Evening star., 1945-05-27

military developments of the last few
weeks. 1t is scheduled for extensive and
most serious debate in hearings to be
held soon on the Murray full employ
ment bill Is. $500 before the Senate
Committee on Banking and Currency.
A premise of the Murray bill is that
the Federal Government holds in its
hands the power to sustain a volume OF
production which would assure that all
who are able and wish to work may
ind jobs or self-employment on con-
ditions compatible with a high stand
ard of living.
Supporters of the bill have taken UP
the cry, echoed from last years presi-
dental campaign, of 80 million Jobs, Z"
which has been sharply criticized by
some who say it is nothing more than
a political slogan. The man who works
ON his own farm or operates his own
little cigar store obviously is a job
holder under the broad concept of this
term.
An explanation of the 60 million is
given by the Union for Democratic Ac-
tion, supporter of the Murray bill.
The total labor force" after the war
is estimated at 81 900; there will be
"fr1ctlonal" unemployment of 100000;
hence the number of jobs needed is
100000.
introduced in House Also.
Author of the full employment bill is
Senator James E. Murray of Montana,
who also is sponsor of the pending
Missouri Valley Authority bill. Joining
with Senator Murray in sponsoring the
full employment measure are Senators
Robert F. Wagner of New York. Elbert
D. Thomas of Utah and Joseph C.
OMahoney of Wyoming. All are Demo-
Gratis. Senator Wagner is chairman of
the committee which will hold the hear
ings. The same bill has been intro
duced in the House by Representative
Wright Patman, Democrat, of Texas.
An assumption in the bill is that
certain volume of production-that is,
output OF goods and services-will pro-
vide employment opportunities for all
who want to work. The physical VOL
une related to the price level gives the
national product in terms of dollars.
Presumably full employment means that
there are enough persons sharing
equitably in the distribution of this
product to make certain that the whole
population has food, clothing, shelter
and the extras which are included in
desirable standard of living.
These two responsibilities would be
recognized as falling on the Federal
Government:
l. To pursue such consistent and
openly-arrived-at economic policies and
programs as will stimulate and encour-
age the highest feasible levels of en-
ployment opportunities through private
and other non-Federal investment and
expenditure.
2. To the extent that continuing full
employment cannot otherwise be
achieved to provide such volume
of Federal investment and expenditure
as may be needed to assure continuing
full employment.
The first of these two declarations
means that the Federal Government
should encourage private enterprise and
minor governmental units to make the
expenditures and investments which
are needed for full employment the
second means that if there still is not
enough work the Federal Government
must itself spend and invest more.
The principle is not new. For years
it has been urged that when industrial
and general business activities slack
ened the Federal Government (as we'll
as other governmental units) should
have in readiness backlog of public
works, the expenditures for which
would inject new life into the business
stream. Public expenditures, largely
Federal, were the principal weapon di-
rected against the big depression in the
early days.
To avoid the criticism that was raised
against the "leaf-raking" and "boondog-
Cling" depression expenditures of the
Federal Government, the full employ
ment bill would require that any Fed
eral public works program designed to
aid in filling out full employment
should contribute to the national
wealth and we'll being" and be of
nature to stimulate additional non
Federal investment and expenditure.
AS an aid to private enterprise, public
works in this program would have to
be constructed by contractors, unless
special circumstances made it desirable
for the work to be done otherwise.
Sets Up Specific Formula.
The new feature in the Murray bill
Is that it would set up specific for
mula and procedure for application of
these two Federal responsibilities
couragement of private enterprise, and
public investment and expenditure.
First, the President would determine
the size of the labor force" for the
next fiscal year, or longer. This would
include the elf-employed in industry
and agriculture. The total would be
an estimate of the number who might
be expected to be available for gainful
employment.
Second, he (the President) would
lures and investment which would be
required at the expected price levels to
provide employment opportunity" for
the entire labor force. The expendi-
lures and investments would be classi-
fled as to private enterprise, consumers,
State and local governments and Fed
eral Government.
Third, he would estimate the ex-
penditures and investments expected to
be made under existing or prospective
conditions in all these classifications.