Evening star., 1933-07-13
Pinchot Reports 4 Per Cent
Unemployment Decline
Since Trend Shifted.
PRODUCTION CONTROL
GIVEN CONSIDERATION
Agreement Of Retailers in Sight.
Silk, Lace and Clothing Makers
Discussing Problems.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Preparations for harboring more in
dustries and businesses under the in
dustrial recovery law had Washington
humming today. while President Roose-
velt kept tab on production and en-
ployment developments.
Gov. Clifford Pinchot of Pennsylvania
took a personal report to the White
House on unemployment having de-
creased per cent in Pennsylvania
since the shift of trend.
Between numerous conferences, Hugh
s. johnson, the industrial administra-
tor, said the fair competition" code to
govern the steel industry definitely
would be submitted by nightfall. Like
the many others being or to be formu-
lated, it will propose minimum wages
and maximum hours for the industry
the aim being to spread work and in
crease purchasing power to help the
country all around.
Meanwhile, fearful lest increased pro-
duction get out of the bounds of the
ability of people to buy and constitute
threat to business progress. the ad-
ministration IS considering what, If any
thing, can be done on that problem.
Action of Retailers Near.
johnson stepped in on a group rep
resenting the National Retail Council,
central organization of most retail Or
ganizations, and on coming out, in re-
ply to questions. said it looked as though
this group would submit definite code
shortly
In other conference rooms at the
Commerce Department. silk manufac-
turers discussed problems of their
trade, but indicated they were not pre-
senting a specific code at this time.
Lace manufacturers also consulted with
the administrators.
Meanwhile, a group Of clothing manu-
facturers set up headquarters in a hotel
and began the task of determining
minimum wages and maximum working
hours for their industry.
The National Textile Committee, rep
resenting cotton textile manufacturers,
Is to meet with administrators of the
recovery act tomorrow for an explana-
ton and Interpretation OF revisions
made by President Roosevelt in the
cotton textile code.
The committee of the National Lum-
Der Manufacturers Association which
several days ago submitted a code to
johnson, conferred with him today to
seek an adjustment of terms in the
agreement which he had pronounced
unacceptable.
Sweat Shop Conditions Cited.
The code calls for working hours run
ming as high as 48 a week, with mini
mum wages as low as 2212 cents an
hour
Wilson Compton, manager OF the
association, told newspaper men it
might prove difficult to bring some
branches of the industry to better labor
terms because their present offering al
ready represented a tremendous i'm
provement over prevailing wage and
hour levels.
In many lumber mills and camps, he
said, a sweat shop condition has existed.
The manufacturers would not be dis
posed to raise their costs much higher
until there was assurance that manu-
facturers Of competitive products also
increased their production costs, he
added.
Indiana limestone manufacturers,
consulting with the administration over
code, are expected to alter their
terms before the agreement is SUBJ
mitted formally.
They proposed a 40-hour week with
a $14 minimum wage. Indications in
trade circles were that the wages would
be increased somewhat and the hours
of work reduced before the code was
set for hearing.
Possibility that the Federal Govern
ment will throw its influence behind
the move in Massachusetts, for suspen-
sion of the States law prohibiting en-
ployment Of women in cotton mills at
night was disclosed by Nelson Slater,
an assistant to johnson.
Cotton Industry Improves.
As a result of the increase in mini
mum wages and the reduction in work.
ing hours in the cotton industry, as
provided by the cotton code effective
Monday, many textile mills have found
a second shift necessary.
Massachusetts, labor leaders, Gov Ely
Continued on Page 2, Column A.