Evening star., 1933-10-27
JOHNSON MAY TURN
HENRY FORD CASE
OVER TO CUMMINGS
Indicates Such Action Unless
Figures Are Filed Within
Time Limit.
HOLDS PLANT INELIGIBLE
TO SEEK U. S. CONTRACTS
Administrator Says He Is Going to
Trade Lincoln He Rides in for
Another Make of Car.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Hugh S. johnson said today that If
Henry Ford fails to submit figures re-
quested by the National Automobile
Chamber Of Commerce within the time
to be set, 'I'll turn the case over TO tina
Attorney General"
At press conference the N r A.
executive intimated the deadline would
be November 7. However, he cautioned
he was not definitely certain that date
would be the one fixed
He said, though, that while violation
OF that kind probably would be con-
elusive evidence of non compliance with
the automobile code on the part of Ford,
he does not consider the manufacturer
now eligible to bid on Government con.
tracts.
johnson Quotes EdseI Ford.
he asserted in response to questions:
NO, don't think he's eligible. because
Edsel Ford told me when was in De-
troit they would never consent to any
NViIeSlNt bargaining.
johnson disclosed that Robert Fech-
ner, director of the Civilian Conserva-
ton Corps, had informed him that a
low DID by Ford dealer for a large
number OF trucks for his organization
would be rejected.
commenting in an interview on the
plos Tor trucks for the c. c. c.. Director
Fechner called attention to President
c
and said his position was that Mr..
Ford Is not within the executive order
requiring all manufacturers who slpulv
materials to comply with the IN All
law"
Early Action Planned.
It was aScertained this afternoon
that N. r. A expects within a week or
lO days to have a definite determina-
tlon OF whether the Ford company in
tends to submit the desired figures To
the Automobile Chamber of Com
merce.
If it establishes that the manufac.
turer does not propose to comply with
this code provision. the case will be
turned over to the Department Of Jus
tice for legal action
Assistant Administrator Robert w.
Lea, in charge Of automobile code at-
fars at N. r. A. said that, recogniz-
ing the dlfficulty which the larger COM
panies faced in submitting the de-
manded hgureS within limited time.
no pressure would be put upon them:
but that means would be found to es-
tablish their Intentions toward the
code
The N. R, A. intends to have this
understanding quickly, so that all
doubts may be cleared away before
large Army contracts for motor equip
ment can be let.
Asked what about the Lincoln?" the
quick-answering johnson shot back:
You mean the Lincoln ride around
IN? Well. we are going to trade that
in for Cadillac"
Awaits Definite Evidence
He was particularly emphatic that he
would not let any time elapse after def
mite evidence of code violation by Ford
came to him. in taking action against
the manufacturer.
In regard to collective bargaining by
Ford. he said he was not familiar with
circumstances at the EdgeWater, N. ].
assembly plant where strikers we're re-
ceived by Ford officials and their de.
mands were forwarded to Dearborn for
action by the company.
He indicated. however. that he re-
garded the statement which he said
Edsel Ford had made to him as final.
In connection with the Civilian Con-
servation Corps automobile contract,
Johnson was asked whether the fact
the bid was submitted by Ford dealer
would make difference.
I've taken a position that a great
big billion dollar corporation cannot
hide behind $4,000 company" John
son replied. adding, however. that some
legal technicality might conceivably
alter the situation.
Earlier in the day the National AL
tomobile Chamber of Commerce the
designated agency for collection of sta
tistics from automobile manufacturers
for the N. r. A., said it was not its
understanding that any deadline had
Continued on Page 2. Column -