports
and resolutions.