The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-08-01
Retail Stores of
 Nation Agreed
,continued from Page 1l

and factories, and employers fall ing into line by the thousands to spread employment and pay work CTS higher wages.
 Provisions of the blanket agree ment as they affect the hours and wages of 100000 employees of re- tail stores were modified last night by Administrator Hugh s. Johnson. The MIRA estimated that under the new terms, more than 100000 persons could be given immediate employment. These persons would receive approximately $9OO,000, 900 in annual wages.
 Hearings on the code of fair competition for the giant iron and steel industry were recessed after a day of thick -andfast develop ments, including withdrawal of the most controversial feature of the code, that proposing to continue the company union plan of em- ploye representation.
 Progress in the effort to bring some semblance of order out of the chaotic oil industry was registered in new code drafted by NRA off, cials and representatives of the in dustry. The new code proposes a work-week of 36 hours in the oil fields generally and a 40-hour week in the marketing end of the indus try. These new proposals, drafted in sweltering hotel and conferepce rooms, will be the subject of new discussions before submission of the code in final form for President Rooseyelt's approval.
 The blanket code was modified for retail stores to enable most of the nations retailers to come under the recovery act immediately. Many had complained that the or iginal terms would work too great hardship. The thousands of re- tailers who already had signed the original agreement afe permitted to change it now in accordance with the new schedule of hours and wages. The notifications, however, are subject to later action on the permanent retail codes. Hearings begin Angus t15.
 Food and grocerys distributors are permitted to work under a 48- hour week. instead of the 40-hour week in the general agreement. The 100000 clerks in suc) stores have been working up to 73 hours l a week.
 The other division of the retail industry-dry goods. department specially, mail order, mems cloth. ing and furnishing, furniture. hard ware and shoe stores-will have a 40-hour week.
 Three million employees are af. fected by these provisions, which | A-. <AyI fynt, vnc,. $14 in cities of more than 500.O00; $13.50 in cities of from 100000 tC 5O0,000: SIS in cities and town: from 2.500 to 100000; for towns ot
 less than 2,500 a 20 per cent in. crease in wages is decreed, provid, ing this does not require wages ir excess of $11 per week.
 In the south the minimums art $1 less per week. Immediate trade areas are included in the genera population classifications.
 The food distributors will lhave { $15 minimum for 48-hour weel in cities of more than 500,000 $14.5O in cities between 250,00l and 500,O00; $14 per week in citie of between 2.500 and 250,000 -o their immediate trade areas. Ther
 is a $1 differential for the soutl and employees with less than si:
 months experience will be paid s less than the minimum.
 The food stores had been anxious
 to come under the presidents vol
 untary unemployment agreements
 But fearing that the 40 and 35
 hours weeks stipulated there fo industrial and clerical work respec lively would impose too great har' ships, the food and grocery cxecu tives asked the modification to tn
 4S-hour week. In keeping with tn
 announced intention to administe the codes with justice to all, tn
 notifications were allowed.
 Sima.l Store owners
 Washington, Aug 1.-(UP)-
 Owners of small stores who tent their shops by themselves have nc employees were granted permission to-day to display the MIRA sign O the blue eagle.