Letter from Frederick C. Finkle to President Herbert Hoover With Acknowledgment

F. C. FINKLE, C.E., MEM. AM. ASSOCIATION OF ENGINEERS, MEM. AM. soc. M.E., ASSOC. MEM. AM. INST. E.E., MEM. AM. WATER WORKS ASSOCIATION CONSULTING ENGINEER the WHITE HOUS SUITE 719 AMERICAN BANK BLDG, 129 WEST SECOND STREET 1930 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA REQEIVED October 16, 1930. Hon. Herbert Hoover, President, White House, Washington, D. C. glore ach Dear President Hoover: 10/20 Pardon a suggestion from one of your own profession, who also has large investments in this country, especially in our state of California. It seems useless to attempt the relief from unemploy ment at this time by stimulating production and building. We are in a period of deflation and there are already too many vacant buildings. As soon as the present surplus of commodities has been consumed and buildings now vacant are mostly occupied, the period of deflation will end naturally and a rising market will take its place. This will permit production at a profit and good times will return. The question what to do in the meantime is pressing. Why not keep production and building down to the lowest possible lev- el, except so far as money is available for public buildings? Will not such a course hasten the return of prosperity? But how will such a course solve unemployment? The answer is that it will not of itself do so, but there is another way to tide over the unemployment problem. Resort to shorter working weeks and shorter working days in the week, so all may have some work, until the time comes for full resumption. If this is not done, we will continue to suffer until the deflation has run its course, or come to the English dole system, which is un- thinkable. As for the farmer, I see no hope until we change our prohibition laws and return to a sane policy of regulating the liquor business like other countries. It is useless for me to explain why I say this, as you probably know it as well as I do and the reasons for it. Trusting you will receive this in the friendly spirit in which it is offerred, and with the sincerest feelings of my high- est personal esteem, I am, Very truly yours, Frederick C. Finkle. FCF/b. of