Evening star., 1933-06-23
R ecovery Administrator
Would Avoid Licensing
Feature of Act.
TEXTILES AND SOIL PIPES
PRESENT AGREEMENTS
Consumers Board to Be Set Up.
Coal Operators Win Praise
for Cooperation.

Brig. Gen. Hugh S. johnson, head Of
the National Recovery Administration,
said today the work of bringing indus
try into trade agreements was moving
faster than he had expected.
While only two industries-cotton
textiles and soil pipe-have actually
presented formal codes for approval,
others are rapidly taking shape.
Before next Tuesday, when the first
formal hearing Is begun on the textile
code, consumers board will be set up
along with the boards representing
labor and industry. Efforts will be
made to discourage price fixing.
In these codes it will be proper for
industry to say that 1t will not sell be-
low cost Of production johnson said.
IF they use the code to fix extor-
tionate prices, should sflave to step In
Immediately in conformance with the
law"
The stringent licensing feature Of the
bill, under which President Roosevelt
could compel every industry to obtain
permission to operate, will not be
pressed unless deemed necessary.
I don't want to use the licensing
feature, for 1t Is repugnant to every
American idea," johnson said, "I want
to avoid inquisitorial powers and police
functions"
He reiterated his expectation that in
dustry would police itself by reporting
violations.
Pleased With Coal Group.
Terming the coal industry "the pine
apple Of this situation" johnson said
it presented a difficult problem which
was being solved, and that operators
were displaying spirit of cooperation
unseen since the war He added he
was very much encouraged.
johnson intends soon to add some
one to his staff to aid in stabilizing the
oil industry. He explained that at hear
ings on codes, all parties Of interest
could appear.
With the deputy administrator who
holds the hearings will be advisers
drawn from industry and the labor
advisory board appointed By Secretary
Of Labor Perkins.
The consumers board would be ex-
pected to view the proposed agreements
from the standpoint of preventing price
fixing that would be harmful to the
public IN its Judgment.
johnson predicted to several hundred
chain store executives that the time
would come when it would be unpopu-
lar for business organization not to
operate under the national recovery act.
Asserting that the administration
was making no effort for the present
to bring other than basic industries
into line. he said that In the months to
come if the legislation worked itself
out, "any business which does not bear
the insignia showing that it is CO.
operating toward national recovery will
be very unpopular with the people"
At the outset of today's schedule
Col. Donald H. Sawyer, administrator
for the public works section of the
recovery act, was handed the cabinets
advisory boards policies of pushing the
gigantic construction fund in various
sections of the country to spread work
and bring buying power out of its
slump.
Priority Sought.
In order to stimulate immediate
revival OF employment and industrial
activity priority was asked for projects
on which work can be started at once
and completed with reasonable speed
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