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 Mr. William Green, president of American Federation of Labor

Collection:: Economics Books

UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED STATES 31 Mr. CeLLer. You think also that this Federal agency would do much to alleviate that situation? Mr. Green. That is one important function that it can perform, because—you will pardon me if I take a moment to make this observa- tion upon that point at this time—technological unemployment is constantly with us. It is increasing every day and every year. Mr. Tucker. What do you mean by that expression? Mr. Green. The introduction of mechanical devices to displace men; in other words, the substitution of machinery for hand labor. Men are being displaced constantly and the tragic feature of that phase of unemployment is this: That when the worker is displaced, he not only loses his job, but his skill is destroyed. Mr. CeLLER. Like a musician, for example, I presume? Mr. GreEN. Just like a musician; an all-round machinist, a window- glass blower; and others that I could mention. They are not only confronted with the serious specter of unemployment, but they are confronted with this fact, that the skill that they have acquired as a result of years and years of training and service has been overnight completely destroyed and instead of being able to go somewhere and find a job, find employment suitable to the men thus displaced, where he could follow his skill and training, he is compelled now to seek work where he can, as a taxi driver, as a common laborer. That involves a great social question, because under our social system, the skilled worker builds up a standard of living comparatively high, a standard that is regarded as the American standard of living. He maintains his family on that American standard of living, but when his skill is destroyed, his earning power is destroyed, or materially reduced, in finding a job of work as a common laborer, he must lower his standard of living. There is a great social question involved in this whole unemployment problem. Mr. MonTaGUE. May I interrupt to ask you a question? I want to know the application of the statement you are now making. Are you speaking now of technological unemployment? Mr. GreEN. Yes, sir. Mr. SumnERs. On that point, Mr. Green, will you indicate how you hope this bill will remedy the condition resulting from the general increase in the use of machinery? Mr. GreeN. At the present time there is no one—mno agency, no authority—assisting this man who is displaced. His skill is destroyed. The future is black, the outlook cold and unsympathetic, indeed. Where can he go? Mr. Sumners. That is what I want to find out. Mr. Green. He is better suited, his training and his experience fits him for something better than being a common laborer. But how is he to know where he can find some employment suitable to him? He may live in Maryland, but he may find some work in New York or New Jersey. But how is he to know that? The Federal agencies created under this act would assemble na- tional information, and the man out of work, displaced through the introduction of machinery, can go to some sympathetic adviser and talk his problem over with him, in this unemployment agency, because I presume it is at least fair to assume that the men who will be in charge of these employment agencies will be social and indus- trial experts, men who can render assistance. ’ 11R2068—20—crr 112

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