Evening star., 1960-12-29

Continued FROM E1rSt rage
now. Got to walk 80 blocks in
this cold to get back home"
Steady Worker Out
Another unemployed con-
struction worker, who was
waiting patiently with arms
folded, said slowly that this
was the first time in his seven
years in Washington he has
been out Of work.
"This cold weather has sure
nipped the construction jobs.
Yeah, I know there are lots Of
job ads in the papers. I tried
to get me some Of them but
they always took somebody
else who had more experience
in that line Of work.
IF you're single like I am,
you can get by, but if you got
a family the squeeze is ter
rife"
Mrs. D. c. Toombs, manager
of the branch Office of the Dis
trict Unemployment Compen-
sation Board reported that the
total number Of claims filed
for the week ending December
"a was 8.979. including 1899
new claims and 1880 renewals.
She added that this is an in
crease Of l,l60 over the total
claims filed for the week end
ing December 10.
Most Blame Weather
THE majority Of these men
say the cold weather is respon-
sible for their unemployment. I"
said Mrs. Toombs. II the
weather would warm up the
number Of claims would prob
ably drop by about 1000 O
week."
Fred c. Hetzel, director Of
the United States Employment
Service for the District, re-
ported that the November
unemployment total for the
Washington Metropolitan Area
of 22.700 was 2.6 per cent Of
the total area work force.
This compares with the ma
tional unemployment average
of SO per cent for November.
Washington, Mr.. Hetzel said,
traditionally has the lowest
unemployment rate of any ma
jor labor market in the Nation,
primarily because Of the sta
bilizing influence Of the large
Government payroll.
Outlook Cloudy
However. Mr.. Hetzel said
early 1861 area employment
prospects are mot encourag-
ing"
He said that in November
there were 2,I00 fewer construc-
ton workers employed in this
area than in the same month
last year. He noted that fur
ther declines In construction
employment are expected be-
cause Of both economic fac
tors" and "unfavorable wealth
err"
A great deal Of part-time
help employed by the retail
stores and the Post Office De-
partment for the Christmas
season Is now being laid of,
he added.
Mr. Turner warned that many
construction workers have not
yet applied for their unemploy-
ment compensation benefits.
"A lot Of fellows who got
laid of two weeks ago will reg
lister with the unemployment
compensation board the first
week in January" Mr.. Turner
predicted.
District Slows Up
He added that a number of
contractors have told him the
District Highway Department
is too rigid in restricting the
pouring Of concrete in cold
weather.
"The District isn't working
on projects through the winter
months like they used to five
or 10 years ago." said Mr.. Tur-
ner. He added that this is con-
tributing to unemployment.
Harold L. Aitken, District
highway director, was not i'm
mediately available for COM
ment.
Edgar Lickey, director OF the
District Unemployment Com
pensation Board. estimated
that approximately 285, 900 un-
employment compensation
checks will be mailed out this
Iyear.
He added that while this fig
ure would be slightly more than
the 1859 total of 282, 700 checks,
1t would be substantially small
er than the 1888, ,433 checks dis
tributed In the recession year
of 1858. g.