The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-01-27

Finally Goes
to USES.
Employment Now
Attalns Stature:
Organized 1918

WASHINGTON-UP-The L.
employment Service was reachia
manhood today after a turbulen
childhood.
Born in 1918 and mothered by
the Labor Department, It had a
lively time until shortly after the
Armistice when it entered a long
period of neglect. During the years
OF prosperity it had no one to place
in available jobs; during the de
preston 1t had no jobs in which
to place available workers.
USES. became the foster child
OF the Federal Security Agency IN
1899, but its effectiveness was neg
ligible as the Social Security and
Walsh-Peyser Acts Still left the
major employment problems to the
states, even providing the states
with federal funds TO carry out
their work.
While under the FSA, It concen-
trated on implementing provisions
OF the Walsh-Peyser act for main
tcnauCe OF a farm placement ser
vice; a service devoted TO securing
employment for veterans; and
maintaining a public employment
service for the District Of Colum.
bia.
Federalized All Services
The USES. appeared to be
headed for a more fruitful career
after the attack on Pearl Harbor
when President Roosevelt ordered
federation of public employment
services, a move which became ct
fectiye Jan. l, 1912.
In preparing for the conversion,
MIR. Roosevelt informed state su
thoritles a year ago that it was &c
sential that all separate employ
ment services become a uniformly
and nationally operated employ
ment service in order that there b.
complete responsiveness to the de.
mands OF the national defense, and
speedy. uniform, effective action te
meet rapidly changing needs"
The outlook was good, but as
labor shortages began TO crop I'D in
the industrial centers the USES.
found itself without necessary
funds and personnel 70 meet the
resultant call upon services by EN-.
ployers.
Just how bad situation existed
was revealed by War Manpower
Chief Paul V. McNutt recently.
During the first 10 months of 1915.
the service, with 1910 persons on
IT'S rolls, had lost SIPS emploves
ana mad 2.6i1 vacancies at the end
Of October.
No Pay for Overtime
In attempting TO meet the de-
mand for their services, the EN-.
7loyes Of the service worked an
average Of 1895 hours overtime
monthly without compensation.
McNutt attributed the heavy
turnover in personnel 10 lack Of
iunds and long hours He said thai
Al the time the service was trans.
erred to the War Manpower Com
mission by Mr.. Roosevelt Dec (
conditions were deplorable, that m.
spirit OF the service was broken
We expect to do everything in
our power TO strengthen n - no,
only TO strengthen but enlarge the
employment service TO do the iob
We expect of IT," McNutt said ~
haven't been happy about il and I
nave been particularly unhappy be.
cause OF the injustice which these
people have suffered"
McNutt has said be will 20 10 Tho
new Congress to ask for more
Iuhds so that employees OF the scr
wee can get better pay and their
working conditions improved
AS the center OF all hiring In tho
war effort as provided in the Presi.
cents manpower order. n will chan.
mel men to the places where they
are most needed II will call upon
existing agencies, such as union
hiring halls and company employ.
ment Offices, but these agencies
VIII be required TO operate on
systematic and orderly basis under
supervision Of the serYIes