Year's End

The year closed with Unemployment greater than ever during the current Depression. William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, estimated that 300,000 more people were out of work in December than in November, that the jobless now totaled 5,300,000. Said he: "We cannot hope for a general improvement before March."

Developments included the following:

P: The Associated Press canvassed the land, reported that five billion dollars were in the process of being spent on public and private works to offset Unemployment.

P: The White House announced that Federal construction in 1931 would total $724,058,000 compared with pre-Depression outlays of about $275,000,000. Major items: roads, $219,922,500; buildings, $173,869,000; rivers & harbors, $159,857,000; ship construction $129,920,000.

P: Congressman Garner of Texas, Democratic leader in the House, No. 1 minority member of the Ways & Means Committee, plumped out for immediate cash redemption of the Adjusted Service Compensation Certificates held by millions of War veterans and their heirs. He contended that only one billion dollars would be necessary for such payments: that with money as cheap as it is the U. S. could easily raise this sum; that a billion dollars suddenly put in circulation would spur the business recovery, besides alleviating Unemployment. The Treasury, which estimates that three to four billions would be required (TIME, Dec. 8), earnestly urged Administration leaders in the House to smother Mr. Garner's idea.

P: In New York City the number of jobless heads-of-families rose to 59,000, a record. Meanwhile the Emergency Unemployment Committee headed by Banker Seward Prosser more than filled its relief fund quota by raising $8,269,000, sufficient to keep 20,000 fathers at work on non-profit-making jobs until May.

P: In Chicago, relief funds reached $4,500,000. Philadelphia lagged with $950,000. Cleveland had $750,000 on hand.

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