132 UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED STATES 
- Mr. Emery. The best answer I can make to that is not abstract 
but concrete, and that is that in the present situation, which is one of 
depression, I know of comparatively few instances in which there has 
been any wage reduction, but on the contrary, they have heen gen- 
erally maintained. I am speaking of the manufacturing industry 
with which I am most familiar. 
Secondly, the same organized endeavor has been made on the part 
of the manufacturers as a result of conference and action on their 
part locally and generally, to maintain as much employment as 
possible, so that part-time employment at the least is to be main- 
tained by a reduction in hours rather than extension, in order tc 
give employment to more men during a period of this character. 
Mr. LaGuarpia. And that results in a corresponding reduction 
of wages, that is, if this reduction of hours takes place. 
Mr. Emery. Naturally, men are not paid for work they do not 
do. Of course, no economic system would suggest that. 
Mr. LaGuarpia. But there is a weakening of labor organizations 
in times of unemployment? 
Mr. Emery. That, the labor organization would have to answer. 
I can point this out, if you will permit me, and that is that in a 
period like this, a period of depression, there is an immediate com- 
petition for commodities, more intense than at any preceding time. 
The result is that the price of commodities tend to fall. Therefore 
the purchasing power of the dollar tends to rise and actual wages 
as distinguished from nominal wages, increase, while maintained at 
the same level, in terms of their ability to buy. So that at the pres- 
ent time the wage standards that we have maintained are higher 
in terms of their purchasing power than they were before the 
depression took place. 
Mr. LaGuarpia. Well, it takes an economist to analyze that. 
Mr. Emery. It takes a housewife in the market. 
Mr. LAGuarpia. But the wage earner who is out of a job, that 
does not help him. 
Mr. Emery. That is true. 
Mr. LaGuarpia. I want to ask you this, if IT may. Has your 
organization taken any stand in opposition to the farm relief bill? 
Mr. Micuener. Which bill? 
Mr. LaGuarpia. The first bill. 
Mr. Emery. Yes; very much to the first bill. 
Mr. LaGuarpia. How about the second? 
Mr. Emery. Yes; they did take a position, as I recall, of objection 
to it in its original form. 
The CuarmMaN. What relevancy has that to this proceeding? 
Mr. LaGuarpia. Iam coming to the constitutional question. My 
next question was going to be, whether your organization takes any 
stand in opposition to the appropriations and activities of the Public 
Health Service? 
Mr. Emery. Not to its legitimate activities. 
Mr. LaGuarpia. Would your objections be met if all the appro- 
priations were provided by the Federal Government, for this national 
employment agency? 
Mr. Emery. Would you mind repeating that? 
Mr. LaGuarpia. Would your objections be met if all the expenses 
of the employment agencies were met from Federal appropriations. 
without any appropriations from the States?