Evening star., 1933-07-15
STEEL CODE CALLS
FOR WAGE BOOSTS
Sets 40-Hour Week and rs
to 40 Cents as Minimum
for Labor.
Continued From First Page.)

johnson, the recovery administrator,
Lamont said the signatures to the code
represented 80 per cent of the steel
ingot production capacity of the coun-
try. Furthermore, Lamont said 95 per
cent of the Country's capacity will be
represented Immediately if signatures
now promised are filed.
The code declared it the opinion of
the industry that it was not necessary
to make any specific provision for con-
trolling volume of production or for
allocating production or sale among its
members.
1T is believed" it stated, "that the
elimination of unfair practices in the
industry will automatically eliminate
any overproduction therein and any
alleged nequities in the distribution Of
production and sale among its men,
bers."
The administration has regarded steel
as one of the most vital industries in
the movement to increase the purchas-
ing power of working men.
Conference on Yacht.
Aboard President Roosevelt's yacht
tomorrow, somewhere on the Potomac
River, may be shaped fateful decision
to call upon all American business to
right away.
Gen. johnson, who for days has been
studying this idea for obtaining the
quick boost in the purchasing power Of
the masses, will fly down and report to
the President on its possibilities.
The plan would involve having every
line of business from the big factory
down to the corner store agree willingly
and without waiting for adoption of =
code of fair competition. the vehicle pro-
vided by law to spread employment.
boost wages and give industry self reg
ulation.
johnson admits some concern about
the white collar" man. Agreements
among industries to spread work and
lift pay are helping the ordinary laborer,
he finds, but most of the trade codes do
little for the big middle class. He holds
that general increase by all American
business would reach this group, and
thereby tremendously increase purchas-
ing power.
Cement Group Asks Approval.
Besides the rayon and silk industries.
which are asking permission to come
under the terms like those Of the cot
ton code which goes into effect Mon
day, the cement industry came forward
yesterday with request for presiden-
tial approval of 36-hour week, mini
| mum wage plan.
The cement industry offered to set
40 cents an hour as minimum wages.
Gen. johnson has had a crew of ex-
perts and advisors at work for DAYS in
an effort to find a formula under
which all industry might come in
temporarily, until individual codes are
| approved.
The President, concerned at the slow
gain of purchasing power in relation to
the increased production of past weeks,
was closely watching the maneuver and
was expected to give immediate ap-
proval when Johnson is satisfied that
feasible plan has been discovered.
Officials thus far, however, apparent
| ly had not found a manner by which
the recovery law might be interpreted
so as to compel industry to adopt a
| blanket code.
The mandatory provisions allow the
President to impose codes of his own
making. but only after a thorough
hearing of all parties interested Weeks,
perhaps months, would elapse under
such procedure.