The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1940-06-06

The letter, signed by Pr
attention to the law requiring full
time duties of members Of the
Unemployment compensat ior
Board members.
Prior TO adjourning the Council
agreed TO meet on the last Tues
day OF each month at . p. M. al
the Public Safety Building. Cum
berland. and promised study OF
the Clio proposals prior to and
at the next meeting.
Elect Officers
The meeting was the first tho
group has held and represented a
triumph for tho Western Mary
land Clio which had made strong
efforts over the past two years 10
have the Council named as re-
quired By the terms of the Un-
employment Compensation Act.
william Torkington. CclanesC
Corporation OF America. was elect
cd chairman. and Robert l.. Glenn
United Mine Workers OF America
was named secretary. James A
Dundon. president. Local 1874
Textile Workers Union OF America
is the second labor representative
on the board but was unable to at
tend owing to having been called
out OF town on union business.
Remaining members OF the SIX
man council are Robert Stallings
Georges Greek Coal Company
Michael j. Byrnes. Eckhart and
r. E. Barnard. Cumberland. the
latter two representing the public
Officials Present
Stephen e. Cromwell, director
Of the Unemployment compcnsa-
ton division. outlined the work
OF his division and gave resume
Of activities. d. l.. 3. Fringer
director of tho State Employment
Service and Ralph Beard. official
local manager. State Employment
Servic and Ralph Beard. Official
Local 26. United Rubber Workers
OF America and member OF the
State Advisory Council we're also
present
In his remarks Cromwell re-
vealed that there is an approx
mate surplus of sixteen million
dollars in unemployment compen-
sation funds. This amount con-
trasts with an approximate nine
teen million dollars paid out to
claimants since payments startedl
Such figures show" said labor
representatives later, that it is
easily possible to pay bigger
benefits. wipe out the waiting
period and pay for longer periods
OF unemployment.
We recall when the Act was
PASSED; ;i.y continued. liza;
legislators defended the small
payments and short periods on the
ground tina; /: was best to start
off conservatively. But. now that
the surplus has accumulated. some
OF these same people propose to
turn 1t to the benefit OF the en-
ployers by reducing the tax rate
In his letter James Collins as
serted The present large. ac-
Cumulated reserves are silent proof
that it is possible to make benefits
come closer to the actual needs
OF the unemployed. b. increasing
the benefit sums and lengthening
the maximum benefit period"
CLIO Letter
Following the remarks OF the
officials present and the procedure
Of organizing. members OF the
Council informally discussed some
OF their duties and problems.
1t was reported that the annual
payroll tax amounts TO roughly
eleven million dollars per year
Last year only $5.700.000 was paid
out in benefits. This year 1t is
anticipated that between seven
and eight million dollars will be
disbursed. so it can quickly be
seen that the surplus accumulates
each year and will continue to
accumulate until benefits are step
ped up.
The full text of the letter pre-
sented TO the members OF the
Council by the Western Maryland
Industrial Union Council OF the
Cio was read and action given by
setting a regular meeting date
each month and promising study