Evening star., 1934-02-11
PLANS TO EMPLOY
MILLIONS MAPPED
Johnson Calls Code Indus
tries Into ParIey to
Cut Hours.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Orders lending new invieoration to
the drive for increased employment
went forward yesterday from two key
Offices in the Governments recovery
organization.
In an effort to add at leat 2,500,000
men to the pay rolls of industries
operating under codes. Hugh S. john
son, recovery administrator called a
meeting of all code authorities for
March 5, with the object Of a further
reduction in present hours of labor.
At the same time, Secretary Ickes
gave out instructions that the Public
Works Administration should conoen-
trate upon getting construction ac-
tually under way on projects for
which funds have been allotted, in
an effort to absorb the 5000 600 en-
ployes of the Civil Works Administra-
ton by May / and put additional un-
employed to work as well.
Available funds have been allotted,
Ickes said; many additional applica-
tions are on file, and State engineers
were told to inform States and munic-
ipalities that might be considering
applications for loans that no further
requests can be considered.
s2-Houf Week Goal.
An estimated total OF $4,000 900 or
more workers Is now employed by
industries operating under N. r. A.
codes. Their hours Of labor are es-
timated at an average of little more
than 40 a week. johnson wants this
reduced at least to 80. On this basis
Of distribution, more than 2,500.000
could be put back to work.
If the present upward movement In
industry continues. N. r. A. author-
ties are looking forward to q consid-
cradle absorption Of the unemployed
during the next few months quite
aside from the influence Of q reduc-
ton in hours for those already at
work.
With hours cut down, they +, IRE
that an expansion of business would
employ a proportionately greater
number Of the jobless, and they are
anxious to obtain the reduction while
the present upswtng Is still compara-
lively young.
1t would be easier to bring 1t about
now, they believe, than later, although
they are harboring no illusions IS to
the difficulty Of obtaining an agree
ment at any time for cutting hours
to a point below present code require
ments.
100000 Estimated.
In addition. they have their eyes
upon the 100000 estimated to be
employed by industries which have
codes pending. Through increased
business activity and codiflcation they
hope to expand this number by at
theoretically, therefore, by reduced
hours and business expansion they ex-
pect q minimum unemployment In
the Spring months of 100000. and
whether this number is increased Is
dependent upon the extent of the re-
newa1 of industrial activity.
In Senate debate on the $959, ,000, 900
c. w. A. appropriation, various esti-
mates were given ranging from g.
OOO 900 to 100000. Unemployment
since last Spring IS estimated at
900 600.
i The Public Works Administration,
it was brought out yesterday, Is still
faced with the difficulty Of getting
work started upon projects for which
loans have been granted. In most in
stances, after funds are allocated
States and municipalities have to let
contracts and delay, Ickes asserts, Is
attributable to this step.
Originally the Public Works Ad-
ministration was given $500, ,000, 900,
of which 1t set aside $400 ,000, 900 for
the Civil Works Administration, Gre
ated to meet the emergency arising
from the difficulty Of getting public
works projects started. The remainder
hAs now heen aNethsd II ~