Evening star., 1933-08-27
EMPIRE STATE
GROUP WEIGHS.
SPARE-T|ME PLAN
Grover WhaIen Says City Will
Be Used as Laboratory
for Experiment.
BY THOMAS COMPERE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, August 26-The leaders
in the recovery movement here are so
confident that President Roosevelt's
comprehensive rehabilitation program
will be successful in raising buying
power and materially lowering working
hours that a committee was appointed
this week to study how millions OF per-
sons throughout the Nation may best
use the additional leisure time resulting
from the adopting of the blanket code
by business and industrial organizations.
In announcing this action, Grover A.
Whalen, chairman of the local N. R. A.
Committee, said New York City would
be used as great laboratory for a
scientific experiment" the results OF
which would be universally beneficial.
Mr.. Whalen contended that the new
leisure, which in some industries VIII
exceed 80 hours a week, may well be-
come the greatest problem in the united
States" This important study will be
directed by such well known men as
RAYMOND B. Fosdick, lawyer and
trustee of. the Rockefeller Foundation,
who is chairman; Morse A. Cartwright
of the American Association for Adult
Education; John Erskine, of the Julllard
Foundation; Dr. Ebert K. FretWell, pro-
fessor of education at Teachers Col
lege. Columbia University; Howard
Braucher, of the American Recreation
Association; DR.. Harry Overstreet, pro.
fessor of philosophy at the college OF
the City of New York; DR.. John h
Finley, associate editor of the New YORK
Times, and John w. Davis, Democratic
candidate for President in 1924 ana
former president of the American Bar
Association.
Follows Ending of Strike.
This step was taken on the heels OF
a quick and decisive victory for the re-
coVery organization IN enong Ine sTIlne
of 10000 dressmakerS, virtually all OF
whom returned to their work this week.
Mr.. Whalen, serving as official arblter
on appointment by President Roosevelt,
drove through bargain with the manu-
facturers, which, if kept, will aDollsn
the sweatshops which have f1ourlshed
during the depression. Wages through
out the industry were raised Sharply
and hours for most of the workers were
cut from approximately IS to maxi
mum of 35 However, it was estimated
by Alfred w. Lasher, president OF the
National Dress Manufacturers Assocla-
ton, that the strike cost the lnoustry
approximately S2000,000, half OF which
was I6pIeSeIlttO Ill ROoo "o6SS'
Coincident with his action in terml-
mating this strike, Mr.. Whalen appoint
ed a board of mediation, consisting OF
representatives of the public, employers
and labor, for the purpose OF bringing
about quick settlements of any strikes
that might develop in the near future
and impede the progress toward recoV-
cry here. The members of this board
include Maj. Gen. James G. Harbord,
chairman of the Radio Corporation OF
America Matthew Woll, vice president
of the American Federation OF Labor;
Mrs. Gilmore Moorehouse Herrlck OF the
Consumers League, Mrs. Henry God
dard Leach, president of the Cosmopoh-
tan Club George w. Alger, attorney
George J. Atwell, president OF the
George J. Atwell Foundation Corpora
ton: Hugh Frayne. national organizer
of the American Federation of Labor:
Leon Rouse. president of Typographical
Union No. g. and Louis K. Comstock,
president of the Merchants Association.
Survey Shows Benefits.
A survey of forty-siX representative
firms in the city gave a clear indlca-
tion of the manner in which the
N r. A., even at this early stage, Is
benefting the community. In these
fortv-six firms a total Of 23,2O9 per-
sons have obtained jobs In recen1
weeks, and since approximately 75,O0O
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