Evening star., 1950-03-02
Report Shows $1,000
Jobless Drew Nearly
4 Million Here in '49

for $3,960,758 were issued during
1949 to set new record IN the
history of the Districts unem-
ployment program.
SO said the 14th annual report
of the District Unemployment
Compensation Board, sent to Con-
gress yesterday by Commissioner
John Russell Young. board chair
man.
The report recommended the
District Unemployment Compen-
sation Act be amended to liberalize
the benefit formula in accordance
with the Presidents recommended
ton last year.
This would be accomplished by
increasing the maximum benefit
amount from $40 to $50 and
changing the duration from 20 to
26 weeks for all claimants.
To eliminate inequities in the
charging of benefits against en-
ployers' accounts, it was recon-
mended that, in certain cases over
which employers have no control,
their accounts should not be
charged with benefits paid to their
former employees.
Would Cover Misconduct.
This would include benefits paid
to claimants after serving a dis
qualification for voluntarily leav-
ing their last employer without
good cause, for having been dis
charged for misconduct in con-
nection with their work or for
refusing suitable employment
without good cause.
The 1949 figures represent a 26
per cent increase over 1948 in
the number of checks issued, and
a 81 per cent increase in the
amount spent. the report stated.
Other statistics presented in
cluded these:
More than 1900 different per-
sons drew at least one benefit
check during 1949.
The average claimant drew un-
employment compensation for 13
weeks, and his checks averaged
$17.61. This was a decline from
the average 1948 duration of 1872
weeks. The average 1949 check
was 81 cents higher than that of
the previous year. but slightly
lower than the record high of
$17.78 in 1914 and 1945.
Up to S433,S23 Monthly.
OF all payments made, 221, ,488
were for periods of total unem-
ployment. More than IS per cent
of the checks issued for full un-
employment were for the maxi
mum benefit rate Of $40.
Monthly totals of the checks is
sued ranged from 14.274, amount
ing to $252,151 during November,
to 24,696 for $433,S23 during
March.
The estimated number of per-
sons receiving benefits was about
8 per cent of the total number of
covered workers in the District.
For every 81 contribution due
last year. 81 % in benefits was paid
out. It was pointed out that in
terest payments on the employer
reserve fund more than offset
the additional amount of bene-
fits spent.
All major industrial divisions
showed larger amounts of bene-
fits paid, as compared with con-
tributions due. Wholesale and
retail trade, representing the larg-
est segment of covered employ
ment in the District, had expendi-
lures of $1.47 in benefits for every
81 contribution due.
August New Claims Heavy.
Effects of the carpenters strike
during the summer were notice
able in filings throughout the con-
struction industry and other close
ly associated types of business, it
was reported. The usually good
employment month of August was
marked by the third largest num-
Der Of initial claims filed during
the year. it was said.
The report said average monthly
employment decreased slightly
during l949, but total wages con-
tinued to increase. The increase
was considerably less than during
1948. it was noted.
There was a monthly average
Of 217,367 covered employees and
1888 liable employing units re-
ported for 1949. according to the
statistics. These employees were
paid total wages of $623, 1886 ,152
for the period, and contributions
due the board, based on taxable
wage, amounted to 5000. .072. they
indicated. This was 80 per cent
increase over the 1948 figures.