Evening star., 1933-09-27
LICENSING SYSTEM
STUDY IS URGED
Organized Labor Begins Off,
CiaI Analysis of Recov-
cry Act.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Organized labor's official analysis of
the recovery act began today with a
recommendation to one department of
the American Federation Of Labor for
study of Federal licensing system ap-
plicable to all business and industry.
That recommendation was embodied
in a report submitted to the metal
trades department Of the federation by
John Frey, secretary-treasurer. Even
while he was making that suggestion,
the building trades branch of the fed
Grafton made ready to start its conven-
ton nearby.
When they get through their con-
clusions and proposals will be presented
to the general federation convention
which will start next week and last until
its business is finished.
N. X. A. Advantages Sought.
William Green, president of the fed
Grafton, and other officials are hopeful
the convention next week and the
preparatory meetings this week will
bring greater unification OF labor to
take c1vantage of its opportunities
under the recovery act. AS Frey put 1t
in his report to the metal trades:
THE recovery act and the National
beginning rather than IN end. They
indicate definite turn in the road over
which business men have been travelling
since our American industries had their
origin. A Federal regulation has been
established which placed definite curbs
upon the vaunted rugged individualism
of the industry. which, in practice, had
too frequently degenerated into ruthless
exploitation
N. R. A. experience. Frey reported,
had supplied additional evidence of the
necessity for Federal license law
which. among its other features. would
make it possible for the Government to
secure reports from all industries doing
an interstate commerce business, which
would enable industry, as well as labor
to have continuously those statistics"
which would help bring steady upward
development rather than peaks and
Slumps.
Conceding that possibly the time was
not ripe now for Federal licensing and
supervision of business, Frey recon-
mended nevertheless that the metal
trades department submit the question
to the federation convention next week
Frey spoke. too, the oft-reiterated
warning Of labor leaders that the
workers must and will be organized.
The industrial codes have made
trade unionism more necessary than
ever" he said "for without far-reaching
thoroughly organized and we'll disci-
plined trade unionists, the seni-ski.led
and the skilled workmen will be unable
to adequately protect their wage stand
ards"
A 40-hour week, generally, is too long
to take up the slack in unemployment.
Frey said, advocating energetic effort,
to reduce the maximums specified In
N. r. A. codes. He proposed closer CO.
operation between the various unions,
and added
The N. r. A. has given a promise TO
labor never before afforded by legisIa-
ton. But this promise, this guarantee.
like the rights of men to liberty will
be Of little value unless wage earners
are taught to make practical use of it."
Metal trades councils, Frey said. al
ready have secured most gratifying re-
suits" in obtaining new members so as
to increase labor's strength in the COL
lective bargaining guaranteed by the
recovery.