Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-06-29
Senator Gives
Explanation of
Recovery Act
Wagner Says That the Sole Object Is
to Give Permanent and Comfort
able Living to All.

After prolonged debate in the Sen
ate, the National Industrial Recovery
Act and Public Works Bill finally
got through both houses of Congress
with it's major provisions for indus
trial sterilization, economic planning,
labor protection, and employment for
millions of the jobless practically the
same as originally passed by the
House of Representatives and ap-
proved by the American Federation OF
Labor and the Railroad BrOtherhoods.
Underlying Principles.
The act provides for the establish
ment of "codes of fair competition In
each industry, covering prices, wages,
hours of labor and general work con-
ditions.
The right of the workers to organ
ize and bargain collectively without
interference of any sort from en-
ployers is firmly established. and en-
ployers are expressly prohibited from
compelling employees either to join a
company union or refrain from join
ing a bona fide labor organization as
CnS price VI JOD.
Millions for Public Works.
As an immediate job producer the
Act provides $4,000, 100000 for public
works of various sorts with the work
week limited to thirty hours and the
employment of convict labor barred.
Gen. Hugh. S. Johnson, appointed
by President Roosevelt to administer
the Act, estimates that jobs for
around 100000 workers will be pro-
vided within the near future.
Wagner Explains Measure.
A large amount of credit for the
law must be given to Senator Robert
F. Wagner of New York. He drafted
the bill as originally introduced, and
piloted it safely through the stormy
seas of parliamentary consideration.
When the measure was finally APP
proved by Congress, the New York
Senator made a comprehensive state
ment regarding the principles and
purpose of the Act. He said, in part:
Right to Earn a Living.
"The single objective of the bill is
to give every deserving person per-
manent opportunity to earn a COM
Portable living.
'In order to accomplish this pur-
pose we have enacted twentieth CEN
fury law to help solve twentieth CEN
fury social and economic problems.
Il believe that the depression oc-
Cured and has been unduly prolonged
fn
Issues with Outworn remedies, with
devices that served we'll in their day,
but could not last forever"
Fair Competition Codes.
To-day we have learned that en-
forced planlessness disorganizes and
even wrecks trade and commerce.
1.-THE new law will permit members
of any trade or industry to formulate
a code of fair competition, including
list of the practices and methods
which, in the judgment of business
men, will be most likely to establish
industrial order and restore employ
ment
when such code gains the ap-
prevail of the President of the United
States, it will become binding upon
the entire trade or industry, and &C
ton in compliance with its terms will
be exempted from the prohibitions of
the antitrust laws"
Consumers Are Protected.
There will be no danger of bust
ness men using the opportunities of
united strength in such a way as to
Cypress the consumer or the competi-
tor.
mo code will be approved by the
President until those who propose it
prove that they are truly representa-
tive of the trade or industry for which
they speak.
1T must be proved also that the
code will neither tend to promote
monopoly nor discriminate against the
small business man.
For the first time business will be
brought out into the open and sub
jected to the constant watchfulness of
the President, who will have power at
any time to modify or revoke any
CODE"
Rights of Labor Guaranteed.
Under the new law, every code of
fair competition must recognize the
right of labor to bargain collectively.
Every code must include provis-
ions as to minimum wages, maximum
hours, and to other working condi-
tions, all of which must be approved
by the President.
"In this way the production and
consumption of goods will be co-or-
dinated.
I'm addition, we shall move a step
nearer to the social and economic JUS
tice which we have always professed
to approve"
Codes Adjusted to Industries.
These codes are not inflexible
molds into which every one will be
forced.
"A different code is drawn up for
each trade or industry.
Even within a single group, the
President may make notifications or
exemptions whenever necessary to
effectuate the policy of the law.
There is only one unalterable pro-