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Show THE SEARCHLIGHT —-— B-S Boys Beat Bailey Bill Editor’s note: The following is a contributed article which discusses the public hearing held on March 4th to consider an extension of the benefits of unemployment insurance. The bill proposed to increase the time to 26 weeks during which an unemployed beneficiary might obtain unemployment compensation. The bill did not propose to tax employers. Its enactment into law would not cost employers a thin dime. Workers proposed to tax themselves —themselves only—1 per cent of their wages during present good times to set up a strong reserve to cushion the after the war. effects depression probable a of It is difficult to understand why the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce and the Utah Manufacturers Association should oppose such a measure. Certainly it placed no burden on any member of the Chamber nor of the Association. The enson obstructive tactics are even considered that approved come the chronic regardless of more the of Backman and incomprehensible Ogden and measure. Have opponents of Provo Gus every and social Steph- when it is chambers Stan be- advance, its merits? Backman and Stephenson testified they represented employees in their respective fields. That is rather startling news to the Searchlight. We didn’t believe there were workmen in Utah dumb enough, or indifferent enough of their own interests to let either Gus or Stan represent them. The lon tried to lie down with the lamb, only to have the lamb bite him vigorously on the posterior. The reversal of nature came Thursday in the Senate lounge, when the mighty monarchs of industry fought valiantly and probably suecessfully to kill a proposal for an employee contribution to the unemployment insurance fund, while the bona fide representatives of labor earnestly asked that they be taxed in order to assure more unemployment insurance for those days to come when it will be needed. Leaders in the unexpected ‘‘about face’’ on the part of industry were Gus P. Backman (ves, he’s one of the G’s) who took time out from advising Herbie on how to mess up the state government; and Stanley J. Stephenson, secretary of the Utah Manufacturers Association, who formerly made his living by wool buying and now does it by pulling some of the same wool over the eyes of his employers. These men were flanked by Mark Tuttle, whose contractor friends are instrumental in building Utah (for a consideration, of course); and Adrian Pembroke, the stationary stationer. ribson Atherton Marr, attorney, who had previously borne the bankers’ testimony against the bill, was on hand but did not speak. Stan by the way, represents 157 manufacturers out of nearly 700 in the state. The urgent appeal that the workers be denied the right to pay unemployment taxes and reap additional benefits in times of stress was made at a public hearing of the Senate committee on labor, whose chairman, Senator Arthur J. Bailey of Salt Lake County, sponsored S. B. 176, one of the few real pieces of constructive legislation introduced in the present session of the legislature. Noticeable by his absence at the public hearing was Senator Lynn S. Richards, congenital opponent of unemployment insurance, who knows nothing about progressive legislation and learns less every day. Senator Richards declined to attend the hearing, despite his oath to legislate for the best interest of the state, because, as he puts it, ‘‘Why attend that hearing? Iam on the sifting committee and that bill will not come out of that committee this session.’’ Senate Bill No. 176, the bill which melted the hearts of Utah employers and caused them to save the workers from the Department of Kmployment Security (remember how Hitler saved Poland from Russia and rescued France from England, and spared Greece from invasion by the Hottentots), provides roughly as follows: (Continued on following page) |