The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-09-29

and industry accom-
ItDo Million panying cooler
Get .Jobs weather, two facts
about the govern
ment's general recovery plans have
become apparent: the NRA and .agri-
cultural adjustment programs have
been yielding some benefit, but weak
nesses of each program are becoming
painfully evident. Full advantage Is
being taken of the gains registered.
Whether the vulnerable spots in the
programs can be fully corrected, how
ever, remains matter of conjecture.
There has been undisputed progress
made toward recovery in great many
lines of business; there have been at
least two million workers restored to
jobs, and there has been an increase in
income to farmers, to industry and to
workers. But there has been a fly in
the ointment at the same time. De-
spite the enthusiasm with which the
recovery program has been supported.
there have been some very sore spots
created by mistakes on the part Of
government leaders as well as some
rancor on the part Of limited num-
Der of industrial leaders that has come
from selishness. From all Of the in
formation available here at the seat
of affairs, my conviction Is there has
been some bull-headedness on each
side, and this condition has disclosed
where the weak spots of the several
programs obtain.
To make the going tougher, labor
leaders have swooped down to nail
fast every possible advantage they can
find that they may be in better po-
sition whenever normal economic con-
ditions prevail again. There can be
no more mistaking this bit of selfish
ness than there can be by closing ones
eyes TO the attempts of some indus
trialists to line their own nest The
difference is that under present cir
cumstances, and with the terms Of the
national recovery act to back them up,
labor leaders are considerably more
powerful now than are the employers.
The greatest weakness thus far evil
dent in any of the several recovery
efforts, according to the consensus /
have gathered, is the attempt to make
the rules of codes hidebound and in
elastic. This course has resulted in
handicaps being placed on some bust
nesses that actually prohibit expansion
of operation where the desired end OBJ
viously is more volume. Observers
here are contending that the NRA au-
thorities, particularly, have employed
too much haste in some instances, and
again haste has made waste. l am
told that there are a good many codes
that viii have to be amended or re-
vised or worked over in some respects
in the light Of experience, but the pity
of this is that able men were not Civ
en- the chance to have the changes in
Guided in the codes in the first in
stance.
Probably, the answer to these state
ments will be that hearings were held
and each industry was given an oppOr-
tunity TO state its case, which is true.
Yet, in all Of the terrific hustle and
hustle that has gone on in NRA head
quarters. there were influences WELD
ed that appear to some persons here
as having been tinged with selfshness.
1 do not seek to defend either side in
such controversies as occurred over
the coal code or the automobile code or
some Of the others, for each side rath-
er messed up the program, but, speak
ing generally, the staff which General
Johnson has around him was capable
of doing better work than was done
on most of the codes.
As to the gains resulting from the
united effort, figures tell the plainest
story. Official statistics show that In
the majority of lines of trade, there
has been a greater volume of business
done since NRA and the agricultural
program got going than there had been
in months before. This brought new
jobs and new jobs carry additional
pay rolls and obviously that means
greater comfort for those Heretofore
out of jobs. Then. there were figures
on advertising. Detailed reports from
twenty-five of the principal cities
showed 16 per cent more advertising
printed by their newspapers In August
than In August, 1882.
Concerning the efforts to correct
weaknesses in the recovery plans, per-
haps the most nota-
To Correct BILE is the move by
Weaknesses the Reconstruction
Finance corporation
TO push money out where ii will be
used. The corporation is prepared to
make loans to banks if those banks
will make loans to private businesses,
and to supply the money to the banks
at 3 per cent interest if the banks will
not charge more than 5 per cent when
il is reloaned. In other words. the Re
construc Finance corporation has
gone almost the whole way into the
banking business, for that which it is
now doing is nothing more or less than
rediscounting commercial obligations.
As was stated above. whether such
moves as this win serve the purpose
Of correcting weaknesses in the recoy-
cry plans, no one can say accurately.
It is to be remembered that the prime
purpose Of the NRA was to boost
prices. raise wages and make more
Jobs. Undoubtedly, some of that gen.
eral objective has been achieved, else
there would have been no need for the
proposition advanced by the Recon-
struction Finance corporation. Its
move was designed to provide COM
merce and industry with money TO
meet the added costs entailed under
the NRA scheme. Hundreds of in