Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-30
Servicemen
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provided for a limited number of
qualified servicemen. But, in gen.
eral, agriculture should not be
looked on as dumping ground for
the industrial unemployed. since the
problem is broader than that of
agriculture alone"
The committee apparently came
out against any large lump-sum
bonus, such as that which Congress
voted over the Presidents veto for
World War veterans
Would Avoid Large Payments.
1t specifically said that the three
months mustering-out or fur
Tough" payments ARE explicitly
made in lieu of any other grants for
such purposes to avoid making large
payments at any one time, which
might be dissipated and fail to full
fill he social purposes for which
they are granted
The report went on to say that all
of these proposals contemplate that
the Federal Government will assure
a national minimum of provision for
the establishment of servicemen
and war workers in civilian life and
that such benefits as may be ex-
tended by the States should be con-
sidered in the light of provision by
the Federal Government of the ma
tional minimum
The Nation should take the lead
ership in developing policy and ad-
ministration in this field of war &C
tivity and should carry the burden
on national scale
No Sex Discrimination.
These provisions. it goes without
saying perhaps, apply without dis
elimination to women and men
alike. For women who choose to
continue their employment outside
the home, facilities and assistance
should be given through the several
measures and agencies here recon-
mended. Women within the home
will, of course. share in the aids
and opportunities provided for the
armed forces and the war workers.
TT is clear" the conference said.
that rehabilitation should not be
considered by and of itself. but in
connection with the national policy
of economic sterilization at high
level of employment and productive
ity. Expanding peacetime industry
is the only answer to rehabilitation
of wartime industry. If there are
jobs for all, our problem of de-
mobilization will not be too diff
cult"
Wherry Fears Showdown.
Senator Wherry, Republican. Of
Nebraska said TO-DAY he fears that
President Roosevelt's talk about de-
mobilization will result in SLOW
down Of production He told a re-
porter:
The people nov feel the war is
sliding than they have on the pro-
duction lines
Although the rehabilitation re-
port was prepared by a group of II
officials of the Government. Mr..
Roosevelt emphasized they had
served as individuals and with free
dom of action
Much of the report was based on
figures and charts provided by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, which
used hypothetical possibility that
the war might be over by the end of
1914
Two Year DemobilizatiOn.
1t was assumed demobilization
would require two years, and that at
one point during the period an esti-
mated 100000 or 100000 persons
might be unemployed at the same
time, that other millions would be
waiting to be demobilized and that
additional millions would not have
made the transition from wartime
to peacetime employment.
BY two years after the close of
the war, 1t was estimated 5000 900
workers would have left the labor
market voluntarily. 100000 still
would be unemployed and some D.
100000 would still be in the armed
forces.
The peak in unemployment was
expected in the second or third
quarter after the end of hositilities.
The conference said it seemed
likely levels of wages, hours and
earnings would return to those of
1889 or 1910. and that the resulting
losses would affect purchasing ca
paclty and markets for manufac-
tured goods, which in turn would
affect adversely the ability of in
dustries to maintain production and
employment levels.
Cost Conceded Heavy"
The conference offered no predic-
ton on the cost of meeting the de-
mobilization and adjustment prob
lens arising from the war, but con-
coded they would be heavy"
For rehabilitation of the armed
forces. the conference proposed this
order of precedence: /, those mar
rled, with dependents; 2, those mar
rled, without dependents: 3, those
unmarried, with dependents, and T.
those unmarried, without depend
ents.
AS a general policy, the members
suggested that the men who had
seen arduous overseas duties be re-
leased as early as possible and re-
placed by men with less strenuous
service If large numbers of troops
must be kept abroad.
Warns Against Speed.
Cautioning against too-rapid de-
mobilization, the conference said:
The economic and social costs of
retaining men in the services would
be less than those involved in deal
ing with an unemployment depres-
sion through civilian relief. and the
plans and policies involved in cor
recting postwar depression would
be quite as radical as the proposal
to in>oke controlled or delayed
military rehabilitation.
Instead of wrapping up the entire
program in single bill exclusively
for servicemen. it is believed
the administration will back
separate PROPOSALS covering one or