UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON BANKING AND CURRENCY SEVENTY-THIRD CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON H.R. 4606 A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR COOPERATION BY THE FEDERAL IN RELIEVING THE HARDSHIP AND SUFFER- UNEMPLOYMENT RELIEF TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1933 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON BANKING AND CURRENCY, Washington, D.C. The committee met 11 a.m., Hon. Henry B. Steagall (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen, we have invited Senators Wagner and Costigan to discuss with us the bill (H.R. 4606), introduced by Mr. Lewis, to provide for cooperation by the Federal Government with the several States and Territories and the District of Columbia in relieving the hardship and suffering caused by unemployment, and for other purposes. I will now ask Senator Wagner to make a statement to the committee. STATEMENT OF HON. ROBERT F. WAGNER, A UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK Senator WAGNER. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, I want to thank you for the invitation to appear. I did not want it to appear that I was attempting to press the consideration of this legislation this morning, although I would like to have it very much. I am here at the invitation of the chairman. The CHAIRMAN. I felt that the committee would like to hear the Senators discuss the bill, and I called them over here for that purpose. Senator WAGNER. I have not organized any of my thoughts, really, so as to present this question as connectedly as, perhaps, it should be presented, and I will have to amplify whatever I say. However, I do not think that anybody denies that legislation of this kind is very necessary now to supplement the efforts of the States and communities to see that their citizens do not go hungry or unsheltered. The situation in the country, so far as the necessity for relief to the destitute and needy is concerned, is of course worse during this last year. There is no doubt whatever about that. I think no one is likely to question that at all. I mean by that that the States and the subdivisions of the States are not able now to meet the terrific burden which is being put upon them to take care of the unemployed. This has been the fourth winter, and each month more unemployed are being added to the roll. More unemployed are being added each month to the lists of those communities which have exhausted all of their resources, and which, therefore, cannot longer give aid. People who have been extending aid from their resources can no longer do so, because they in turn have been suffering, too, and are compelled now to forget all their pride and apply for public relief. |