Jobless Help Boost Argued at Hearing: Increased Maximum Trade Board Objects
Middle ground was scarce at a District CommissionersÛª hearing yesterday on proposed liberalization of the cityÛªs unemployment compensation payments.</br></br>Chief among the suggested amendments was one which would increase the current maximum payment from $30 to $46 a week.</br></br>Enthusiastic backers argued that the present schedule is ÛÏhopelessly inadequateÛ and hasnÛªt kept pace with the cost of living. Critics cited alleged abuses of the program, charging that the payments some-j times amount to no more than' ÛÏfree vacationsÛ for the lazy.</br></br>The proposal would raise the present weekly maximum from the flat amount of $30 to a sum representing one-half the average weekly wage of all persons covered by the program. The average wage now is about $92.</br></br>Jobless persons may collect for as long as 26 weeks in any 1-year period. The payments are financed by a tax on employers.