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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Chapter

Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

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

Collection:: Economics Books

UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED STATES 91 ~hich ‘deral aited Labor reau. these “regi- m by were and / the ‘rom 8 of The 's by hich 30m- the ers. rk.) iblie rege 00d hat ‘he 1in ace % Ken be sent L 18 NSS. ity an rks ets 5 of le. on, 123 ng [n 1al zh rt- nt ‘ks an ip a m vy ce ad a8 With the revival of business, the memory of the 1921 depression, together with the recommendations of several committees which had studied the question, ied Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover to recommend to President Harding that an Executive order be sent to all divisions of the Government to have public works slowed down during the period of prosperity so as to contribute something to the overflow of employment. But no definite plan was adopted, despite the ever-growing recognition of the soundness and desirability of such a measure. Public opinion was further directed to the subject by the report of Herbert Hoover's committee on business cycles and unemployment (1923), and of his tommittee op seasonal operation in the construction industry (1924). Early in 1927 Senator Pepper introduced a resolution to appoint a Senate committee to study the stabilization of employment and industry through advance planning of public works, with a view to legislation. The resolution was reported favorably after a hearing, but the Senate failed to act upon it. Finally in 1928, Senator Jones introduced a bill to create a prosperity reserve. The bill was approved by Herbert Hoover's Department of Commerce and was reported favorably with only one amendment by the Senate Committee on Com- nerce after a public hearing. Unfortunately this was shortly before the national dolitical campaign of 1928, and the Federal Administration apparently came to delieve it would in some way be unfortunate even to admit the possibility of a future business recession if the party in power were successful in the election that year. The bill was therefore killed. Soon after the election, at the conference of governors, Governor Brewster, of Maine and William T. Foster, speaking for the President-elect, raised high hopes of early adoption of a national permanent program for the prevention of unem- ployment by the Hoover administration. A year and a half have gone by without legislative action for this purpose. Again and again, it has been pointed out by ‘esponsible public officials that it is practically impossible suddenly to launch any effective program of public construction which presupposes available funds, sarefully drawn plans, and contracts let, before actual work begins. There must oe advance planning if the public works program is to be really effective in meet- ng emergency condition of unemployment. Surely we have waited long enough for the adoption of the principle of long- ange planning of public works as a definite policy of the Government. III. CHRONOLOGY OF HOOVER AND UNEMPLOYMENT 1920 —Report of second industrial conference called by President Wilson; Herbert Hoover, vice chairman. Recommended: 1. Planning of public works 18 ‘‘one of the most useful approaches to the general problem of unemployment.” 2. “Enactment of appropriate legislation by Congress making provision for an :mployment clearing house under Federal control,” cooperating with State Jureaus. 1921.—The President’s conference on unemployment; Herbert Hoover, chair- nan. Recommended: 1. “An adequate permanent system of employment ices.” Existing Federal provision declared inadequate. 2. Leadership by she Federal Government ‘in expanding its public works during periods of de- pression and contracting execution in periods of active industry.” 1923 —Report of committee on business cycles and unemployment, appointed by Herbert Hoover: 1. “The committee call attention to the need for careful rafting of laws to insure a policy of reserving public works projects, if it is to de done effectively.” 2. ‘‘A national system of employment bureaus was recom- mended by the President’s conference on unemployment, and the committee gives 1earty approval to that recommendation.” 1924.—Report of committee on seasonal operation in the construction industries appointed by Herbert Hoover: 1. “The efforts to encourage long range planning of public works deserve the support of the public, legislators, and administrative Sfficials.””—Foreword by Herbert Hoover. 2. “The committee calls special attention to the report of the President’s Conference on Unemployment relative ‘0 a permanent system of employment exchanges.” 1928 —Herbert Hoover's Department of Commerce indorses the Jones pros- Derity reserve bill: * Enactment of the bill by the Congress would, in my opinion, encourage measures looking toward the same end on the part of the State and -ocal governments, which would also be in accord with the unanimous recommen- dations of the President’s conference on unemployment and its committee on business cycles and unemployment.” —Memorandum by chief of the division of building and housing, Department of Commerce, submitted to the Senate com- mittee by Herbert Hoover

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