Evening star., 1933-10-22
N.R.A. IS PRESSED
FROM TWO SIDES
Consumers and Farmers
Both Complain of Its
Inadequacy.
Continued From First Page.)


Continued From First Page)
resignation of Keith Neville as the Ne
braska Recovery Board chairman
praised the ability of officials admins.
tering the farm and public works acts
but said he could not assume RESPONSE
bility for any shortcomings charged to
those administrations.
Text Of Communications.
Following are the texts of Neville's
resignation and Johnson's reply.
The former wrote:
Il, herewith tender my resignation
as chairman of the Nebraska State Re
covery Board.
MY reason for rendering my resig-
nation is that l am entirely out OF
sympathy with the manner in which
the program is beinG conducted In ag-
ricuitural States, such as Nebraska.
In industrial communities, increased
costs of operation under the N. r. A
are Immediately passed on to the con-
sumer through increased price OF COM
modities.
I'm agricultural States the N. r. A.,
while increasing the cost Of everything
the farmer buys, has failed to increase
the cost of the things he sells.
The price of agricultural products,
including live stock in Nebraska today
is less than was the case when the
program went into effect
The farmer has virtually engaged in
buyers strike which has placed a
tremendous burden on the small mer-
chant who is operating under the
N. r. A.
More Buying Power Needed.
I'm Nebraska the increased price OF
operating under the N. r. A. can only
be offset by increasing buying power
through comprehensive public works
program.
The response of Nebraska to the
N. r. A. on the part of the people
affected has been wonderful and I feel
that the Government has been very
derelict in meeting its obligation in
putting men to work.
LAS a result. thousands Of small mer-
chants in Nebraska face bankruptcy.
Nebraska has many meritorious
projects now pending before the Public
Works Administration
Projects which have been passed
upon favorably by the engineering, legal
and financial departments Of the Public
Works Administration have been re-
ferred to the Federal Power Commits
sion. where the investigation previously
made has been virtually duplicated.
Projects favorably reported by the
engineering. legal and financial de-
partments Of the Public Works Admin
istration, and which have been ap-
proved by the Federal Power Commits
sion. have not received final approval
by the Public Works Administration,
and thousands and thousands of fam
lilies, the heads of which could have
been put to work. are still dependent
upon the public and private charities
for the necessities Of life.
only by co-ordinated effort between
the N. r. A. and the Public Works Ad-
ministration can this situation be re-
leved. and there is apparently. in
Washington. no conception of the situ-
alton that has been created in agricul-
tural States because of failure to CO.
ordinate the NJ r. A. and public works
programs"
Text Of Johnson's Reply.
johnson replied:
Il received today. with profuond re-
gret your letter of resignation dated
October l3.
No one can quarrel with any man
Tor quitting post in a program with
which he is not in sympathy. No other
course is compatible with the response
oilities Of public servant
IN. r. A. is only one part Of the
Presidents great, balanced recovery
program.
That comprehensive plan came al
time when agriculture was at almost
its lowest ebb
Between 100000 and 10000 ooc
people we're out Of work. Thus. be-
tween town and country large pro-
portion Of the Nations breadwinners
their earning power cut off. but nc
small part of their lifetime Savings
were frozen in closed banks and the
debt of millions was an intolerable
burden,
THE Presidents plan addressed each
given to farmers. 1t provides almost
plenary power.
Banking and financial legislation
addressed other aspects of this prob
lem. Title l of the national recovery
act attempted to erase waste and other
destructive processes in industry and
title 2 appropriated more than So .OOO.-
600, 900 for public works to provide
employment by use of Federal funds.
This was the Governments contri-
button to the urban part of our people
just as A. A. A. was Governments con-
tribution to agriculture.
mo Word of Criticism"
Upon careful reading of your letter
/ find not one word of criticism of N
r. A., which Is the proper designation
of the administration of title l of the
recovery act and which is the only
part OF the recovery program in respect
OF which you and l have either respon-
sibility or authority.
You seem to be under some miSap-
prehenSion about me. You say in apri-
cultural States the NJ r. A. has failed
to increase the cost of things the, the
farmer) sells. Then you criticize the
Public Works Administration for not
putting into effect more public works
in Nebraska and complain about lack
Of coordination between N. r. A. and
the Public Works Administration.
1T is easy enough to criticize the
work of other men. and the less we
know about their problems the easier
it is to criticise. I know nothing about
the merits of your remarks on these
other administrations I only know that
they are in the hands Of able. honest
vigorous and devoted men-crusaders in
q common cause. and If I had the task
of picking better men to do their job
I would not know where to look. !
know that they are giving everything
they have to the success Of their en-
deavors. But do have a right to de-
fend N r. A. from a blanket criticism
which. through a misconception does
not cover it.
II know that it is not your conten-
ton and not the contention of agri-
culture that nothing whatever shall be
done to take hungry. hopeless men off
city pavements until the agricultural
ani r,,hlio ,I,a.Lc x,ronra me oaah III :,