The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-08-09
RETAILERS WARNED
AGAINST PLANS TO
DEFEAT new CODES
Johnson Says Staggered Hours,
Enforced Rest Periods
Are Prohibited
WANTS HOURS maintained
Says Law Can Be Effective
Only II Merchants Live Up
to Its Spirit

washington, aug. S.-tH)-IlLln8
that the intent of the recovery act is
to increase employment, Administra-
tor Hugh S. johnson said Wednes-
day In a statement that no retailer
could stagger employe hours, enforce
rest periods or shorten the hours OF
store operation without defeating the
purpose Of the codes.
His emphatic assertion immediately
took place among the most signifi-
cant yea to come from the NRA, in
view Of constant reports as to re-
courses for getting around the codes
and yet displaying the blue eagle.
Inquiries on this point have in
creased Of late, while the officials
have plugged ahead at other aspects
of making the law effective.
The militant johnson took time off
from the opening hearing on ~ codes
proposed for the coal industry to
stress his point as to retailers. At
that crowded session In the huge
commerce department auditorium,
the struggle between union and non
union forces was flushing to a full
height.
Clarifies Retail Pact
Putting that quarrel off for future
determination, johnson insisted that
while the agreements signed by re-
tail stores and groceries provided that
no store open less than So hours a
week before July l could reduce the
store hours at all, the intent was
that hours OF operation should not
be curtailed in any way.
In other words, while So is a set
minimum, it was explained that If a
store had been operating 60 or more,
it should not curtail its time Of be-
ing open but rather should employ
more people to do the work.
THAT agreement Is solemn cove
nant and it's purpose Is explicit"
Johnson said. THE owners Of the
stores and the customers who buy
from those stores should have but
one single purpose, which Is to carry
out this specific provision which has
to do with unemployment through re-
ducing the number Of hours each
employe works and by keeping the
stores open as long as possible"
Officially, the administration was
holding fire against violators until
some date a couple Of weeks hence.
But it did reveal that 1t already was
plotting out a plan of attack on
those vino break faith with or refuse
pledges to abide by the codes.
Penalties Suggested
While johnson, administrator,
frowned at the word boycott" he
nevertheless allowed 1t to become
known that the government would use
some of the following methods:
Refusal by the government to buy
material from industries holding
aloof from President Roosevelt's re-
covery move.
publication in newspapers Of the
names of those who display NRAs
"blue eagle" but who violate pledges.
A nation wide combine of house
wives against retail establishments
refusing to accept codes.
Already, Johnsons organization
has made plans for tracing violations
of the trade agreements, and In adj
dition has been promised that some
organizations will keep track OF vio-
lators. Foremost in this work are
the American Federation OF Labor
and the newly created consumers
protective bureau, the latter linked
to the MIRA by the membership OF
Mrs. Hugh S. Johnson, who IS on
both the MIRA advisory board and
the consumers bureau.
Five more industries, with hun
dreds Of thousands Of wage earners,
were blanketed under President
Roosevelt's industrial agree ment
Tuesday. johnson, during the day.
approved notifications Of the blan-
ket code which brought into the fam
lily Of fair practice industries BARRIERS,
beauticians, retail coal handlers, lith-
ographers and metal workers.