Milford chronicle., 1954-11-12
80

+ cusslOn about the employment situation with
the emphasis on unemployment. AS is in
i eYltable In such matters, much of the talk
seems to have generated more heat than
hgnt and has tended to create an erroneous
or distorted view
This is not to deny the fact that there is
unemployment. Recent figures indicate 27O =
600 out Of work in Michigan, which is one of
the big surplus-labor areas in the nation.
Much OF this unemployment is due to season.
al shutdOWns In the aUtOmOtive industry.
LaJe reports also indicate full-time unen-
plOyment IN illinois at $4,000. To take an
other example, sales of coal have dropped
ana again the unemployed rolls show the
tfehd. But such events are not reflections of
Ine whole picture, and in the cases mention
ea thefe IS real hope that changes for the
better are coming.
Secretary of Labor Mitchell recently
wrote a review of labOr's status which ap-
peared IN a number of large dailies. It con-
Calns some highly interesting facts and opin-
IONS, and It may help to correct a number of
misconceptions
Mr.. Mitchell begins by stating that 'the
working men and women Of America are do
ing well. For the past two years, prOduc-
tlon line workers have averaged $40 a week
IN september the average reached S71 SO,
the highest level for that month in history.
Iake-home pay-the amount the worker
actually gets after all the payroll deductions
are made-also reached new high of S66.78 !
in September.
Then the Secretary observed that 'this |
IS not the full story of our prOgress"-Ob- |
vlously, if prices had continued to show sub |
stantlal increases, the mere wage figures
would have small meaning. But, for two
years, prices have shown a remarkable de-
gree OF stability. So our "real Wages"-oUr
actual purchasing pOwer-have risen too.
Mr.. Mitchell does not minimize unem-
oloyment-theg government, he writes, is TAX
ng all possible steps to reduce it, But he
points out that while there are lust over
5,OO0,00O unemployed, $4,000, 900 people are
employed. He writes, 81 believe that in our
rational concern over the welfare of the in
ilVldual worker this employment side of the
picture has received too little attention"
The Secretary also describes some of the
.ctlVltles OF his department. 1t maintains ,
-,lOO employment offices, and last year these I
Helped place 100000 men and women in
obs. 1t works with both labor and manage
nent, promoting training to fit people for !
1gher skilled jobs, It has instigated factory |
aIety programs which have produced strik-
ng results. 1t enfOrces the wage and hour I
avs. 1t collects and publishes all manner !
i facts and information about Jobs. To /
uote him once more, "In the Labor depart r
nent, we take very seriously our mandate v
rom Congress to promote, develop and fos- {
ef tne welfare OF the wage earners of the :
United States. To us this means all the wage e
and unorganized." /
5000 O
TOO MUCH RED TAPE
More and more parents want to give Sc +
urities to children. But they are discourage
from doing that, in many instances, by r.
egal red tape.
This situation was highlighted by Keith
unstan, President of the New York Stock i
ixchange, In talk before the 37th annual n
OnVentlOn OF the National Association of g
ecurities AdministratOrs-Ofte called the n
'lue Sky Law Administrators Mr.. Funston {,
escrl0ed some OF the legal obstacles that "
oW stand IN the way of making gifts of i
ecuflues TO minors. Then he proposed
inform law for the states which would en- \
BILE parents to give securities to their chill n
ren as easily as savings account or a gov =,
Tnment bond u
Under this law, an adult could make "
III OF securities to child with the power of "
laIageInent am reserved to the giver or to a b
lose relative OF the child whom the giVeY
eslgnates The person concerned would be 2
nOWn as the custodian and would have IL
ROAD powers to manage the property in his \
are during the child's minority. and 10 ex !,
ana either income or principal for the =,
aids benefit. The custodian could sell Sc Il
lT1tles for the child but would be limited ir s.
ny purchases to securities which would be v
'qulred by prudent man seeking a reason "
1le income and preservation of capital. Mr. II
unStOn emphasized that his proposed stat Il
-e does not in any way lessen the protection e
le law affords children. 1t applies only tc
its. All it does is to make It easier for ii
yer to obtain the fexibility which he can Il
wv obtain only by complex legal docu- :
Present laws in effect, are standing be-
yeen children and real understanding of
hat 1t means to own their own share ir -
merican business enterprise.
NGDGNG ~
SALT is NEEDED 1r 1r
A number of members of Congress. Sen. ii
OF Gordon of Oregon among them, are un Or
T attack for having voted against al n
nendment to the tidelands oil bin which 6u