Evening star., 1933-09-29
CONGRESS MAY GET.
labor HOUR FIGHT.
Green Threatens to Take Is
sue to Capitol as N. R. A.
veers Other Way.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Organized labor today threatened an
appeal from the N. r. A. to Congress
to secure a 30-hour work week in re-
covery codes.
William Green, president, gave this
notice at e-convention gathering of
some American Federation of Labor
members. Even then. q number Of
N. r. A. officials were considering pos
sibilities Of relaxing temporarily present
standards of wage-raising and hour
shortening efforts so far as they affect
the construction and allied industries.
Green's 30-hour week demand vir-
tually clinched the absolute opposition
OF union labor to any such plan,
whether for the construction or any
other industry. N. r. A. officials giving
thought to the problem also were quick
10 emphasize that their considerations
must be reviewed by Hugh s. johnson
before approaching the stage OF final
drafting.
Sees Slack Continuing.
Green told the metal trades depart
ment Of the American Federation of
Labor yesterday that "the slack in en-
ployment is not being taken up as
rapidly as conditions demand" He
added:
THE one remedy that must be en-
ployed Is a siX-hour day, flve-day week.
Unless the existing codes are modified
and the new ones so phrased that they
approximate that level, then labor will
be compelled to 60 to Congress this
Winter, as it did last session, and sup
port bill for a siX-hour day, five-day
week"
No code yet promulgated has re-
duced maximum working hours to 80
a week. At N. r. A. headquarters, off,
cials said the study being given the
construction industry, including the
possibility of granting even higher
maximum hours than have yet been ap-
proved, was founded on a desire to keep
labor costs down in order to attract
capital investment.
After period OF perhaps one year,
they said wage rates would be increased
and hours reduced BY thus making
1t profitable to build now in order to
avoid higher costs IL months later, they
felt the building boost needed for this
almost PROSTATE industry could be
obtained
Industry Stimulus Seen.
Some of those interested argued that
such course would provide the stimu-
lation Of those industries producing the
heavy goods and construction which
many economists believe Is essential
for the continuance of recovery. They
| did not consider that modification of
wage and hour policies regarding the
construction industry would affect
N. r. AS attitude toward lighter in
dustries enjoying greater sales con-
tinuity.
With Johnson still in the hospital,
labor difficulties continued to dominate
the N. r. A., though routine work on
a number of codes, including aluminium
and banking. pressed forward. Senator
Wagner, Democrat. New York;, chair
man of the National Labor Board.
planned, II necessary direct negotiations
| with Henry Ford to encourage the re-
opening of his Chester, Pa. plant. 1t
was closed after strike troubles.
Wagner Sees Adjustment.
Senator Wagner told newspaper men
he believed the differences could be
composed and said the board would
recede from its decision to close the
plant indefinitely as an answer to the
strike.
At the same time, Wagner asserted
industrial disputes were an expected
companion of the economic transition
| under the NJ R. A. and forecast a
gradual settling of strikes under the
guidance of the board.
johnson, who already has been away
from his desk eight days. had some
hope of returning soon, but his physi-
clans were not hopeful. The infection
that sent him to Walter Reed Hospital
was described as having aggravated q
rundown condition brought on by
was advised to take complete rest.
Meanwhile, the general N. r. A. pro-
gram was progressing slowly. Awaiting
| the administrator attention were the
! codes for retailers generally and retail
druggists, and the agreement upon coal
| wage scales for Western Kentucky anc
Alabama.
Operators from these sections, who
have not yet accepted the general btu
minous coal code, have been conferrine
this week with Kenneth M. Simpson, q
deputy administrator, but final action
! awaited Johnson's return.
Johnson's Desk Flooded.
Assistants in the organization have
conferred with johnson at intervals and
during the week he approved nine codes
for transmission to President Roosevelt
But his desk was piled high with mat.
tiers awaiting action that he alone could
| take
Robert w. Lea, newly appointed as
| Sistant administrator, moved into ar
Office adjoining the administrators, CIV
| ing the N. r. A. for the first time ar
| acting executive in the absence Of it,
directing head.
Senator Wagner said that in handl-
. ing labor difficulties, the Labor Board
intended to rely almost entirely upon
the force Of public opinion.
This is the strongest sanction there
is" he said, land my experience has
been that it is usually enough"
He attributed many of the strikes
now in progress to MISUNDERSTANDING
| asserting they involved only accept
ance of this new day"
If employers and employees alike will
| bring their troubles to this board in
stead of resorting to strikes or lock-
| outs" Wagner said, land the board acts
in spirit Of impartiality. 1t can be
of great service to the Nation
The chairman said the conciliatol
A SERIES OF FRIENDLY ]