The Washington times., 1933-09-04
REMED|ALPLANS
LACKING, SAY
OFFICIALS
3 Department Stores Raped
in Letters Arriving at the
Rate of Dozen a Day

Although complaints against
outright violations of the maxi
mum hour and minimum wage
provisions of NRA codes by Wash
ington employers displaying the
Blue Eagle are pouring into the
local NRA campaign headquar-
ters at the rate of a dozen a day,
no action has been taken so far,
and no plan for dealing with the
matter has been forthcoming.
The seriousness of the situation
is evidenced by the fact that, al
though telephone complaints were
banned by Washington NRA Off
cials only two days ago, over so
definite written charges against
all types of local employers are
now on file.
Varied Complaints
The letters have come from
members of Congress, Government
officials, business men, employees
discharged since the Blue Eagle
regulations went into effect, and
plain citizens interested in fur.
therlng the cause of more jobs and
more money as the handspring Of
return to prosperity
An analysis of the complaints
tends to show that, in effect, Pres
ident Roosevelt's unemployment
agreement is being flouted under
the very shadow of the Capitol
dome. 1t seems evident that, un-
less steps are taken to remedy the
situation, many business firms
will come to believe that they can
"get out from under the regula.
tions with impunity," as one COM
plainant expressed 1T.
If this possibility becomes a
reality, the loyal employers who
have actually added workers to
their rolls and increased wages in
accordance with the NRA pledge
will be operating at tremendous
competitive disadvantage. The
result could conceiVably be the
breaking down of the entire Blue
Eagle plan in Washington.
Many Accused
Ignoring of the NRA regulations
on maximum hours and minimum
wages has been reported by the
complainants against restaurants,
meat markets, three large depart
ment stores, tailors, BARRIERS,
garages, drug stores, lumber deal
ers, hotels, banks, filling stations.
confectioneries, beauty parlors,
coffee roasters, radio stores, auto
mobile dealers, many types OF
manufacturers, taxicab companies,
electrical goods dealers, sign COM
panies, laundries, and others.
Officials at the local NRA
headquarters have explained that
the first week of the drive, which
began last Monday, had necessar-
lily to be devoted to signing up
commercial interests and citizens
under the Blue Eagle.
It was said that action on com.
plants could not be taken until
the initial work of getting 100
per cent cooperation among en-
ployers and consumers had been
completed.
No Plan Adopted
However, it is understood that
no plan for dealing with the COM
plants has so far been formu-
lated, nor has any method for
policing the codes in the future
been set up. Officials said:
"The reports of violations will
show NRA signers that they are
being watched. If any EN-
pIOyer is now violating a code
because he can not do otherwise
and remain in business, he
should explain his trouble to us
and get stay of execution. He
can then continue to display the
Blue Eagle, but need not follow
the regulations to the letter.
"Our attitude toward VIOLA
tors is not antagOnistic. We
want to help them out"
Ruv in SPnfPmber and Buy American