Evening star., 1934-02-25
Business Heads to
Meet Here March )
BY HARDEN COLFAX.

VNAAoO 40 oA A0oAy VEINS AC4CAACO W a.
the most significant gathering of buSi-
ness men in the Nations Capital since
the World War days of 1918. and its
emergency need of greater co-opera-
ton between Government and busi-
ness, will begin on March 5, the first
day Of President Roosevelt's second
year in Office.
First of all, this meeting will be
another confirmation OF the signs.
multiplying every month, that the Ma
tional Recovery Administration, far
from being an emergency" expedient
only, is destined to be woven into the
fabric of Americas future social and
economic life
The Federal Government is proceed
ing on the assumption that N. r. A. is
a fixture. Its record shows steady
advance in "coverage" of the United
States working population. Its ad-
vocates and its leading Government,
industrial and labor administrators,
moreover, are constantly probing into
possibilities for its further extension
On May II. 1888, the national in
dustrial recovery act was introduced
IN Congress. On June 16 it became
law. On July II, one month later,
the cotton textile code, as promul-
gated, the first to receive presidential
authorization, became effective, Just
seven months later 28o codes had been
pushed through to adoption and hear
ingS hal been held on $50 more. 1t
has been estimated that these $50
cover almost 80 per cent of all the
workers in the United States that the
N. R. A. program can ever cover.
What is ahead for industrial self
government in the United States and
Government partnership with indus
try? The N. R. A. administrators
have been ironing out industrial and
labor difficulties in a way more svs-
tematic and thorough than is perhaps
generally realized.
During the first three days Of Feb
ruary there was held here a confer
ence Of all State compliance direc-
tors, who talked over their troubles
with Secretary of Commerce Roper
Beglnnlng March 1t is planned TO
mold a general assembly of the more
than $50 code authorities and the
Code Sponsoring Committees of the
nunoreds OF other industries whose
cooes are pending. Furthermore, ex-
perts are working over industrial and
economic censuses and indexes, as well
as labor statistics, to find out Just
now much further N. r. A. has TO 20
In order to cover the entire country
and bring practically all American
workers under the wings of the Blue
Eagle.
At the forthcoming meeting of all
code authorities, March S to 8, price
liking, proposed labor and other
amendments to the act. small busi-
ness, and other controversial subjects
VIII be discussed. The announcement
that this meeting is to be held is ap-
parently staving of demands from
commerce and industry for quick
action" on matters which require more
deliberate decision. More than 5000
invitations to members Of code au-
thorities have been sent out. including
trade association committees with
codes awaiting public approval.
A preliminary outline for this con-
ference includes such topics as pos
sibilities Of increasing employment,
wages and hours; comparative situa-
ton OF capital goods and consumer
goods industries; costs and prices; pro-
lection against destructive competition
and against excessive prices and mo-
nopolistic tendencies; control of pro-
duction; limitation of machine hours;
restriction of expansion of facilities;
code administration, including COM
pliance and enforcement; the opera
ton Of codes in small enterprises, and
the position Of minorities.