Evening star., 1945-05-28

protect unemployed workers against
ruthless cuts in living standards,
particularly if they have families.
3. The length of time for which
benefits are paid is too short. In
nearly one-third of the States no
worker can receive more than Is
weeks OF benefits in any year, and
many workers do not qualify even
for this length of time.
Emergency Action Urged.
Therefore, I recommend specii-
cally that Congress take emergency
action to widen the coverage of un-
employment compensation and to
increase the amount and duration
of benefits-at least for the dura-
ton Of the present emergency period
OF reconversion. Basically. this can be
accomplished only by amending the
Social Security Act so as to induce
State laws to provide more ade-
quately for any one who is unem-
ployed
To be sure, the States have large
sums in the unemployment trust
fund. But since changes of State
laws cannot be effected overnight, I
propose that the Congress, during
this emergency period, extend the
coverage of unemployment compen-
sation to include Federal employees,
maritime workers, and other workers
not now insured. Moreover, see no
feasible way to make benefits pay
able to such workers, unless they are
financed entirely by the Federal
Government during the present
emergency. The benefits should be
appropriately be administered by the
States.
I also recommend that Congress
provide, through supplementary
emergency benefit payments, mini
mum standards for the weekly rate
and duration of unemployment
benefits. Every eligible worker
should be entitled to 26 weeks of
benefits in any one year, If his un-
employment continues that long.
The maximum payment, at least
for the worker who has dependents,
should be raised from present levels
to not less than $25 per week. In
this connection, Congress will no
doubt wish to re-examine the read
justment allowance provisions of
the CT Bill of Rights. AL payments
should be made through the exist
Ing unemployment compensation
machinery of the several States, just
as payments to veterans are now
made.
Provisions Badly Needed.
These provisions are essential for
the orderly reconversion of our war
time economy to peacetime produc-
ton. They are badly needed for
the duration of the reconversion
emergency.
Decent unemployment benefits
would serve as a bulwark against
postwar defation. BY assuring work.
ers of a definite income for a def
mite period of time, Congress will
help materially to prevent a sharp
decline in consumer expenditures
WAAANAA AA6AAO OVAACA WAoC 1CCulb AL u
downward spiral Of consumption and
production. Adequate unemployment
insurance is an indispensable form
Of prosperity insurance.
Congress will soon deal with the
broader question Of extending, ex-
panding and improving our social
security program, Of which unem-
ployment insurance Is a part. Al
though such improvement is funda-
mental, congressional deliberations
on the broad issues will take time.
On the specific issue of unemploy-
ment benefits, we may not have
time available We are already en-
tering the first phase of reconver-
sion; we must be prepared immedi-
ately for the far larger problems OF
manpower displacement which will
come with the end of the war in the
Pacific.
earnestly hope, therefore, that
the appropriate committees of Con-
gress will undertake immediate con-
sideration of the emergency prob
lem.