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 John B. Andrews, Director of the American Association for Labor Legislation

Collection:: Economics Books

30 UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED STATES As a result, the Department of Labor in April, 1919, called a conference at which there were delegates representing the governors of various states and the Federal smployment service. This conference urged the continuation of the United States Employment Service as a permanent bureau in the Department of Labor and made detailed recommendations for the establishment of such a bureau. The Kenyon-Nolan bills, introduced in Congress in 1919, embodied these recommendations. They were supported by a message to Congress by the Presi- dent who urged the necessity of legislation to meet the unemployment problem by developing and maintaining the Federal employment service. These bills were indorsed by the American Federation of Labor and numerous social welfare and eivie organizations throughout the country. But Congress did not act. On the contrary, it cut the appropriations of the employment service. Although the Nolan bill was favorably reported from committee in the House, this country had to face the unemployment crisis of 1921 without an adequate Federal-State system of employment bureaus. The emergency service set up during the war was reduced to skeleton proportions by the refusal of Congress to give it the needed financial support, a condition which has continued to the present moment. (The increased appropriation recom- mended by President Hoover in December may mislead, in that $100,000 of the $168,000 increase is exclusively for service to veterans, and $55,000 is for farmers. This leaves a mere $13,000 increase for the nation-wide general cooperative work.) Surely, after all these years of delay, a really adequate, permanent public employment service should be established. II. LONG-RANGE PLANNING OF PUBLIC WORKS Public works projects were used to relieve unemployment in most of the large cities of the United States during the 1914 depression. Although much good was accomplished, it was then generally recognized by competent observers that such a program had been seriously hampered by failure to act in advance of the emergency. In 1914, the California Commission of Immigration and Housing declared in this connection: ‘In fact the general failure to plan ahead and the refusal to face the problem until the need is pressing, is the most pertinent criticism. * * * Instead of delaying until another crisis comes, immediate steps should be taken to formulate a program for permanent State action. Suitable work should be outlined, funds provided and definite plans formulated.” This criticism for the National Government is just as valid in the present crisis as it was (for California) in 1914. So far as the Federal Government is concerned, the need of long-range planning still awaits recognition by Congress. The States, on the other hand, have made a little progress. The first State to make a gesture toward setting up a plan for a prosperity reserve of public works was Pennsylvania. In 1917 that State created an emergency public works commission to arrange the extension of public works during periods of industrial depression and to receive tentative plans of projects from the various departments of the State. It was provided with the nucleus of a fund to be divided among the various departments having work available. Unfortunately, this pioneer act was abolished soon after during a recodifieation. The 1921 depression caused California to adopt similar legislation. In 1923 Wisconsin and in 1929 Utah also provided the beginning of long-range planning of public works. Meanwhile the Federal Government failed to adopt a permanent policy. In December, 1917, President Wilson urged the use of public works on a national scale to prevent widespread unemployment during demobilization. And although Congress failed to provide a systematic plan for such a program, the War Depart- ment utilized the possibilities of stimulated public work in finding employment for its demobilized military forces. = The crisis of 1921 again attracted attention to the need of a public-works program. Cities and States adopted emergency measures, and similar action was urged upon the Federal Government. It became evident that the leadership of the National Government in setting up a permanent program would have g most desirable effect upon the States and municipalities. As a result, the Ken yon bill to prepare for future cyclical periods of depression and unemployment by systems of public works was introduced in Congress. The President’s conference on unemployment, moreover, strongly recommended this type of farsighted preparation. But Congress refused #0 enact the Kenyon bill, although it was ‘avorably reported bv the Senate committee.

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