Evening star., 1933-06-29
Turns to Problem of Costs
Increased by Proposed
Trade Code.
DEPARTMENT HEARINGS
MAY CLOSE TOMORROW
Manufacturers Concerned Over Ad-
justme:t of Their 0per-
ating Schedules.
BY the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
sThe Cotton Textile Industrial Con-
ference today grappled with problems OF
contract adjustments to meet costs in
creased by the proposed trade code
leaving behind differences between en-
ployers and labor over wages and work.
ing hours
w. L. Allen, deputy administrator in
announcing the next step in the re-
covery administrators effort for a
business betterment program for tex
tiles. said the hearings at the Com
merce Department may close tomorrow
All who want to will be heard
OF considerable importance to oper-
ators is clause S Of the code which con-
stitutes the Cotton Textile Industry
Committee. the drafters to assist in ad-
justing contracts for textiles should
costs Of production increase by reason
OF minimum wages and a maximum
work week
Social Problems Aired.
Miss Lucy R. Mason of the National
Consumers League, and Miss Margaret
Wieseman Of the Consumers League
Of Massachusetts,, today discussed social
and labor problems in the CODE
Some officials expressed surprise that
possible price increases to the consumer
have not figured in the testimony. So
far in the hearing no spokesman has
discussed possibilities Of price fixing
under the code or what that price fixing
might mean to the consuming public.
Manufacturers are concerned over
difficulties Of adjusting their operating
schedules to the code by July II.
They are aware Of possibility that
their recommendations for hours of
labor per week and minimum wages per
week which they proposed might be re-
vised before the code receives admins
tration approval and are anxious to
learn the final figures as soon as possible
for making necessary adjustments.
New Hampshire textile mill workers
protested today that the $l1 weekly
minimum wage provided for them In
the code proposed to govern the in
dustry is unfair" and the 40 hours a
week stipulated as a maximum lis a
mite too high"
Todays hearing at the Department
of Commerce was attended by fewer
than on the previous two days, bu. still
by many representatives of industry and
labor to be affected by the new law.
Winant Sends Spokesman.
John L. Barry, representing the New
Hampshire Federation of Labor, said
he appeared at the request of Gov.
John G. Winant to represent the States
workers in textile mills.
He contended the 4O-hour work week
would not greatly restore employment
there
Barry did not recommend a figure for
the minimum wage, which the code
South than LII the North, but said a
study of living costs in his State showed
Sll weekly unfair.
What evidence have you the $11 is
too Iow?" Allen asked
Unfortunately, we have no minimum
rate commission in our State and the
best evidence We can present is that
The Massachusetts, Minimum Rate Com
mission In 1882 set the minimum scale
at $780," Barry said.
Allen asked Barry to supply him with
figures giving up-to-the-m minute facts
about the labor. wage and living cost
conditions in his State and Barry said
he would comply Immediately.
Witnesses we're kept strictly to the
issues by Allen and Chief Administrator
Hugh S. johnson.
An attempt by B. E. Gordon of Bos-
ton, representing the Massachusetts
knitting mills, to submit plan for a
surplus distributing corporation for the
cotton industry was halted by Aliens
lContinued on PAGE 2 Column 81