Imperial Valley press., 1933-09-18
PRICE FIXING
PLANNED BY
NRA LEADERS
Regulation Of Retail Stores
May Be Next Step Taken In
Recovery Program.
DIVIDED OPINION ON MOVE
Consumers Advisory Board Re-
ported To Be Opposed To
Taking Drastic Action.
BY II. o. THOMPSON
United Press Staff Correspondent

United Press Staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Sept. l8.-Pro-
posed regulation of prices in the
nations 100000 retail stores COM
manded attention of recovery Off
cials as the soft coal code was
made ready for President Roose-
velt's signature today
The master code for retail trades
has been awaiting action by Ad-
ministrator Hugh S. johnson for
several days. With the coal COM
pact completed save for the for
mality of W'.ite House approval
johnson and his aides expected to
swing into a thorough study of the
retail proposals.
Chief issue facing johnson is
whether he shall approve the pre-
sent provision forbidding stores to
sell goods at less than invoice pri-
ces plus certain percentage. Tht
percentages vary from 7 to 10 for
various types of stores.
A. D. Whiteside, deputy admin
istrator, has recommended that
johnson approve the price control
provision, but the consumers ad-
visory board opposes it.
Whiteside contends price con-
troll is necessary to stop ruthless
competition, especially against
small merchants. He is desirous of
stopping the practice of some stores
of selling a few items at cost Or
less in order to draw crowds
Presidential signature of the BIZ
luminous coal code, scheduled yes
terday, was delayed in order to
give the industry more time to pre-
pare for operations under its pro-
visions and to set up the, elaborate
machinery of regional and nation
al administrative boards. The code
becomes effective the second Mon
day after Presidential signature.
Thus, the one day delay means the
code will go into operation Oct. 2,
instead of Sept. 25.
Johnson said there had been no
further "hitch" which would pre-
vent action by the President to-
day.
Recovery officials regarded COM
pletion of the long disputed coal
code as perhaps their greatest sin
gle achievement. They hoped it
would bring peace and as least de-
gree of prosperity to an industry
which has been demoralized for
years by fierce competition and
bloody labor wars.
Nearly 100000 miners now en-
ployed will receive generally higher
wages. The increases range up TO
40 and so per cent in, some fields.
Miners are given unrestricted right
TO organize and to live where they
choose. They are assured they will
receive their wages in actual cash,
instead of being given receipts for
rent of company houses or bills at
company stores.
Johnson instructed NRA compli-
ance boards throughout the coun-
try that friendly aid rather than
the iron fist" should be the guild
ing policy in dealing with employers
who fail to live up to the Presi-
dental unemployment agreements.
The boards are being set up to
handle complaints against employ
crS.
The administration warned that
elf an employer Wilfully persists in
compliance with the agreement
after being fully informed of his
obligations, he is no longer entitled
to the blue eagle and the federal
government will take it away from
him.
1t will not be up to the local
boards to pull down any blue eagles.
Johnson said their part was to rea-
son with violators and attempt to
make them see the "error of their
ways Recalcitrants will be report
eo to district boards and then to
Washington for whatever action may
be necessary.