The Bismarck tribune., 1934-11-17
FEDERAL PLANNING
BOARD CRITICISES
NRA, FARM PROGRAM
Danger Seen In Basing Agricul.
tural Plan on 'Curtail.
ment Of Output

washington, Nov. 17.-(R)-strong
criticism Of NRA and the farm ad-
ministration was contained Friday In
q report by the national planning
board appointed by President Roose-
welt to survey the countrywide situa-
ton.
The critical portion was prepared
1T the request Of the board and pre-
sented as supporting data" The
board said It assumed mo response
bility for the views and opinions" Of
the authors-Lewis L. Lorwin and A.
r. Hinrich.
Extreme danger was seen in the
Administrations ''basing'' its agricul-
tural program on ''curtailment Of out
put"
The report also said 'the total wage
structure Of the country remains In
the same chaotic condition Is It had
been before the NRA came into ex-
istence."
The report was transmitted to sec-
retary Ickes last Aug. /, but was not
made public until Friday. Frederic
A. Delano. chairman Of the board, Is
m uncle Of the president.
The report envisaged Q "new world
for America through national PLAN
ming.
Charges Increased Difficulties
Reviewing the record Of the NRA,
the report found the recovery organi-
zation had brought some benefits,
but had at the same time in some
cases increased industrial difficulties.
"One Of the basic problems Of the
NRA," the report said, rs that Of
wages as factor In fair competition.
But the NFA has made little progress
50 far In settling the difficult prob
lens Of wage differentials between
industries and sections.
."As regards long-range objectives,
It Is difficult to find any semblance
Of planning in the MIRA. In fact. the
NsA has set up new difficulties in
the path Of industrial planning. TO
begin with, the process Of code max
ing for tho purpose Of recovery was
50 directed o to impede rather than
advance the reconstruction Of indus
try.
The codes were set up hastily on
the assumption that q bad code was
better than none at oil"
The emergency agricultural recov-
cry program has been seriously af.
fected by the drouth of 1884" the re-
port said "that has been brought home
to Us q the extreme danger Of basing
. program on curtailment Of output.
People Shert q Food
'The line between plenty and scar
city Is too thin, and In any case In re-
gard to most agricultural products
the American people still are below IN
adequate diet level.
Little confederation Is given to the
questions Of the best forms Of farm
ownerslaip. Of the relations Of differ
ent groups in agriculture, such - ten
ants, laborers. small owners, and cor
porate bodies, and TO the effects Of
social institutions on agriculture plan
ming.
Neither Is the department giving
full recognition to the question
whether it Is economical to put men
back on the land on small holdings
in order to give them subsistence en-
ployment, and whether . decent
standard Of living can be achieved on
such . basis, or whether subsistence
farms are going to become the dump
ing ground Of the economic westeage
pf the country.
About Ill. little II any thought Is
given to the agricultural worker"
The iva power program was de-
scribed . . demonstration Of econ
ony and social service" which may
"foreshadoW . broad change from
private to public operation Of utili-
ties"
Postponement Of all new reclama-
ton projects pending further develop
ment Of plan for withdrawing sub
marginal lands from cultivation WAS
advocated.