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19 Am. Lab. Legis. Rev. 373 (1929)
Hoover's Unemployment Policy

handle is hein.journals/alablegr19 and id is 375 raw text is: Hoover's Unemployment Policy By GEORGE H-. TATITO N the September issue of this REVIEW,' attention was called to Herbert Hoover's consistent record in behalf of an intelligent plan for the prevention of unemployment. Now, still another chap- ter is being added to that record. When the recent stock market debacle threatened to turn a business recession into a business crisis, it was gratifying to find Mr. Hoover so promptly taking the leadership in a movement to remedy an apparently serious situation. On November 15, the President announced a series of prelimi- nary conferences for the purpose of developing certain definite steps. Among the steps specified in that statement was the accelera- tion of construction projects, both public and private. The President said: The postponement of construction during the past month, including not only building, railways, merchant marine and public utilities, but also federal, state and municipal public works, provides a substantial reserve for prompt expanded action. In line with this statement the Administration decided to ask Congress for an additional $175,000,000 public building appropria- tion. This determination to apply without delay a remedy which commissions, both official and unofficial, have for many years recommended, is indeed commendable. It is unfortunate, however, that the Federal government had no well-considered public works program already drawn up before the debacle occurred. There has been much comment that the hasty calling of conferences and the announcement of emergency programs might easily he interpreted by business as a warning rather than as an encouragement. Such lack of preparation on the part of the government was in danger of causing the very depres- sion which the Administration was attempting to forestall. This unpreparedness at a time of severe business strain serves to re-emphasize the need for federal legislation to provide in advance the means for meeting just such emergencies. As stated in the September issue of this REVIEW, Herbert Hoover has repeatedly placed himself on record as favoring this kind of farsighted prep- aration. He has endorsed the reports of no less than six com- mittees each of which recommended: 'See Hoover and Unemployment, by George H. Trafton, American Labor Legislation Review, Vol. XIX, No. 3, September, 1929, pp. 267-269. [373]