Speech of Bryce M. Stewart, Director of Research, Industrial Relations Counselors, Inc., at the University of Virginia

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seper SPEECH DELIVERED BY BRYCE M. STEWART, DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH, INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COUNSELORS, INC. NEW YORK, ON JULY 16, 1938, BEFORE THE ROUND TABLE ON ADMINISTRATION OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM, INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, CHARLOTTESVILLE CONSTRUCTIVE PROPOSALS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE REVISION OF UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION We are concerned in this discussion with the American system of unemployment compensation under which twenty-five jurisdictions were paying benefits at the end of June. The acid test of any in- surance institution is its ability to pay the promised benefits promptly and accurately. Judged by this standard, the six months experience indicates that there is something wrong with "unemployment comp, n as it is familiarly called by its administrators. The Social Security Board has recently announced an investigation of the ad- ministration of unemployment compensation, and no doubt several changes will be effected. The system has certain merits which might be indicated, but the title of this paper implies consideration of its defects. While it is difficult to obtain a proper perspective on the American system because of the complicated nature of the legislation and administration and the brief experience, the following criticisms may be offered as indicating the general point of view taken here. 1. Lack of unified planning and command has resulted in a complicated, disjointed organization without sufficient cohesion, flexibility or morale for so great an enterprize, constantly changing in character. REVISAN S NARA

Terms

विषय
Unemployment