Evening star., 1933-08-03
Hundreds of Workers Ex-
pected to Be Employed
in Washington Area.
BANKING INSTITUTIONS
LATEST TO FALL IN LINE
Department Stores Likely to Start
Reorganization After Sep
tember |.

The entire field of Washington busi-
ness and industry was undergoing
drastic changes today, as wholesale and
retail merchants and manufacturers,
banks and business houses generally,
adjusted themselves to requirements Of
various industrial codes signed by them.
Pledged support to the Presidents
recovery program, necessitating addi-
tional employment for hundreds of
workers, was rolling up rapidly, as more
than 1,500 local employers received the
N. r. A. blue eagle" insignia since
distribution started Tuesday.
The banking institutions of the Dis
trict are the latest to fall in line, pledg-
ing unanimously at a joint meeting of
the District Clearing House Associa-
ton and the Bankers Association yes
terday. to support the administration.
Extra Help to Be Needed.
The action of the bankers means
the 20 institutions now open in the
District will go on a 40hour work week,
while maintaining business hours of
approximately As hours a week, entail
ing employment of scores of extra
helpers. The 40-hour week, it was ex-
planned, can be worked out as an aver
age over 5-week period, under agree
ment with the national recovery ad-
ministratiin
A survey of department stores-now
functioning on a Summer schedule of
five days week-revealed these prob
ably will constitute the greatest re-
employment medium here after Septem-
Der l, when they go on 52-hour busi-
ness week, while maintaining 40-hour
work week
Upward of 1000 workers, it is esti-
mated, will be added to personnel of
the leading department stores the first
of next month. In one of the larger
firms. between 400 and 500 extra en-
p.oyes will be needed.
Bv following the ratio of business
kcurs as compared with work hours
So to 40-the number of additional
W-,1ers needed would exceed this esti-
=, it was said, but in some cases,
II cduce operating expense, stagger
+ 5 vii, be established to take in the
: NJ.
P-rGJnnel increase Small.
he time being, increases in per-
s - e. in the department stores is
S-lcl, since business hours are only
6 "a l. over the 40-hour week, due to
tkc Saturday holiday.
A group of IL ornamental iron man.
ufa a2turers in the District, representing
between 100 and $50 factory workers,
met last night and agreed to sign the
Presidents code setting up 35-hour
work week, with a minimum wage scale
of 40 cents an hour for common labor
and so cents an hour for skilled labor
The group voted, however. to recon-
mend to the industry a 70-cent mini
mum wage scale for skilled workers
Those attending the session included
representatives of the Fred S. Gichner
Iron Works, John Koday g. Bros, Slat-
terry Iron Works, Paramount Iron
Works, A. S. Jorss Iron Works, East
Washington Iron Works, Dupont Sup
ply Co., Columbian Iron Works. District
Ornamental Iron Works, Bruno Bros,
Inc; Potomac Iron Works, and Wash
tngton Stair & Ornamental Iron Works.
The action of these manufacturers,
spokesman said. will necessitate the
addition of many workers at the var
ious plants.
Wholesale Dealers Act.
Meanwhile, wholesale and retail mar
ket men took action to adjust them
selves to the Presidents program Work
ing hours for employees in the mar
kets have been reduced to eight hours
a day this being done in some cases
by reducing the business hours.
The Wholesale Fruit and Produce
Merchants Association at a meeting
recommended to its members that bus
mess hours be fixed at IN. to noon,
with an hour out for meal. This con-
trasts with hours, which, on occasion,
extended from 1890 am. to pm
A spokesman for the group said the
change will not obviate necessity OF
adding to their help. since concen-
tration of the volume Of their business
within this restricted period Will re-
Quire more workers.
The Center Market Dealers Associa-
ton, at a meeting yesterday, pledged
support to the Presidents program ana
went to work Immediately to formu-
late a code to be submitted, represent
ing its Ito members.
Biscuit Company Agrees.
The local Office of the National Bis
cult Co. was apprised yesterday by lts
head Office that it had signed the Presl-
dents code, and instructed the wash
ingtcn branch to conform. Forty-seven
persons are employed here by the f1rm,
and several of these will go on a a.
hour week.
The N. r. A. insignia also is being
displayed by the American Red Cross
headquarters here, which has signed
the agreement, setting forth 40-hour
week for its clerical help.
Dealers in the hotel supply business
yesterday met to discuss plans for dis
Continuing business hours on Sundays,
but, pending consideration of the mat
ter by all dealers, definite action was
delayed. To put it into effect, a
Spokesman said, there would have to be
q 100 per cent agreement among hotel
supply dealers or an unfair advantage
would be created.