Unemployment in the United States

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 1828236179

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-226169

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Unemployment in the United States

Place of publication:: Washington

Publisher:: United States, Government Printing Office

Year of publication:: 1930

Scope:: II, 193 Seiten

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Statement of James A. Emery, representing National Association of Manufacturers of the United States of America

Collection:: Economics Books

UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED STATES 131 . Mr. | stroit 130) mnber- istry. some- d the ward s has rove ut of read imu- Apri] 2g, S. ‘pose ange t aid ‘port hing 2 I'OW 10 im Ar AL BS its ith ito v0 A Unfortunately the Federal Government has strayed far afield from its legiti- Mate business. It has trespassed upon fields where there should be no trespass. If we could confine our Federal expenditures to the legitimate obligations and functions of the Federal Government a material reduction would be apparent. But far more important than this would be its effect upon the fabric of our con- stitutional form of government, which tends to be gradually weakened and under- ined by this encroachment. The cure for this is not in our hands. It lies with the people. It will come when they realize the necessity of State assumption of State responsibility. It will come when they realize that the laws under which the Federal Government hands out contributions to the ‘State is placing upon them a double burden of taxation—Federal taxation in the first instance to raise the moneys which the Government donates to the States, and State taxation in the second instance to meet the extravagances of State expenditures which are tempted by the Federal donations. The second is the last utterance of the President on this subject, addressed to Congress on December 5, 1927, when referring to the termination of the appropriations for the continuation of aid under the maternity act, he said: This opens up the whole subject of State aid, which despite frequent warnings tontinues strongly intrenched in Federal operations. While the amount of money taken annually from the Federal Treasury for subsidies to States is not incon- siderable, the dangers inherent in the policy are of far greater importance. To relieve the States of their just obligations by resort to the Federal Treasury in the final result is hurtful rather than helpful to the State, and unfair to the payers of national taxes. To tempt the States by Federal subsidies to sacrifice their vested rights is not a wholesome practice no matter how worthy the object to be attained. Federal interference in State functions ean never be justified as a permanent continuing policy even if, which is doubtful, such interference is warranted by emergent conditions as a temporary expedient. As shown in the maternity and infancy act, when once the Government engages in such an enter: prise it is almost impossible to terminate its connection therewith. We should tot only decidedly refuse to countenance additional Federal participation in State-aid projects, but should make careful study of all our activities of that character with a view to curtailing them. Then finally I direct your attention to this exceedingly brief state- ment by Abraham Lincoln in his first message to the Congress of the United States, which goes to the— } Mr. Tucker (interposing). Have you given all of Mr. Coolidge’s statement that you have read? Mr. Emery. Yes, sir. There is a preceding paragraph which I did not read, but if the committee wishes, I will incorporate it. Mr. Tucker. He says in that statement that he is opposed to the further extension of that principle? Mr. EMERY. Yes, sir. So he said in the preceding statement. In that first statement of Abraham Lincoln's, his first message to Congress, he said: To maintain inviolate the rights of the States to order and control under the Constitution their own affairs by their own judgment exclusively is essential for the preservation of that balance of power on which our institutions rest. That, indeed, appears to be axiomatic, but it is one of those great axioms that is too frequently forgotten in the present day, and blessed ts the nation that remains still true to the axioms of sel{-government. Mr. LAGuarpia. Mr. Chairman, may I ask Mr. Emery a question or two? I was called on the floor last night and did not have the Opportunity then." } Mr. Emery, you find that in time of industrial depression, when there is unemployment, it affects the so-called labor market, and there 18 a tendency to lower wages and longer hours?

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