The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-05-25

Is accustomed 10 lIle plODlclt VI
them, so 1t talks taxes.
If President Roosevelt purposely
left the tax question undetermined
and fixed a time limit for its con-
sideration in order that congress
might have no chance to worry
about the broader question. his plan
is succeeding.
With the recovery bill, this coun-
try turns its face toward planned
national economy.
Control Over Production
Nineteen months ago a proposal
by Senator Robert M. La Toilette
rep. Wis.,, for creation OF an
economic council, advisory in char
acter and confined largely to re-
search work, was view with alarm
by business and financial leaders
summoned to Washington to discuss
it before the senate manufactures
committee. and scornfully was lg-
nored by most of congress and the
administration.
Today the national recovery bill
proposes that the government shall
have the right to consider and de-
eide how much production is deSlr-
able for the country-productlon oil
shoes and hats as well as natural
resources-and shall have the right
to determine fair prices rates for
wages to employees and the length
of working hours.
THE bill makes explicit the prin-
ciple that all business is charged
with public interest" says Senator
Robert F. Wagner Dem, N. ",
one Of the authors of the bill, and
against the background of old think
ing his statement sounds revolt
tionary.
Industry Backs Measure
In the past, only utilities were
recognized as vested with public in
terest.
Today regulation Of all business,
less explicit than utility regulation
in some respects, more so in others,
is proposed.
Voluntary regulation first, but be-
hind the voluntary organization
stands the whole strength of the
government ready to act if neceS-
SarY.
The whole-hearted accord with
which industry and labor are sup
porting this measure is one of the
strangest spectacles Washington has
seen in years
Business men who have Shud-
dered at the idea of government
price fixing in any form, labor men
who have asked only freedom to
fight their own battles through eX-
ercise of their economic power. have
both gone on record in support of
the new plan.
To the friends who say to me 4:
Where are we going if this bill
is passed. I answer, where are we
going if it is not passed. says Hen
ry 1. Hartman, president of the
United States Chamber Of Com
merce.
Bill Has Two Parts
Hartman and other industrial
lists, who support the bill, see in it
the only means by which they can
hope for increased prices and in
creased profits. Labor sees in the
bill its only hope for higher wages,
better standards of living regularity
of employment.
1t took more than two months to
draft the measure that is able to
command this remarkably diverse
support. Men representing the
points of view of both industry and
labor participated.
President Roosevelt remained non
committal until the measure was
completed. though members of his
official family rendered assistance
in its preparation.
The bill has two parts.
A $4,000 100000 program of public
works is provided as an immediate
frontal attack on unemployment, a
shot in the arm for a dangerously
sick patient.
Normal Work Is Aim
4AAt HlOAC Adl -ACdN4llLls lidll VI tllC
bill is designed to provide normal
work for people in their own occu-
pations and their own communities,
through rehabilitation of industry,
and the method of rehabilitation is
this
Industries are invited to agree
among their membership on codes
of fair competition which shall in
clude a limit on the amount of goods
to /e produced. stipulation as to
NE hours which each plant shall
work and the minimum wages it
shall pay, and finally the price to
be charged.
Such codes are not affective until
approved by the President of the
United States. Once approved, they
may be enforced as law upon rebe'
minorities in an industry as we'll as
an agreeing majority.
And if no agreement is reached by
the business men themselves, the
government is authorized to make
determinations of its own and en-