HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON LOW-INCOME FAMILIES OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE ECONOMIC REPORT EIGHTY-FIRST CONGRESS FIRST SESSION PURSUANT TO Sec. 5 (A) of Public Law 304 (79th Congress) 61484 DECEMBER 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 1949 WASHINGTON: 1950 Report DEPARTMENT JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE ECONOMIC REPORT (Created pursuant to sec. 5 (a) of Public Law 304, 79th Cong.) . CONTENTS Anderson, Dewey, executive director, Public Affairs Institute---- Blaisdell, Thomas C., Jr., Assistant Secretary of Commerce_ Bookbinder, Hyman H., economist, Amalgamated Clothing Workers of 537-554 Boyd, Beverley Mumford, executive secretary, department of Christian social relations, Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in Burgess, Ernest W., professor of sociology, University of Chicago-- 375-400 Egan, John Taylor, Commissioner, Public Housing Administration__ 151–177 Ellickson, Katherine Pollack, associate director of research, Congress Fahy, Kathleen, executive director, American Parents Committee_- 555-569 Ferebee, Dorothy Boulding, president, National Council of Negro Johnson, D. Gale, professor of economics, University of Chicago. 291-340 513-527 Neal, Ernest E., director, Rural Life Council, Tuskegee Institute, 209-235 Reid, Margaret, professor of economics, University of Illinois_ Riley, George D., national legislative representative, American Fed- Schultz, Theodore W., professor of economics, University of Chicago 291–340 Smith, Russell, legislative secretary, National Farmers Union___. 527-537 Thurston, John L., Acting Administrator, Federal Security Agency-. Whitten, E. B., executive director, National Rehabilitation Associa- 364-374 Winston, Ellen B., commissioner for public welfare, North Carolina; Creech, Margaret, director, department of information and studies, National Traveler's Aid Association. Gutwillig, Mildred, head worker, recreation rooms in New York, National Federation of Settlements. Hall, Helen, director, Henry Street Settlement. Johnson, Reginald, field director, National Urban League. Kruse, Arthur, executive director, United Community Services of Parker, Earl, associate director, Family Service Association of Zimand, Gertrude, general secretary, National Child Labor Com- Other materials: American Farm Bureau Federation resolution on extension of OASI American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Page 602 448-456 Creech, Margaret, director, department of information and studies, LOW-INCOME FAMILIES MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1949 CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10: 20 a. m. in room 224, Senate Office Building, Senator John Sparkman (chairman) presiding. Present: Senators Sparkman (chairman) and Flanders; and Representatives Huber and Rich. Also present: Grover W. Ensley, associate staff director, Joint Committee on the Economic Report; Samuel L. Brown, economist, Subcommittee on Low-Income Families; and Mrs. Elizabeth G. Magill, research assistant, Subcommittee on Low-Income Families. Senator SPARKMAN. Let the committee come to order, please. A few days ago this statement was issued. I think it is just about as concise a statement as we could have regarding these hearings, and I will just read it: Public hearings on the problem of low-income families will begin on Monday, December 12, and will continue through December 22. Materials assembled by the staff of the subcommittee and published as a joint committee print entitled "Low-Income Families and Economic Stability," indicate that 10,000,000 American families received less than $2,000 during the highly prosperous year of 1948. The members of the subcommittee will hear expert testimony from Government and private witnesses on the circumstances of these families, and on the effect of their low production and low purchasing power on the economy as a whole. Some of the broad questions of fact and policy on which information is sought are: 1. Will the low production and low purchasing power of this large group of families hinder or prevent the stabilization of the economy at levels of maximum production and employment? Does the prosperity and progress of all depend upon raising their standards of living? 2. What can be done, in the form of long-run constructive policies, to increase the production and earning capacity of these families, thus making for a more prosperous national economy? 3. What conditions deprive these families of the opportunity to make a larger productive contribution and thus increase their purchasing power? What is the relation between low income and lack of educational opportunity? How successful are the children of low-income families in "pulling out" of that status? Witnesses have been invited from Federal and local governmental agencies, as well as private research and other groups concerned with these problems. Hearings during the first week will be held in room 224, Senate Office Building, and in room 318, Senate Office Building, during the second week. I may say that this particular hearing was authorized along with the other hearings that are being held by two other subcommittees of the Joint Committee on the Economic Report, under the terms of Senate Concurrent Resolution 26 adopted last summer by the Eighty 1 |