The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-08-23
Cheaters and the
 Chiselers Growing
(Continued from Page 1.)

ably would hesitate to undertake. question of playing fair with the cooperating whole-heartedly in the recovery drive. The MIRA must back them up by preventing un- scrupulous competitors from un- dermining them through chiseling tactics.
 While some see in Johnson's warnings bold effort to intimidate the cheaters to such an extent drastic action will no tbe neces- sary, it is held by persons close to the administrator that unless some such step is taken the whole movement may degenerate into an intellectual gesture.
 The issue presents a difficult problem and its solution will be one of Johnson's major administrative duties.
 In the meantime. complaints pile up. Many firms protest against un- fair tactics of competitors. House. wives report cases where clerks who serve them whisper that their hours haven't been reduced. One complainant accused local mer- chant of chiscling on his code while making fiowery speeches in sup port of the MIRA.
 The complaints are being filed and sorted. In some cases they are referred to field agents for checking up. Some are taken di- rectly to the firms concerned. In several instances genuine misun- derstandings existed and violations were corrected.
 The MIRA complaint bureau was making something of mystery out of it's handling of the complaints. One of the possibilities is that the bureau will compile a list of proved offenders and submit it to Johnson for summary action. For the present the mere job of group ing and classifying the complaints keeps the staff busy and the broad CT question of acting constructive ly on them apparently receives scant attention.
 The development of the com- plaint bureau, is evidence of the NRA's rapid expansion. It is rap idly taking up most of the surplus | office space in the vast commerce department building. The building houses 5000 workers and nearly one-fifth now are MIRA employees. The MIRA has most of the fourth floor and is spilling over into the third floor. Two months ago there were 130 employees. Yesterday the MIRA payroll carried 913 names.
 Night Hearings Washington, Aug 23.-UP)- Night sessions were ordered to speed MIRA hearings on a retail trade code as Administrator Hugh $. Johnson. to-day set for himself the task of expanding commercial credits after completing coal and automobile codes.
 Individual consideration" was sought for small neighborhood stores. A Lincoln Wisler, Chicago, representing 10000 neighborhood merchants. contended that "forc- ing" maximum working weeks uni- formly on small and large busi- ness houses would increase the small merchants overhead 50 per cent.
 ! Deputy Administrator A. b. | Whiteside pressed for speed. The hearing was opened yesterday with d pledge by Johnson to back up resistance by the retail trade to un- warranted price increases.
 Regarding credits, Johnson said he believed something could be done. Immediately, in view of the upward spiraling of prices and the returning confidence in business" !" He has conferred on credits with officials of the Federal Reserve System and the Reconstruction Fi- nance corporation.
 "I am working on a plan to pry the thing loose and expect to have 1t ready in few days as soon as can get the coal and automo- bile codes out of the way" he said.
 Johnson denied the coal code delay was caused by obstructionist tactics and forecast early action. He planned to issue a statement soon. officially interpreting col. lective bargaining provisions of the | recovery act. He indicated he would Apply his interpretation to unionization and open shop dis putes which have blocked the coal and automobile codes.
 Director T. s. Hammond of the MIRA blue eagle division issued a staetment that prompt and effec- tive action will be taken. against violators of the presidents re-em- ployment agreement, but said no local agencies had been delegated the power to take back the blue eagle. an act which Johnson has said would constitute "a sentence of economic death."
 More than 12,000 thoroughbred racing horses are in training in