UP TO CONGRESS TO CURE ILLS OF EMPLOYMENT
Wagner, Sen. Robert F.
UP TO CONGRESS TO CURE ILLS OF EMPLOYMENT Sen. Wagner of New York Says Question Is a National Issue of Importance By SEN. ROBERT F. WAGNER (Of New York) You ran dictate the answer to the...
...Third: The Federal Government should join with the states in the establishment of a nation-wide system of public employment offices, so as to assist workers to find jobs and to assist employers to find workers with the least amount of delay and with the least amount of friction...
...No one can exaggerate the terrific blight on character which unemployment inflicts...
...Others have urged that the municipalities and states were responsible for it...
...Stale boundary lines can not stop it...
...If by a little expenditure of money and a big expenditure of thought and plan we car '-.ulld » dam to shut off this Niagara of money losses arising out of unemployment is it not sound economy to do so...
...Such information ls fundamental...
...The forces which make for the shutdown of factories, the curtailment of activity in the mines and on the railroads are forces which operate on a national and worldwide scale...
...But when you atop to compare these figures with the costs of unemployment, then you become competent to judge which way lies true economy...
...Such a system will establish cooperative channels for the free flow of labor belweeu states and between markets...
...To me the evidence is overwhelmingly conclusive that the problem of unemployment is so big, so important and so complex that it will take the full and whole-hearted cooperation of individuals of business, of municipalities, of states, and the Federal Government to solve it...
...Unemployment has nationwide effects...
...The public works bill, passed by the House in an emasculated form,, now awaits adjustment in conference next December when the congress convenes in its final short session...
...No intelligent effort to control unemployment can be exerted without it...
...Ule employment office bill, $4,-000.000...
...If on the other hand you make known to congress your deep concern, congress will undoubtedly start on the road which has been laid down leading us out of the bog of enforced idleness in which this country is today so deeply mired...
...Quarantine can not stop it...
...Here is a program of action, not perfect, but the best that the present state of our knowledge makes possible...
...Unemployment today is not produced by local causes...
...No scourge known to man spreads as quickly as unemployment...
...To me It seems that the responsibility of the federal government must not be shirked, for the prevention of unemployment is a distinctly national obligation...
...Will rongrew take these dJ^p^pH on the roa/l to stabilized piosnei^illlH answer deprn/ls on Mr...
...First: The Federal Government should collect accurate information of employment, unemployment and part-time employment...
...On the 12th of May the Senate passed the last of three unemployment bills which I had introduced more than two years ago...
...Only the cooperatively organized effort of the entire nation can prevent it...
...I have been told by well in-tentioned citizens that each worker should solve the problem for himself...
...Federal Government does its share the sooner will states, municipalities and private industries be in a position to contribute theirs...
...ROBERT F. WAGNER (Of New York) You ran dictate the answer to the question—Will congress choose the way out of unemployment...
...The Government's Share Under the proposed legislation the Federal Government would undertake so much of the job of preventing unemployment as it can mast effectively accomplish...
...The long range plan bill authorizes an appropriation of $150,-000,U00...
...Who Is there who will talk of tail when these are at stake...
...The Individual workman, the individual business, the State, are helpless when an economic storm breaks upon the country...
...When the congress adjourned in July only one of these Important measures, the statistics bill, had been finally enacted Into law...
...A National Problem Entirely too much valuable time has been consumed by idle theorizing over the question—Whose problem is unemployment...
...It should plan these projects in advance and time so as to make available opportunities for employment when private business slackens...
...What portion of that tusk properly belongs to the Federal Government...
...Today we have no such information...
...These are big sums of money even tor a country as large as the C :ed States...
...The employment office bill remains on the House calendar...
...Only the coordinated strength of the entire nation is competent to deal with such powerful economic forces...
...Into this dispute I declined to enter...
...In one single month last winter factory workers alone lost In wages two hundred million dollars...
...Will Congtesw choose the way out of unemployment, the way of intelligent organization, the way of responsible action, the way of sensible prevention, or —I hesitate to suggest the alternative —will America continue to walk the rutted road of want in thLs age of plenty...
...Theories will not discharge the Government of the responsibility lo do its purl...
...Unemployment produces child labor, disrupts the family, destroys Independence, mid breeds discontent with government...
...primarily, my friends, he snnwej^ftjenns upon you...
...I have been advised that business was under the duty to eliminate unemployment...
...But there is an even greater national jutset to be saved—the national character...
...Despite the expressed public approval of these fundamentally important measure* for the prevention and relief of unemployment, their final passage has been inexcusably delayed...
...Hoover, on 'he Republican leaders in the House of Rcp-'esentntlvp-sAut...
...not complete, but having within ii...
...the seeds of further development.: not a pau*rfa for all our ailments but bound JJ^BjK-tribute to the prevention of uri|^^^fjk ment...
...The prevention of unemployment is a national task to which the entire nation must devote itself...
...If you are unconcerned, if you are indifferent, congress will continue to refuse to choose the way out...
...In the first three, months of 1930, it has been estimated that wage-earners alone lost no less than a billion dollars in wages...
...The sooner the...
...Con of Unemployment Of course, currying out this program will cost money...
...The Federal Government is always engaged in constructing highways, developing rivers and harbors, erecting flood control structures and public buildings...
...When it begins to spread there is no immunity which the individual workman, larmer, or business man can secure for himself...
Vol. 1 • November 1930 • No. 48
