The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-11-07
WELLS FIGHTS TO
KEEP RESTAURANTS.
UNDER BLUE EAGLE.
1,275 State Cafe Owners
Threaten to Return
MIRA InSigniaS.
ROOSEVELT PETITI0NED
Local Compliance Boards
Laying Down on Job
Chief Charges.

Charging that some local compn-
ance boards in the state are "ob-
viously laying down on the job"
Francis Wells, Indiana recovery di-
rector, took drastic measures today
to prevent 1875 members of the In
diana State Restaurant Association
from voluntarily removing the blue
eagle.
Mr.. Wells announced that he was
sending a notice to all local COM
pliance boards in the state to report
Immediately to him all restaurant
violations and to issue petitions Of
exceptions to all restaurant oper-
ators whose present income is not
sufficient to cover their increased
costs due to NRA.
Mr.. Wells also announced that he
would petition Washington today in
a final effort to bring relief to the
restaurant operators.
Announcement of the decision of
the restaurant operators to recon-
mend removal of the blue eagle was
made last night by w. S. Akin,
secretary of the association, follow
ing a meeting at his office in the
Guaranty building.
Illegal, Wells Says
Mr.. Wells admitted that he was
deeply puzzled by the situation.
I don't really know what to do -
he said today. Il already have COM
municated with Washington several
times regarding the situation among
the restaurant operators, which
must be corrected.
Under the Presidents agree
ment signed by members of the
restaurant association, members
have no right to remove voluntarily
the blue eagle. They should have
considered this clause before they
signed the agreement. I am doing
my utmost to adjust the matter
Following the meeting last night,
kilograms were sent to President
Roosevelt and General Johnson, in
forming them of the decision.
Temporary Code Asked
A call to county ce-presidents
of the association to meet here Fri
day also was issued. At the meeting
the recommendation will be pre-
scented formally.
Reasons for the adoption Of the
recommendation that restaurant
men in Indiana voluntarily remove
the blue eagle were announced as
follows by Mr. Akin:
l. Failure on the part of the NRA
to take adequate measures to pre-
vent "chiseling.'
g. Inability of restaurant operators
to cope with mounting food and
labor costs and price cutting by
''chiSelers."
8. Failure of the MIRA officials to
permit restaurant operators to work
temporarily under the proposed ma
tional restaurant code, which pro-
vides a uniform "mark-up" on food
prices. after repeated appeals had
been made.
No Hearing Set
No hearing at Washington has
been held to date on the proposed
national restaurant code, Mr.. Akin
pointed out. He said that state and
district NRA boards also have asked
that action be taken to permit In
diana restaurant operators to use
the national code, temporarily.
Mr.. Wells, too, has concurred in
the request of the NRA boards to
obtain use of the proposed perma-
nent code for the emergency, it was
learned.
The following telegram was sent
to the President and General John
son Sept. % by the executive COM
mite of the restaurant association,
according to Mr.. Akin.
Compliance Is Impossible"
Meeting of 1900 restaurant own
ers Oct. 2 in Indianapolis, repre-
senting industry in Indiana. De-
mand is centered on removal of blue
eagle voluntarily because lack of
capital and credit make compliance
with temporary code impossible.
Sept. II we requested temporary
fair practice code to avoid. crisis.
This request was denied. AS di-
rectOrS We are bound morally to an
swer this demand. Local NRA Off
Gals agree on above facts"
Mr.. Akin said the organizations
answer was the following telegram,
signed by James E. Heap Jr.. assist
ant TO A. D. Whiteside. one of the
deputy administrators:
Restaurant code at present be-
ing considered. No hearing date
set as yet. Every effort being
made for immediate action"