22 UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE UNITED STATES 
yi measures of prevention for which provision is made in the three Wagner 
11s. 
That is signed by something like 900 men and women, with their 
names and addresses given here. 
I would like to submit this to your committee as our contribution. 
We believe firmly these bill are sound in principle, that they are 
simple and mark the minimum of what our nation should be called 
upon to do in this serious situation at this time. 
Mr. La Guarpia. From whom was that quotation? 
Doctor Atkinson. From President Hoover. 
The CrairmMaN. The committee will receive the petition. 
Senator WAGNER. Mr. Chairman, I would ask the committee to 
hear the President of the American Federation of Labor, Mr. William 
Green. 
STATEMENT OF MR. WILLIAM GREEN, PRESIDENT OF THE 
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR 
Mr. GreeN. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee: 
I am sure I will not be regarded as being presumptuous if I might 
state, just in the beginning of my remarks, that in my opinion the com- 
mittee is now considering what I regard as the most serious employ- 
ment and economic problem now confronting the American people. 
It is very significant that the Congress of the United States is now 
in session when the country is confronted by a most serious social, 
economic, and industrial condition. 
This situation became serious about one year ago. It has become 
increasingly serious ever since and it is a constant menace to the 
peace and prosperity of our country. 
It is inconceivable that Congress would adjourn without enacting 
some legislation which would have for its purpose the relief of this 
very serious situation. 
These bills proposed are in my judgment very conservative. They 
provide in a most constructive, practical and conservative way, a 
remedy for dealing with many phases of this unemployment problem 
and American labor hopes, sincerely hopes, that the Congress of the 
United States will enact all these measures into law. 
It would be most disappointing if the Congress adjourns without at 
least making this gesture as proposed in these measures. I am here 
as a representative of the American Federation of Labor to give our 
unqualified, unreserved support to each of these three measures and 
if I might appeal to the committee, I would like to do so, that you 
give this your most serious and favorable consideration, and that you 
might do all within your power to secure the enactment of these 
measures by the House of Representatives. 
The two bills pending are Senate bills 3059 and 3060. The one 
deals with better planning in the expenditure of public funds for 
Government construction purposes. 
The other provides for the setting up of Government employment 
agencies in order to assist workingmen who may be out of work, in 
finding and securing employment. 
I can not believe that there is any substantial opposition to Senate 
bill 3059, because it, for the first time, endeavors to make practical 
and operative, a plan that has been almost universally favored by 
economists, by those who have given the matter study, by labor, by