The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-08-25
FINAL WORK IS
BEING DONE ON
RETAIL CODE
MIRA Putting Regulations in
Final Form to Submit
to President.
CUTS HOURS, HIKES PAY
Rules Will Apply to All but
Food and Drug Stores
of u. S.
By United Prcss

NJ INiffa fffff
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25.-A re-
vised code for the nations retailers,
intended to regulate the advertis-
ing. competition, wages and hours
of 100000 stores employing 5000, 900
persons, was put into final form by
the national recovery administration
today for submission to President
Roosevelt.
Applying TO all but food and drug
stores. the code was altered at the
conclusion of hearings Thursday
night.
Deputy Administrators A. d.
Whiteside termed il "the greatest
trade agreement ever made" He
indicated that under the revision it
was nearly in the form in which it
would go to Mr.. Roosevelt for ex-
ecutive approval
A forty-hour week was prescribed
for employees of stores hitherto OPP
Grating fifty-two hours or less, a
forty-four- hour week for stores op-
Grating from fifty-six TO sixty hours
a week, and forty -eight-hour week
for stores operating sixty-three or
more hours a week.
Minimum Wages Set
Minimum wages of sl4 a week
for forty hours work, s1450 a week
for forty-four hours work, and SIS
a week for forty-eigit hours was
provided in cities of more thar
100000 population.
The scale was fixed at s13 10 sl4
in cities between 10000 and 500 900,
sl2 to $l3 in cities between $4,000
and 100000. $40 to Sill in cities
from $500 to $4,000. and. in viii
lagos of fewer than $500. all wages
Will be increased from June
levels by not less than 20 per cent.
If it does not require more than
$40 a week.
for workers IN southern states was
retained.
Bars "Cutthroat" Tactics
The code provided for no mer-
chandise price increases of more
than was made necessary by the
application of the recovery act.
Appropriate adjustments of exist
ing contracts was provided for by
the national retail trade authority,
which was set up to administer the
code.
The code sought to prevent cut
throat competition" by prohibiting
sale of goods at less than net in
11ft
cent to insure that labor costs at
least shall be partially covered"
However. this provision was quail
fed by permitting bona fide sea-
sonal clearances OF merchandise, ="
and of perishable or damaged goods.
or of lines to be discontinued. with
out restrictions.
Advertising Rules Strict
The provision on advertising was
Z. II prohibited the bait offer
of merchandise" whereby retailers
attract prospective buyers and then
through disparaging sales presenta-
tion diSsuade purchase of the adver-
tiSed article. and substitute other
merchandise, on which a greater
profit is realized.
No reference. direct or indirect,
may be made in advertisements to
competitors prices, values. credit
terms, policies or services. Adver-
tisers also we're forbidden TO claim
a continuing practice of generally
underselling competitors.
Form Fair Practice Agency
The trade authority would be en-
powered 10 require reports from re-
tailers, make investigations and Eec-
concentrations for the administra-
ton. supervise the setting up of
local code enforcement bodies. and
act generally as planning and fair
practice agency.
II would consist OF representatives
of the President and two each from
furniture. hardware. mail order.
clothing, dry goods, shoe and limited
price stores.
The question of prison-made mer-
chandise was left open for later
settlement by the trade authority.
The code would become effective
one week after it is signed by the
President. Various kinds of retail
stores sharply were defined.