The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-05-17

newspaper ana also the local neWS OI
spontaneous origin published herein.
All rights of republication Of Ill other
matter herein are also reserved.
The Retreat From NRA
Recent announcement by General
Hugh S. johnson that he Is not go
ing to try to regulate all the small
industries via the code route shows
a healthy tendency on the part Of
the National Recovery Administra-
ton, as does also the decision not to
ask for a renewal Of the licensing
power originally granted by congress
and limited to one year.
In the depths of the depression the
American people welcomed anything.
They were crying for q Moses and
the need was for leadership, almost
regardless Of where it led. Enlist
ment under the NRA banner was
practically unanimous and it stands
as evidence that the American people
can unite for the common good in
time Of distress, just as We proved we
could do during the war.
But the honeymoon is long since
over and blushing business finds IT.
self with bridegroom who doesn't
always shave before breakfast, puts
ashes on the rug and otherwise vio-
ates the rules Of domestic decorur,
General Johnson's recent pronounce
ments are good deal like those Of
q husband whose faults have been
called to his attention.
The MIRA was an emergency meas
ure and, on the whole, has accom-
plished some worthwhile things. The
establishment of fair trade practices
for industry, even though they have
produced considerable chiseling, IS a
forward step for American business
and some industries like 1t.
One of the first to come under q
code was the steel industry which re-
Gently reviewed its operations under
the agreement in q pamphlet issued
by the American Iron and Steel In
stitute. The reaction, as gagged by
this body, Is almost uniformly good
and great emphasis is laid upon the
changes which have been brought
about under government aegs. II It
smacks strongly Of the pharisee in
the temple the institute may be for
given on the ground that 1t Is only
following an ancient American Gus
tom.
The report shows increased en-
ployment from 3o5,000 in June. 1888,
to 365. 900 in February, 1894, although
both figures are far above the low
point Of 10000 reached in 1892.
Hourly wage earnings increased
from June to February, comparative
averages being 47.3 cents and Ss.7
cents, and the hours worked dropped
from 1874 per week to 319. The In
dustry claims that 1t is paying It's
employees more, the average for al
steel workers being $20.15 per week
as compared with $l9O1 for other
lines, and the average for skilled
workers being $500 as compared
with $21.76 for others.
All this was done, we are Informed.
despite a decline in the operating
rate from 46.6 to 42.8 during the
seven-month period from June To
February, and without materially in
creasing the price Of steel. The re-
port bears down heavily on that, as
serting that steel prices have adj
vanced only 81 per cent as compared
with an average gain Of 2l.s per cent
for other wholesale commodities.
The employe representation plan
despite the trouble over the company
union question, is declared to have
worked well, the statement being
made that 70 per cent Of employees
requests having been granted during
the period, 1873 per cent being de.
cided in favor Of the companies, IL
per cent compromised and 4.6 pei
cent withdrawn.
OF these complaints, 54.6 related t.
working conditions, lib to safety
matters and 33.6 to wages.
The real miracle Of this readjust.
ment. as claimed by the steel makers
is found in the production figures
In 1920, It = asserted. the MONTH.
average was III tons per man. u
June. 1919. It Was IS tons and il
zessuaxy. 1874. 81 tons. Il thes'
figures cause one to wonder, wher
compared with the allegedly small
increase IN prices. the institute doe
mot seem 70 consider them surprising
That The steel industry q hard
boiled may b taken for granted
Neither - financial heads nor tn
man who run tn blast furnaces hav
evsr been presented - Nly-fingere'
gentlemen. But the MIRA has WORKER
= reform, we are given % understand
II III following declaration u Ii
institute:
'.Ilns sxpsriense Ia rational ~
government under the steel code h