Evening star., 1933-12-30
Protecting the Little Fellows.

in for conference two of the most out
spoken critics of the N. R. A. among
the Republican Senators and listened
Sympathetically to the arguments they
advanced Indeed, it is reported that
the President will look with favor on
some modification of the administra-
ton OF the N. R. A. and even of the
law itself along lines suggested by the
two Senators, Borah of Idaho and Nye
of North Dakota. The complaint of
these Senators has been that the little
fellow in business was doomed to ex-
tlnction under the N. R. A. and that
the monopolies permitted would force
eXorbitant prices upon the American
consumer, through suspension of the
antitrust laws. Attending the con-
ference at the White House also was
Gen. Hugh S. johnson, administrator
of the N r. A.
1t has been the contention of Senator
Borah for long time that the smaller
business man. manufacturer and store
Keeper would be powerleSS before the
demands of the big fellows under the
codes set up under the N. R. A. The
Idaho Senator insists that as long as
the antitrust laws are permitted to
be suspended in the operation of
the codes of fair competition of the
N. r. A. there is grave danger to the
smaller business man. He proposed an
amendment to the national recovery act
when it was before the Senate. specifi-
cally stating that the antitrust laws
should not be suspended, but his
amendment was lost. Now, it appears.
he is likely to renew his demand for
such an amendment and perhaps with
the assent of the White House, though
IN scme modified form.
The contention is also advanced that
much may be done for the little fellow
in business through the administra-
ton of the N. R. A., and Senator Nye
Is interested in the proposal to set I'D
a committee or board to which the
smaller business folk may appeal if
they find that codes in their lines of
business are working great hardship to
them and likely to force them out of
business, And this proposal, too, was
apparently given sympathetic hearing
at the White House conference.
The President has not waited for
Senator Borah and Senator Nye to
launch their attacks upon the N. r. A.
from the floor of the Senate. He has
listened to their arguments in person
He has convinced the Senators that he
is personally interested in the matters
they advance. He has not claimed at
any time that the N. r A was perfect
1t may be that he will accept changes
that will satisfy the Senators and also
grant protection to the little business
man, an end which undoubtedly Mr..
Roosevelt has at heart, as well as the
Senators from Idaho and North Da-
kota. How the proposed changes in
administration and in the law will
satisfy big business is another thing. 1t
has been generally reported that big
business was willing to go along with
the N. r. A. because it gave big business
chance finally to proceed in a man
ner impossible under the enforce
ment Of the antitrust laws. However,
in the past the antitrust laws do not
seem to have prevented big business
from becoming bigger, and perhaps,
after all, big business will accept with
a measure of good grace the efforts of
the administration and of the Senators
to aid small business
1t appears that President Roosevelt
has again shown his capacity for deal
ing with men and with troublesome
problems. If he has drawn the sting
from the attacks of these critics of the
N. r. A, and perhaps satisfied them
with what he proposes to do the course
Of his program in the Senate at the
coming session of Congress may be con-
siderably smoother than it otherwise
would have been. Furthermore, a move
to protect the small business man and
the consumer of all kinds of goods will
certainly be popular with a great many
people outside of Congress.
-s-S-~-