The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-07-29
NO
BAR T0PAYING
OF NRA WAGES
Members Must Adjust Pay
to Be Able to Show
Blue Eagle.
RULE ON 6 PROVISIONS
Oil Official Quits 100000
Job Rather Than Not
Serve President.
BY III. o. THOMPSON
United Press stan CorrespOndent


dent Roosevelt's vast scheme for
higher wages and more workers in
industry was given official interpre-
tation today that may affect the
very foundation Of labor's relation
ship with capital.
While business men by the thou
sands were signing up under the
code of the blue eagle, the National
Recovery administration issued in
terpretationS of six principal clauses
in the Presidents blanket code for
business.
Most significant of these decisions
makes it mandatory upon members
of NRA to conform to all the wage
provisions of the code, even though
the provisions conflict with existing
labor contracts.
The Interpretation hinges upon
Section of the code, which re-
quires that pay shall not be re-
duced even when hours are short
ened. and orders that equitable re-
adjustments shall be made to in
crease wage scales above the mini
mum.
He said he believed that influence
of labor unions and public opinion
would be powerful "persuaders"
Can't Adjust, Can't Sign
Other interpretations issued by
NRA concerned methods by which
employers may settle difficulties
peculiar to their businesses, set the
date for compliance in good faith"
with the code. settled possible con-
fiicts between the blanket code and
the codes of individual industries,
set forth rules about increasing
prices of commodities and listed
workers not subject to the code.
1t is not the purpose Of this
agreement to interfere with main
tenance of contracts entered into by
exercise of collective bargaining"
explained Donaltl Richberg, counsel
for MIRA. 1T does not force the
breaking of contracts.
NO contracts are affected by the
agreement. If the employer can't
adjust his contract, then he can't
sign the agreement. The agreement
neither authorizes nor requires the
breaking of contracts. But the en-
ployer can not get the blue eagle
until and unless he complies"
Include Professionals
Such workers include professional
men. employees of any govern
mental body. farmers, domestic
servants and statesmen working on
commission.
Signing of the Presidents honor
role was speeded up as postmen
the nation over FASTENED delivery of
100000 letters to as many enl-
ployers. Mail cards returning to
Washington were bullying with the
pledge cards of early signers.
The only major dispute in the
whole enormous campaign was re-
vealed with the resignation of
James A. Moffett. 100000 a year
vice president of the Standard Oil
Company of New Jersey when his
employers refused to let him join an
advisory committee of the NRA.
MoEetts resignation was an
nounced by Walter c. Teagle, presi-
dent of the company. who is in
Washington in connection with eff
forts to set up code of fair COM
petition for the oil industry. Teagle
told MoffNtt either to refuse APP
pointement as an adviser to General
Hugh S. Johnson or hand in his res
ignation.
Felt II Was Command
Moffett chose the latter course
because he said he felt that the in
vitation to serve as ar adviser to
General johnson was the equiva-
lent of a command from President
Roosevelt.
Il have been a lifelong Demo-
crat. supporter of the President,
and am in accord with the Presi-
dents program and policies" he
said.
My views as TO the policies to
be pursued apparently are not in
accord with those of the board of
the New Jersey company"
Johnson himself was in Cleveland.
flying there from Detroit where he
obtained agreement of the automo-
bile industry to code based on the
thirty five-hour week.
That agreement brought all the
key" industries into the movement
TO bring prosperity back TO the ma
ton. Steel. coal and oil codes al
ready have been submitted.
Increase to $4,000
In handing in their code. the
bituminous coal operators OF Penn
sylvania. eastern Ohio. West Vir-
GINA announced that they had given
wage increases TO $4,000 miners.
adding more than $4,000 900 a year
TO their earnings. Minimum wages
in the northern fields will range
from So TO 81 per day and in the
southern fields from $3.50 TO $3.50.
Still another push in the drive
toward good times was contained in
the release of S63.000.000 for the
Grand Coulee project in Washington
another Tennessee valley devel-
opment on smaller scale. Approval
of this expenditure by President
Roosevelt before he left for Hyde
Park was regarded as a mere starter
TO public works contemplated by
the administration in states west
of the Mississippi.
The public works board also in
tends TO approve immediate resump-
tion OF work on the nine-foot chan
rel for the upper Mississippi and 10
spend 2l.000,000 for flood control
and land reclamation on the South