Approved Code No. 143 Registry No. 232- 1-04 

NATIONAL RECOVERY ADMINISTRATION 

CODE OF FAIR COMPETITION 

FOR THE 

WOOL FELT 

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY 

J • ~. 

AS .APPROVED ON NOVEMBER 27, 1933 

BY 

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT 

I~ DO OUR PART 

lL-------

1. Executive Order 

2. Letter of Transmittal 

3. Code 

UNITED STATES 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

WASHINGTON : 1933 

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Approved Code No. 143 

CODE OF FAIR COMPETITION 

FOR THE 

WOOL FELT MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY 

As Approved on November 27, 1933 

BY 

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT 

Executive Order 

An application having been duly made, pursuant to and in full 

compliance with the provisions of title I of the National Industrial 

Recovery Act, approved June 16, 1933, for my approval of a Code 

of Fair Competition for the Wool Felt Manufacturing Industry, 

and hearings having been held thereon and the Administrator having rendered his report containing an analysis of the said code of 

fair competition, together with his recommendations and findings 

with respect thereto, and the Administrator having found that the 

said code of fair competition complies in all respects with the pertinent provisions of title I of said act and that the requirements of 

clauses (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of section 3 of the said act 

have been met : 

NOW, THEREFORE, I , Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the 

United States, pursuant to the authority vested in me by title I 

of the National Industrial Recovery Act, approved June 16, 1933, 

and otherwise, do adopt and approve the report, recommendations, 

and findings of the Administrator and do order that the said code 

of fair competition be and it is hereby approved. 

Approval recommended: 

HUGH S. JOHNSON' 

Administrator. 

THE WHITE HousE, 

FRANI{LIN D. ROOSEVELT. 

N oveniber B7, 1933. 

(535) 

23792°-244-111--33 
NOVEMBER 20, 1933. 

The PRESIDENT, 

The White House. 

Srn: This is the report on the Code of Fair Competition for the 

vVool Felt :Manufacturing Industry as proposed by the United States 

Felt Manufacturers Institute. 

The hearing was conducted in Washington, D.C., on November 15, 

1933. Every person who requested an appearance was freely heard 

in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements. The code 

was presented by duly qualified and authorized representatives of 

the industry complying with the requirem.ents as representing 100 

percent of the volume of business. 

DESCRIPTION OF INDUSTRY 

The ,v ool Felt Manufacturing Industry is one of the numerous 

examples of the differences existing among the various· subdivisions 

of the textile industry. The preparatory stages of felt manufacturing closely follow the same processes as the manufacture of cloth- ing materials and other woven wool goods. The first break in the 

sm1ilarity of operations occurs at the carding machine. The felt 

manufacturer takes the full-width webs of fibre from the card and 

builds these i~to a mattresslike formation. When the approximate 

finished weight is obtained, the entire 1nass is steam saturated. Oscillating and vibrating plates then tangle the fibres, making a matted 

layer. At this stage the material lacks strength, but may be dried 

and used for a certain linuted number of purposes, mainly insulation 

and sound deadening. 

The ne:\.'i manufacturing stage is fulling, which is the true felting 

process. A lubricating agent, such as soap, is introduced and this, 

combined with controlled heat and moisture, shrinks the fabric. The 

operation is performed in a fulling mill, which is a large wooden 

bowl equipped with vibrating hammers. After fulling, the fabric is 

scoured, dyed if color is required, and then dried and finished. The thickness of a piece of finished felt may range from one 

thirty-second inch to three inches, while it may vary in weight from 

three ounces to 65 pounds per square yard. In the same man ner, the 

price range per square yard is from ten cents to $150.00, while on a 

poundage basis, it may vary from 25 cents to $5.00. As rnay be 

judged from these extreme variations in manufacturing possibilities, 

the use of the finished product is equally varied. 

F elt is used in some way by practically all industries, either for 

mechanical purposes during the process of manufacturing or as a 

component part of a finished article. The industry is not large and at the present time is compo eel of 13 

firms employing approxin1ately 1,600 ""TT'Orkers. Since 192 the industry has suffered a severe contraction in sales. In that year, sales 

(536) 
537 

amounted to 171⁄2 million pounds, which have declined to slightly 

more than 5 million pounds at the present. During this period the 

productive capacity of the industry has remained constant at 24 

million pounds. 

LABOR PROVISIONS 

The industry proposes to pay a minimum wage of 35 cents per 

hour. Hours of labor are limited to 40 hours per week and eight 

hours in any one day. A tolerance of two hours per day will be 

allowed for certain employees such as hardeners, fullers, washers, 

extractors, and dryers who will receive tinie and one third compensation for the excess hours worked. 

This flexibility is to prevent any possible spoilage of materials 

during wet or chemical processes. 

ADMINISTRATION 

The provisions :for the administration of this code are capable of 

providing the N.R.A. and the Wool Felt Manufacturing Industry 

with sufficient data to recommend any modifications or amendments 

that may be indicated by experience. 

CONCLUSION 

I find that the code complies in all respects with the pertinent 

prov1s10ns of Title I of the National Industrial Recovery Act, 

including without limitation, subsection (a) of Section 7, and subsection (b) of Section 10 thereof. 

The United States Felt Manufacturers Institute is duly representative of the Wool Felt Manufacturing Industry and the bylaws of 

this association provide no inequitable restriction upon membership. 

Accordingly, I reco1nmend the approval of the Code of Fair Competition for the Wool Felt Manufacturing Industry. 

Respectfully submitted. 

HUGH s. JOHNSON, 

Ad11iinistroJ,or. 
CODE OF FAIR COMPETITION 

FOR THE 

WOOL FELT MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY 

ARTICLE I-PURPOSES 

To effectuate the policies of Title I of the National Industrial 

Recovery Act, the following provisions are established as a Code of 

Fair Competition for the Wool Felt Manufacturing Industry, and 

shall be the standard of fair competition for such industry and shall 

be binding upon every member thereof. 

ARTICLE II-DEFINITIONS 

1. The term " wool felt", as used herein, is defined to mean a nonwo-ven material composed principally of wool or wool and cotton, 

manufactured by a hardening and fulling process. 

2. The term "industry", as u ed herein, is defined to mean the 

manufacture or original sale of wool felt, "\Thether as a final process 

or ac:: a part of a larger or further process, and/or the preparation of 

wool felt for use. 

3. The term "employee", a used herein, includes anyone engaged 

in the industry in any capacity receiving compensation for hi services, irre pective of the nature m.· method of payment of such 

cmn pensation. 

4. The term" employer", as used herein, include anyone by whom 

any F:uch employee is compensated or employed. 

5. The term " member of the industry " includes anyone engaged 

in the industry as above defined, either as an employer or on his own 

behalf. 

6. The tenn "Institute", as used herein, is defined to mean the 

United States Felt 1\Ianufacturers Institute, or its successor. 

7. The terms "President", "Act", and "Administrator" as used 

herein shall mean respectively, the President of the United States2 the J ational Industrial Recovery Act, and the Administrator ot 

Title I of said Act. 

ARTICLE III-HouRs 

1. No employee, except exectitives and those engaged in a managerial capacity receiving $35 per 11eck or more, outside salesmen, 

and watchmen, and e:s:cept as hereinafter provided for shall be permitted to work in excess of forty ( 40) hours in any one 11eek or 

eight (8) hours in any 24-hour period. 

2. Repair and maintenance cre" electricians engineers, firemen, 

and shipping and out ide crews may work a tolerance of 10 % per 

week in excess of the afore aid maximum hours· proYicled that time 

ar..d one third shall be paid for the excess hour so worked. 

(538) 
539 

3. The maximum hours fixed in the foregoing section shall not 

apply to any employee on emergency maintenance or emergency repair work involving breakdowns or protection of life or property, 

but in any such special ca e at least time and one third shall be paid 

for hours worked in excess of the maximum hours herein provided. 

Emergency hours worked shall be reported monthly to the Code 

Authority. 

4. H ardeners, fullers, washers, extractors, and dryers may work a 

tolerance of two (2) hours per day in excess of the aforesaid maxi- mum hours per day; provided that time and one third shall be paid 

for the excess hours so worked, and provided, further, that the total 

amount of excess hours worked per week by such employees of any 

employer shall not exceed 10% of the total n1.an hours ( exclusive of 

such excess hours) worked per week by all productive employees of 

such employer. 

ARTICLE IV- WAGES 

1. No employee shall be paid at less than the rate of 35¢ per hour. 

2. This Article establishes a minimum rate of pay, regardless of 

whether an employee is compensated on a time rate, piecework, or 

other basis. 

3. There shall be an equitable adjustment of the wages of employees receiving above the minimum herein prescribed, to the end 

that, so far as may be equitable, the differentials which now exist 

between the wage rates paid to skilled workers and those paid to unskilled labor shall be maintained. 

4. Nothing contained in Article IV or Article V herein .shall be 

construed to reduce the wages or hours of labor for employees 

whose wages or hours of labor are established for specific projects 

by competent o·overnmental authority, acting in accordance with 

the law, or whose wages or hours of labor are established by labor 

agreements now in force. 

ARTICLE V-GENERAL LAI!OR PROVISIONS 

1. No person under sixteen (16) years of u,ge shall be employed 

in the industry, nor anyone under eighteen (18) years of age at 

op~rations or occupations hazardous in nature or detrimental to 

health. The Code Authority shall submit to the Administrator 

before January 1, 1934, a list of such occupations which, upon · his 

approval, shall be deemed hazardous in nature or detrimental to 

health within the meaning of this section. In any State an employer shall be deemed to have complied with the age provisions of 

this section, if he shall have on file a certificate or pennit duly issued 

by the authority in such State empowered to issue employment or 

age certificates or permits, showing that the employee is of the 

required age. 

2. Employees shall have the right to organize and bargain collec- tively through representafrves of their own choo ing, and hall be 

free from the interference, restraint, or coercion of emplo ers of 

labor, or their agents, in the designation of such repre~entative or 

in self-organization or in other concerted activities for the purpo e of 

collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection. 
540 

3. No employee and no one seeking employment shall be required 

as a condition of employment to join any company union or to refrain 

from joining, organizing, or assisting a labor organization of his own 

choosing, and 

4. Employers shall comply with the maximum hours of labor, 

minimum rates of pay and other conditions of employment, approved 

or prescribed by the President. 

5. vVithin each state this Code shall not supersede any laws of such 

State imposing more stringent requirements on employers regulating 

the age of employees, wages, hours of work, or health, fire, or general 

working conditions than under this Code. 

6. Employers shall not reclassify employees or duties 0£ occupations performed by employees so as to defeat the purposes 0£ the Act. 

7. Each employer shall post in conspicuous places full copies o-f 

this Code. 

8. To prevent any improper speeding up of work (stretch-outs), 

no employee in the industry shall be required to do any work in 

excess 0£ the practice as to the class 0£ work 0£ such employee pre- vailing on July 1, 1933, unless such increase is submitted to and 

approved by the Administrator. 

ARTICLE VI-ADMINISTRATION 

1. To effectuate further the policies of the Act, a Code Authority 

is hereby designated to cooperate with the Administrator in the administration 0£ this Code. The Code Authority shall consist of five 

representatives 0£ the industry elected by a £air m.ethod 0£ selection, 

to be approved by the Administrator, and 0£ not more than three 

members (without vote) appointed by the Administrator. Such 

agency may present to the Administrator recommendations based on 

conditions in the industry as they may develop which will tend to 

effectuate the operation 0£ the provisions of this Code and the policies 

of the Act. Such recommendations, when approved by the Administrator, shall have the same force and effect as any other provision 0£ 

this Code. 

2. Such agency is also set up to cooperate with the Administrator 

in m.aking investigations as to the functioning and observance 0£ any 

provisions 0£ this Code, at its own instance or on complaint by any 

person affected, and to report the same to the Administrator. 

3. Any member 0£ the industry may become entitled to participate 

in the endeavors 0£ the Institute relative to the administration 0£, 

revisions 0£, and additions to this Code (a) by becoming a member 

0£ the Institute and paying the clues and assessments thereof, or (b) 

by paying to the Institute its equitable pro rata share of the expenses 

0£ administering the Code ( such pro rata share to be determined on 

the basis of labor employed). The Institute shall defray the expenses 

incurred by the Code Authority. 

ARTICLE VII-REPORTS AND STATISTICS 

1. With a view to keeping the President informed as to the observance or nonobservance 0£ this Code of Fair Competition, and as to 

whether the industry is taking appropriate steps to effectuate the 

declared poficy 0£ the Act, each member 0£ the industry will :furnish 

duly certified reports to such certified public accountants as the Code 
541 

Authority may designate. These reports shall be in substance and 

in such form as the Code Authority may require. Except as otherwise provided under the Act, reports furnished in accordance with 

this Code shall be confidential, and that data of one employer shall 

not be revealed to any other employer; provided, however, that for 

the purpose of enforcing this Code the Code Authority, through its 

duly authorized representatives, shall have access to such portions of 

said reports as are pertinent to such enforcement. 

2. Every member of the industry shall furnish to any governmental agency or agencies designated by the President, such statistical information as the President may, from time to time, deem 

necessary for the purposes recited in Section 3 (a) of the Act; and 

any reports and other information collected and compiled by the 

Code Authority, as heretofore provided, shall be transmitted to 

such governmental agencies as the President n1ay direct. 

ARTICLE VIII-U NF AIU TRADE PRACTICES 

For all purposes of the Code the acts described in this Article 

shall constitute unfair practices. Any member of the indμstry who 

shall directly, or indirectly through any officer, employee, agent or 

representative, knowingly use, employ, or permit to be employed, any 

of such unfair practices shall be guilty of a violation of the Code. 

1. No member of the industry shall use advertising ( whether 

printed, radio, display or of any other nature) or other representa• 

tion which is inacurate in any material particular or in any way 

misrepresent any commodity ( including its use, trade mark, grade, 

quality, quantity, origin, size, substance, character, nature, finish, material content or preparation or other specification thereof) or credit 

terms, values, policies, services, or the nature or form of the business 

conducted. 

2. No member of the Industry shall give, permit to be given, ·or 

offer to give, anything of value :for the purpose of influencing or 

rewarding the action of any employee, agent, or representative of 

another in relation to the business of the employer of such ernployee 

or the principal of such agent without the knowledge of such employer or principal, provided that nothing herein shall prohibit the 

free and general distribution of articles used solely for advertising. 

3. No member of the Industry shall withhold from or insert in 

any quotation or invoice any statement that makes it inaccurate in 

any n1aterial particular. 4. No member of the Industry shall secretly offer or make any 

payment or allowance of a rebate, refund, commission, credit, 

unearned discount or excess allowance, whether in the form of 

money or otherwise, for the purpose of influencing a sale, nor shall 

a member secretly extend to any customer any special service or 

privilege not extended to all customers of the same class. 

5. No member of the Industry shall attempt to induce the breach 

of an existing contract between a competitor and his employee or 

cu tomer or source of supply; nor shall any such member interfere 

with or obstruct the performance of such contractual duties or serv- ices. Nothing in this rule shall qualify Section 7 (a) of the National 

Industrial Recovery Act or obstruct the free exercise of the rights of 

collective bargaining ther-ein ~uaranteed. 
542 

6. No member of the industry shall repudiate a contract entered 

into in good faith when the purpose of such repudiation is to create 

for such member an unfair price advantage. 

ARTICLE IX-MONOPOLIES 

No provision of this Code shall be so applied as to permit monopolies or monopolistic practices or to eliminate or oppress small enterprises or to discriminate ag ainst them. 

ARTICLE X-MODIFICATION 

1. This Code and all the provisions thereof are expressly made subject to the right of the President, 1n accordance with the provisions 

of subsection (b) of Section 10 of the Act, from time to time, to cancel or modify any order, approval, license, rule, or regulation issued 

under Title I of said Act and specifically, but without limitation, to 

the right of the President to cancel or modify his approval of this 

Code or any conditions imposed by him upon his approval thereof. 

2. Such of the provisions of this Code as are not required by the 

Act to be included herein may, with the approval of the President 

of the United States, be mo(;lified or eliminat€d as changed circumstances or experience may indicate. This Code is intended to be a 

basic code, and study of the trade practices of the industry will be 

continued by the Code Authority with the intention of submitting 

from time to time additions to this Code applicable to all employers 

in the industry, and supplemental codes applicable to one or more 

branches of the industry; such supplemental codes, however, to conform to and be consistent with the provisions of this Code as now 

constituted or hereafter changed. 

ARTICLE XI-GENERAL 

1. After notice to members of the industry, the Code Authority 

may submit recommendations with respect to restrictions on selling 

below cost, the disposition of substandard merchandise, the publication and listing of prices, and the establishment of standard selling 

terms for the industry; such recommendations, when approved by 

fhe Administrator, to have the same force and effect as other provisions of this Code. 

2. The Code Authority shall secur e current information concerning 

the competition in domestic markets of irn.ported felt products, and 

if it shall find that such products are being imported into the United 

States in substantial quantities or increasing ratio to domestic production, and on such terms or under such conditions as to render 

ineffective or seriously to endanger the maintenance of this Code. it 

shall complain to the President pursuant to the provisions of Section 

3 ( e) of the National Industrial Recovery Act and petition for su1table restrictions on the importation of such felt products. 

ARTICLE XII-EFFECTIVE DATE 

This Code shall become effective on the second Monday after its 

approval by the President. 

Approved Code 1o. 143. 

Registry No. 232-1- 04. 

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UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 

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