Evening star., 1939-02-26
Simple and Uniform
Job|ess Aid Scheme
Urged al Hearings
Senate Group Told One
U. S. Agency Should
Coordinate MACHINERY

Coordinate Machinery
Need of simplifying administra-
tion of unemployment compensa-
ton throughout the country by
bringing it under one Federal agency
and by co-ordinating procedure be-
tween State and local offices was
the keynote OF yesterdays testi-
mony before the special Senate COM
mittee planning a permanent solu-
ton Of the unemployment problem.
While witnesses agreed on the
need for unified administration,
conflicting views were expressed as
to whether the United States En-
ployment Service should be put un-
der the Social Security Board or
whether the consolidation Of this
phase of social security should be in
some other agency.
The committee will continue hear
ings tomorrow at 1890 am, when
Labor Department officials prob
ably will be heard. Chairman
Byrnes hopes to complete hearings
this week and have bill ready for
the Senate within 10 days.
The general aim of the measure
is to liberalize unemployment COM
pensation and other phases of So
cial security as means of lighten-
ing relief rolls and then consolidate
w. P. A.. P w. A. and other emer-
gency agencies in a new department
of public works to supplement So
cial security.
First-Hand Data Received.
The committee received f1rst-hand
information yesterday on how I'M
employment compensation is work.
ing in the States from the follow
ing:
Ray r. Adams, head of the Inter-
state Conference of Unemployment
Compensation Agencies; Rev. DR..
John O'Grady of the National Con-
ference of Catholic Charities, and
John S. Stump. West Virginia di-
rector of unemployment compen-
sation.
Mr.. Adams said that while there
is difference of opinion as to whether
united supervision should be in the
Social Security Board or the Labor
Department, the Executive Com
mittee of his conference favors the
Security Board.
Senator Hayden, Democrat, of
Arizona. advocated taking the EN-
ployment Service out of the Labor
Department and the Unemployment
Compensation Division out of the
Social Security Board to combine
both in the new Department of Pub
lie Works.
If the consolidation is in the So
cial Security Board, the Arizona
Senator argued, "the stress will be
on paying compensation to the
worker. whereas if it is handled some
other way the emphasis will be on
finding him job"
Lack of Cooperation Cited.
Father O'Grady, describing his
personal observations at IS local un-
employment compensation Offices in
II States, gave the committee a pic
ture of delays in handling claims of
idle workers for weekly benefit pay
ments because of complicated pro-
cedure in administering existing
laws.
Responding to question by
Chairman Byrnes, the witness
agreed there is a lack of co-ordina-
ton, adding that the local agencies
are getting too many types of ad-
vice"
To liberalize the unemployment
compensation systems of the States,
the Byrnes bill proposes to write
certain minimum standards into
the Social Security Act, such as a
minimum weekly benefit payment
of IS. Father OGrady said he
would favor a 81 minimum al
though he realized the committee
might face q problem in placing it
at that level.
Uniform Weekly Benefit Urged.
Answering question by Majority
Leader Barkley, he said he thought
it should be uniform, adding I'VE
will not get anywhere if we leave
1t to the States" Additional ma
tional standards are needed, he
said.
Mr.. Adams said he thought it is
a little dangerous" to establish a
minimum for administrative pro-
cedure, pointing out it might jeop-
ardize the reserve. funds in States
having high degree of seasonal
employment. He suggested a SO
minimum might be preferable in
some States.
Mr. Stump Thought it is ito soon
to fix rigid minimum standards in
the Federal law because of wide
differences in the economic condi-
tions in the States" He said West
Virginia is seeking to make So the
minimum now.