The potters herald. [volume], May 12, 1938, Image 6

About The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982

Image provided by: Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH

                
$
NY-— NW^T-'^S- 7
PAGE SIX
A
OUR GREAT MAY
MEN'S REGULAR $19.95
This trenchant and indisputable fact
was the basis of the statement made
by William (Ireen, president of the
American Federation of Labor, before
the Subcommittee of the House of Ap
propriations Committee in the hear
ings on the President's $4,f12,000,000
spending-lending recovery program,
which includes $l,2f0,000,000,for the
Works Progress Administration and
$4HO,000,000 for public works under
the Public Works Administration, with
authority for the PWA to lend an ad
ditional $1,000,000,000 to States and
municipalities for public works ap
proved by the PWA.
Inadequacy of I'ncniployment Com
pensnlion licnefits Stressed
Pointing out that the millions of
able-bodied working men and women
denied gainful employment by those
who own and operate American indus
try and commerce would be further
increased in the immediate future by
about 800,000 jobless workers whose
right to a few weeks' unemployment
compensation benefits will have ex
pired, Mr. (ireen said it was his "be
iief that the failure on the part of
Congress to provide employment on
Useful public projects would not only
bring these men and women, who are
without jobs through no fault of their
own, face to face with destitution, but
will also checkmate any effort, public
or private to stem and reverse the
tide of recession. In view of this the
proposed appropriation of $ 1,250,000,
000 for such work, to be provided by
the Works Progress Administration,
is essential and imperative."
Following is the text of Mr. Green's
statement:
"The gravity of the economic situa
tion we are facing today exceeds our
worst expectations. We have gone
through lrmst of the Spring season,
Ulually marked by an upturn in indus-
MEN'S RACINE SPORT
OXFORDS
Grey (iabar
dine, Tutone ^WORKERS
Grey, and
Brown Calf
skins Many
new patterns.
SUITS
GOING AT
o e n a n
young men.
Single and double
breasted.
Sport and regular
hack.
All new Spring
100% wool weaves
.WORKERS UNION/
UNlOf*
STRAW HATS .... READY
$1,250,000/000 For WPA Work Relief and
$450,000,000 For PWA Is Urged By Green
A. F. of L. Chief Tells House Appropriations Committee
Big Increase In Unemployment Makes
Federal Fund Necessary
Washington, D. C.—With 3,700,000
workers added to the unemployed
army during the last six months,
raising the number who are jobless
to 11,231,000, the appropriation of
$1,250,000,000 for work relief through
the Works Progress Administration
during the first seven months of the
ca' year beginning July t, recom
mended by President Roosevelt in his
message to Congress, is a patriotic
duty necessary to protect the out-of
work millions and their dependents
from the suffering which destitution
brings.
TAMP
Factory 321
$4 and $5
BENDHEIM'S
Kast Sixth Street
AMERICAN
trial activity, without registering a
significant revival in employment.
'Yet a number of definitely encour
aging developments have taken place.
The precipitous decline in the volume
of employment since last September
was definitely checked last month.
With production 33 per cent below last
year, the purchasing power of wage
earners has been reduced only 15 per
cent. Retail trade responded to this
situation by declining only 7.5 per cent
below last year's level, liaw material
prices have shown stability. There has
been marked depletion in inventories.
Unemployed Must Be Protected From
Want
"Whether the future economic his
torian will record this as but a pause
in the downward swing toward the
worst economic disaster we have yet
experienced, or an unalterable turn
toward steady revival, depends on the
kind of action we take today.
"The hour calls for decisive action,
for careful but quick judgment, and
unreserved cooperation of every group
of American people.
"The proposals you ai*e considering
are an essential part of the action
which must be taken without delay,
for even more important than the
measures designed to stimulate busi
ness revival an? those which serve to
relieve the distress of unemployment
brought about by this new crisis.
Jobless Increased to 11,231,000
"In 1D35, 1*3(1 and 11*37, unemploy
ment was steadily declining. The an
nual rate of decrease in the total num
ber of unemployed in those three years
was better than a million a year. In
September of 11*37, the total unem
ployed numbered 7,500,000. It was
then that employment trend was re
versed. By March of this year there
were again 11,231,000 unemployed. In
a short space of six months the ranks
of unemployed were swelled by 3,700,
000. On a full year basis, from March
11*37 to March 11*38, the net increase
in unemployment was more than 2,
500,000.
"It is my belief that the failure on
the part of Congress to provide em
ployment on useful public projects
would not only bring these men and
women, who are without jobs through
no fault of their own, face to face
with destitution, but will also check
mate any effort, public or private, to
stem and reverse the tide of recession.
In view of this the proposed appro
priation of $1,250,000,000 for such
work to be provided by the Works
Progress Administration, is essential
and imperative.
End of Unemployment Compensation
For 800,000 Jobless
"The first half of the next fiscal
year presents special difficulties in
dealing with this insistent problem.
"Although between $1(50,000,000 and
$1(51,000,000 a month are now being
spent under the WPA program, other
forms of public assistance are cur
rently available to aid the unemploy
ed. Most important among these has
been the payment of unemployment
compensation benefits in the 23 States
in which the unemployment compen
sation acts became operative last
January.
"It will be remembered, however,
that of these acts the most liberal
limit the period of benefit payment to
22 weeks while the average benefit
payment is only 16 weeks, hi conse
quence of this during the next four
months some 800,COO unemployed will
be deprived of even the meager bene
fits they have been receiving in the
form of unemployment compensation.
"It may be expected that a small
proportion of these jobless workers
will be returned to private employ
ment, but the majority of these un
employed will be dependent on work
relief as their only source of sub
sistence.
The return of this group to the re
lief rolls, together with other factors,
makes it clear that during the re
maining months of the current calen
dar year there will be a more even
distribution of the relief load, with
considerably greater relief needs, dur
ing the Summer months than was the
case in the past three years.
"There can be do doubt, therefore,
that the proposed appropriation for
the seven-month period will be barely
sufficient to meet the most insistent
need among the unemployed workers.
"This certainly is not the time to
limit our relief program. Any hesi
tancy on the part of the Congress in
continuing the Federal work-relief
program on an extended basis in the
immediate future may well endanger
the recovery from this recession.
Building Trades Workers Severely Hit
By Unemployment
"In considering the work relief pro
gram, I want to focus your attention
n one of its phases which is of funda
mental importance. It is the partici
pation in this program of workers em
ployed in our largest industry—one
which in size and importance is second
nly to agriculture—the building and
construction industry. Throughout the
entire depression the brunt of unem
ployment was carried by building
trades mechanics and laborers.
"This year again the building work
er had to shoulder a disproportionate
share of unemployment. Thus, accord
ing to our trade union unemployment
reports, 40 per cent of our building
trades workers were without jobs in
April, 11*38 as against 27 per cent in
April of 11*37. Yet unemployment in
all trades was reported to be at 20
per cent in April of this year.
Wage Standards Undetermined on
WPA Projects
"In the face of this it would be only
fair to expect that the building work
er would receive his equitable share
of relief work on projects which call
for construction labor.
"As a matter of fact, however,
workers displaced from other occupa
tions in manufacturing industries
have been to an increasing extent as
signed to construction work under
WPA.
'Not only that, but in a large num
ber of instances, workers without any
skill or training on construction work
have been assigned to perform the
work of first class building mechanics.
And on many projects, the wage
standards locally prevailing have not
been maintained.
"The latter has been true of projects
on which part of the work has been
assumed directly by the sponsors. The
direct result has been the consistent
undermining of wage standards of
construction workers.
Hopkins Agrees to Remedy Abuses
"The direct and widespread effect of
these developments, which assumed
considerable proportions during the
past year has been keenly felt by the
building trades mechanics and laborers
throughout the country. Last week,
we received, assurance of the WPA
Administrator, Harry L. Hopkins, that
these practices and abuses will be
corrected. I want to emphasize the
importance of having this done at
once.'
Importance of $150,0(10,000 Public
Works Program
"In addition to the WPA appropria
tion the President recommended the
extension of the Public Works Pro
gram by the expenditure of $150,000,
0OO. The American Federation of La
bor is already on record in support
ing this step. This was one of my
basic recommendations made last
January to the Special Senate' Com
mittee to Investigate Unemployment
and Relief.
"1 believe it is imperative to re
vitalize our Public Works program
and initiate its expansion in the next
few months. In doing this, serious
consideration should be given to the
placing of the Public Works Admin
istration on a permanent basis.
"The American Federation of Labor
offers its strong and unreserved sup
port of the proposed appropriation in
a firm belief that it will constitute the
most important and necessary step to
be taken by Congress at the present
time."
DRIVERS AND BAKERS WIN
Akron, O. (OLNS).—Settlement of
a two-day strike last week gave local
bakery drivers and inside bakers im
provements over their old contract and
defeated an attempt of the employing
bakers to impose wage reductions. Ap
proximately 1,500 workers were in
volved in the strike. Both Unions are
affiliated with the AFL.
THE POTTERS HEHAtD
Local 132 To Elect
Delegates Monday
See Garner For Your Lapel
Buttons Before They
Are All Gone
SETTLEMENT MADE
Standing Committee Given
Praise For Continued
Good Work
With another excellent attendance
and many discussions on the floor of
the local, a fine meeting was presided
over by President Paul Stone of L.
U. 132.
The local union members decided to
have Brother Willis Hooven notify
all delinquent members that they
must make arrangements to pay back
dues and assessments, on- or before
May 16, or they will be suspended.
We were informed by one of the de
fense collectors that some members in
arrears have been making uncalled for
remarks. We would like at this .time
to notify all members of Local Union
No. 132 that this local will not toler
ate such things as this.
Several of our members from E. M.
Ivnowles were called to the standing
committee meeting May 2 in regards
to the Deanna handle. We were very
pleased with the settlement made on
the finishing of this handle. The
standing committee continues to up
hold a fine reputation.
A report of the "Buy American"
movement and the showing of the
vocal film in the N. B. 0. P. auditorium
was made by our committee. This film
was very interesting to the potters and
the explanation by Arthur Wells was
enjoyed by all.
We would like every member of Lo
cal Union No. 132 to be present at our
May 1(5 meeting, as this is the night
we elect a delegate to represent our
local at the Atlantic City convention,
opening June 27. There are a num
ber of members eligible, so please,
everyone come out and vote for the
man you believe can best handle the
affairs of your local.
Willard Garner had some of the new
lapel buttons on sale at the last meet
ing and it is believed they are the big
gest quarter's worth we have ever
found. Any member wishing to buy
one is requested to see Willard, as
he announced he would have some on
hand for awhile.
Do not forget that a paid up dues
book may win you a nice prize at the
Buy American picnic at Idora Park,
June 11.—0. C. 132.
Prevailing Wages
(Continued- cLi. Page Ons),
again at the level of the spring of
1935.
42 Per Cent of Building Trades
Workers Unemployed
"A heavy share of this new wave of
unemployment has again fallen upon
the workers in the building and con
struction industries. Trade union un
employment reports of the American
Federation of Labor place dramatic
emphasis upon this fact. These figures
show that the percentage of union
members unemployed in the building
trades for the first four months of
this year was as follows: January, 40
per cent February, 43 per cent
March, 44 per cent and April, 40 per
cent.
"Thus the average unemployment in
building trades in the first four
months of 11*38 was about 42 per cent
as compared with 21) per cent in the
first four months of 11*37. This com
pares with the average percentage of
union members unemployed in all
trades, of only 20.5 per cent in the
first four months of 1938.
$1,250,000,000 For WPA Relief Work
Is Not Excessive
"The total number of unemployed
estimated by the American Federa
tion of Labor was 8,000,000 in March
11*37 and over 11,200,000 in March,
11*38, a net increase in unemployment
of more than 2,(500,000. WPA employ
ment has provided for only 31*0,000 of
these new unemployed. The number
at work on the works program in the
last week of March, 11*38, was 2,950,
000 compared with 2,500,000 at the
same time last year. Relief has pro
vided for 317,000 more cases with an
estimated 2,000,000 on relief rolls last
March.
"It is clear, therefore, that WPA
work and relief have been maintained
within moderate limits of expenditure
and that expenditures were not ex
panded in full proportion to the grow
ing need.
"The proposed WPA appropriation
of $1,250,000,000 has been scored as
unwarranted and excessive. It will
be remembered, however, that this
amount calls for an average expendi
ture of $178,000,000 a month during
the rst seven months of the fiscal year
"This compares with the current ex
penditures of $1(50,000,000 to $1(55,
000,000 a month indicating but a slight
advance over the amounts being spent
in the current year. Much larger ex
penditures per month were made in
11*31-1036 when business was iiore
active than it is at present.
"In my opinion the extent of the un
employment in the current recession
more than justifies the appropriation
of the proposed amount.
Contractors on WPA Work Pay Less
Than Prevailing Wage Rate
"It should be pointed out that in
the administrative policy and pro
cedure of WPA, certain practices de
veloped during the past year which
proved to be extremely damaging to
the labor standards in the building and
construction industry.
"Among these was the question of
maintenance of prevailing rates of
pay for building mechanics and la
borers on construction work and the
procedure involved in the determina
tion of such rates. Thus or. projects
on which sponsors reserved a share
of direct participation, no control of
any kind was exercised by WPA, and
no requirement of WPA wage stand
ards for labor contracted by the spon
sor.
The result of this was that in many
regions and localities the WPA al
lowed the sponsor to pay considerably
less than the prevailing wage as de
termined by WPA itself and in some
States this made possible the payment
of wages actually lower than those re
quired under the State wage laws.
Unskilled Workers Given Skilled
Mechanics' Jobs
"Tn addition there have developed
serious abuses in the classification of
workers employed on projects. Be
cause of loose standards and require
ments the procedure followed on many
projects failed to insure sufficient
skill and training on the part of the
worker to qualify him for the proper
performance of the job.
'The result of this was that in a
large number of instances unskilled
workers in unskilled classifications
were required to perform the work of
skilled mechanics while in many
skilled occupations workers were
classified downward to place them in
semi-skilled and unskilled wage brack
ets.
Hopkins Orders Substandard Labor
Conditions Ended
"Representatives of the Building
Trades Department, keenly aware of
the destructive effect of these prac
tices upon the labor standards estab
lished in the industry, discussed this
problem with Works Progress Admin
istrator Hopkins in a series of con
ferences last week.
'As a result of these conferences,
Mr. Hopkins pledged the Works Prog
ress Administration .to correct these
practices and rectify these abuses by
means of new administrative regula
tions. According to Mr. Hopkins these
regulations will provide that on all
projects where sponsors have made
contributions, the prevailing rates es
tablished by WPA shall be paid.
"The payment of prevailing rates
will also be required on all con
struction operations undertaken by
other departments and agencies of the
Federal government using WPA
funds.
"It was also agreed to establish an
effective procedure for the determina
tion of prevailing wages in the locality
in which the project is undertaken and
to provide a satisfactory method for
proper classification and determina
tion of qualifications of those employ
ed on projects at various trades.
$450,000,000 For WPA and Billion
Dollar Loan Fund
"In connection with the pending ap
propriation, it is also proposed that
$450,000,000 be made available to .the
Public Works Administration and that
in addition the PWA be granted au
thority to loan up to $1,000,000,000 to
states and municipalities for needed
and permanent public improvements
which can be begun this year.
"The Building and Construction
Trades Department strongly supports
this proposal in the belief that care
fully planned public works projects,
built under the PWA procedure, well
tested in experience, will develop a
major permanent contribution to our
national wealth.
"It is important, however, that un
der the suggested limitations whereby
no loans are to be made on projects
that cannot be started within six
months of the date of the appropria
tion or completed within a year and
a half, the Federal government does
not relax its vigilance in passing up
on the usefulness and desirability of
the project.
"In this connection, we wish to re
iterate our view, which has been re
peatedly made a matter of public
record, that a permanent administra
tive agency be established within the
Federal government for the purpose
of careful planning and preparation
of public works projects whereby the
plans could be developed well in ad
vance of the actual initiation of the
project."
Decatur Company Signs
Grain Processors' Pact
Decatur, 111.—Flour and Cereal Mill
Employes Union No. 20765 announced
the negotiation of an agreement with
the Decatur Milling Company which
provides for vacations with pay
seniority rights, arbitration of all
grievances, and a number of other
benefits usually contained in agree
ments finalized by American Federa
tion of Labor unions.
The employes of the A. E. Staley
Company have also been organized
and chartered as United Grain Proces
sors Union No. 21490.
Both of the unions are affiliated
with the National Council of Grain
Processors and Allied Industries.
BUY AMERICAN. «SE&«
tfilA]
4 DAYS Starting SUNDA1r
EVERY BAD GIRL WAS
A GOOD GIRL ONCE!
.•Here's drama that strikes close to
every American iiome«».& picture lhal
answers questions parents dare not ask!
WARNER BROS.
preseat
Washington, D. C. (ILNS).—Co
operation of labor and industry to
solve the problem of unemployment
and give work to the jobless was ad
vocated by the American Federation
of Labor Executive Council, in a dec
laration of "basic aims and objectives."
The statement was prepared by the
Executive Council in spring session
here.
"Unemployment can only be over
come through the creation of work
opportunities for working men and
women in private industry," the coun
cil said. "This is the real remedy for
unemployment.
"The time has arrived when,
•through co-operation, understanding
and a proper regard for the rights of
all employers and employes, industry
and labor should get together and
seek to find a way by which this real
remedy for idleness can be applied."
End of Warfare Asked
The council declared the Federation
is "committed to the principle of
private ownership, private initiative
and the protection of private prop
erty and called on industry in turn
to recognize and respect the rights
of labor.
"Labor invites industry to discard
the weapons of industrial warfare di
rected against labor by employers'
associations, both now and in the days
gone by," said the council.
"Let us all have a new vision of
the changed attitude between labor
and capital. It means the substitu
tion of co-operation and understand
ing for industrial strife.
"Labor and capital can co-operate,
develop efficiency and production
through labor organizations developed
by the workers and through the or
ganization of industry, as developed
by industrial management," the state
ment continued.
Industrial Democracy\Jrged
"Through the establishment of con
tractual relationships, industrial peace
can be promoted and industrial pro
duction stabilized. Contracts entered
into between organized labor and in
dustrial management must be regard
ed as sacred obligations. They must
be religiously observed.
DrTCTM. Crumbley
(Continued From Page One)
ing left undone, or to be done at the
last minute.
Reports received by Secretary
George Turner would lead the commit
tee to believe they made an excellent
choice when they purchased the Pack
ard automobile. Distant locals are
clamoring for tickets on the big, beau
tiful, grey touring sedan.
Get out your picnic basket and be
all set for the potters' greatest pic
nic.
Thvyrsday, .tycty. 12, 1938'
v '.
Directed by ARTHUR LUBIN Screen Play bj Lawrence Kimble
From an Original Story by Jean Negulesco A First National Picture
Guaranteed Selection of Excellent Short Subjects
A. F. of L. Asks Co-Operation of Labor
and Industry To Give Work To Idle
"The principle of industrial democ^
racy through which labor and m^
agement may solve their commoK
economic problems should be re(^y«
nized and applied in all industrial
lationships.
"Organizations of labor should be
governed by democratic policies, rules
and procedure. This is the American
way. It is in conformity with mod
ern requirements and democratic prin
ciples."
i
K
Washington Beauty
Operators Unionize
Washington, D. C. A thriving
Beauty Shop Operators Local No.
239-A, affiliated with the Journeymen
Barbers International Union of Amer
ica, has been organized here with the
following officers: President, Marie
Henley vice president, Anna Guthrie
secretary-treasurer, Mrs. A. Burke
De Ambrosia.
The new union was formed with the
assistance of Frank W. Weibel,
eighth vice president of the Journey
men Barbers International Union.
If everyone kept out of business be
cause there was a chance that he
might fail, no one would succeed.
ATTENTION POTTERS!
is
Your Dues Book
IN
GOOD SHAPE?
Don't forget to bring it with you
to the Potters "BUY AMERICAN"
Picnic where it may win you one
of these 10 prizes.
FIRST PRIZE $100.00
SECOND PRIZE
100-piece Warwick China Set.
THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH PRIZES
42-piece Warwick Set.
SIXTH, SEVENTH, EIGHTH,
NINTH AND TENTH PRIZES
1 Year Paid-Up Dues.
See your local union Secretary
now and be able to present a Paid
Up Book at Idora Park on June 11.
You must show one before register
ing.
POTTERS "BUY AMERICAN'
PICNIC COMMITTEE
6..1
I
vr
CM
ft