Salt Lake Telegram | 1936-04-22 | Page 6 | Solving the Big Problem

Solving the Big Bg Problem I INCREASING S G activity activity- in fields other than manufacturing man man- 1 is chiefly involved in the solution of the e unemployment problem This is the reasoned rea rca opinion of the National Industrial Conference Conference Conference Con Con- ference board which h fin finds increased output and employment in manufacturing alone not to be bethe bethe bethe the single approach to the objective In a summary summary sum sum- mary of bf a survey I just jus completed by the board It repeats President Roosevelt's remark in his r relief li f appropriation message that at least more than OO more people were at work in jn December 1935 ihan than than-in in March 1933 1033 The survey sur sur- vey co confirms inns he the presidents president's fig figures res but increases In in increases creases them by nearly half a a million its estimates estimates esti esti- mates for the period showing 5 as the growth in the number of workers returned to jobs The board points out however that this in increase increase in in- crease in employment has not as yet contributed materially to the solution of the relief problem m. m The presidents president's estimate of relief cases would w uld indicate that approximately persons perso s or per ce cent t. t of the total population tion are receiving relief in some form To what extent ex tent relief requirements are decreasing cannot be accurately determined from the p published data of the various governmental agencies because be be- ause cause those data are not on a uniform basis and cannot be compared with earlier figures In Addition there are no published figures showing the situation with respect to who have been dropped from federal relief Manufacturing industry in January 1936 1936 was vias giving employment to approximately persons or or more than in January 1935 and more than in January 1934 It has been able to do this because of an increase in increase increase in- in crease in the demand for manufactured products products prod prod- particularly those of the durable goods in in in- A further increase in output would undoubtedly provide employment for additional workers workers- except in those fields where operation is is' still on a time part-time basis The attainment of that objective however is not wholly within the power of industry the board contends So far as manufacturing is concerned any reduction in hours of work with the purpose of increasing would probably involve at least some reduction in weekly earnings since a further increase in hourly rates would not be possible in most in in- under present conditions it points out In January 1936 labor cost per man-hour man in manufacturing was 9 per cent above the 1929 level The seemingly greater security of ot- relief relie and the payment of relief wages at prevailing rates the board believes have tended to offset whatever advantage private employment may mayo o offer fer in the way of higher weekly or or monthly earnings