Evening star., 1933-09-25
FR|CK MAY ADHERE
TO SOFT COAL CODE
Company Owned by U. S
Steel Seeks Agreement
on Captive Mines.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
N. r. A. oficials today said negotia-
tions were under way for the adher-
ence of the H. c. Prick Coke Co. to
the coal code and that a definite an
nouncement probably would be made
shortly
Employees Of the Frick Co.'S. mines
in Western Pennsylvania have been on
strike almost two weeks, demanding
that the company sign a contract with
the United Mine Workers Of America
N. r. A. officials said there was no
disposition on the part Of the Frick
concern, subsidiary Of the United
States Steel Corporation and producing
coal for the corporations mills, to fight
against joining the coal industry under
the Blue Eagle, but the company was
seeking an understanding with the
N. R. A. to meet the situation of cap
tive mines.
Want to Avoid Expense.
They pointed out the steel industry
was under code Of its own. They
also said Prick officials were desirous
of being exempt from those provisions
of the coal code having to do with
price-fixing and marketing agencies.
their coal commercially, they do not
wish to be compelled to share the
expense of the division authorities and
sales agencies which are to be set up.
The object of the present negotiations.
N. r. A. officials said, is to reach an
agreement by which the Frick company
will maintain prevailing wage and hour
scales In its district and accord its en-
ployes the same working conditions as
the commercial operators, without be-
ing tied down to the sales provision
of the code.
Meanwhile. new stimuli to keep the
NJ r. A. linked closely with President
Roosevelt's credit expansion plans are
being studied by Hugh S. johnson. the
recovery administrator. Although con-
with an infection, johnson was reported
to have canvassed thoroughly every
phase Of the campaign for industrial
stability.
AS one of the early moves. he is ex-
pected to call for a gigantic buying
campaign under the Blue Eagle to sup
port employers in their efforts to raise
wages and increase employment.
viii Urge Heavy Buying.
This appeal to the country to buy
ito the limit of prudent needs" has
been promised industry by the admin
istrator, but it has been delayed until
he believed the time opportune.
Oficials indicated the plea for greater
consumption would 60 out about Oc-
tober /, and by that time johnson
hopes to have the important retail
code promulgated.
johnson expects to concentrate upon
this master retail charter and the
retail drug code. hoping to find a basis
of agreement for opponents and pro-
ponents of the controversial price
regulating provisions which they con-
tain.
These features-designed to prevent
indiscrmiinate price cutting-were at
tackled yesterday by counsel for large
retail drug groups as "conscienceless
attempt by selfish interests to gouge
several hundred million dollars year
out of consumers"
Denies Fixing Prices.
johnson has given no public indica-
ton Of his attitude toward these pro-
visions, which fix limits below which
merchandise may not be sold. How
ever. Arthur D. Whiteside. the deputy
administrator who handled preparation
Of the codes. has insisted they are not
price uAlIlk.
johnson also is expected to act again
to calm the labor troubles which are
disturbing the industrial situation. Of
ficials have represented him as deter
mined to stop the issuance Of con-
troversial statements by spokesmen for
labor and capital on his advisory
boards, and, If necessary, to ask for
some designations.
Meanwhile, the credit expansion plans
to push recovery were brought under
attack by Senator Schall, Republican,
of Minnesota, who said that billions
to be loaned to bankers at 2 per cent
in itself is a confession that the N. r. A..
boom is busted and that only by hang
ing up the biggest subsidy known to
history can the patriotism of the bcnefi-
ciaries be stimulated to the point of
signing the rest of the codes"
Schall said that when the house.
wives of America wake up to the out
standing fact that the whole N. r. A.
movement is aimed at price boosting
=" and that 10 to 40 per cent boost
Of living costs will outstrip tenfold the
petty benefits to employment, the
N. r. A. campaign is done for"