Evening star., 1934-03-07
Mr.. A. To ASK 1O%
CUT IN CODE HOURS
Johnson Reveals Plan in
Talk to ParIey on Labor
Problems.
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voiced by J. M. Wells. a representative
Of the chinaware industry.
Wells, while opposing fiat reduction.
said much could be accomplished by
shortening hours in some industries,
and especially in some departments OF
industries. He said the idea put for
ward Yesterday by Deputy Admins
traitor George S. Brady that the hours
of unskilled workers be further
shortened while those OF the highly
skilled specialists remain unchanged
had much to recommend 1t. He dis
approved, however, of Brady's idea
that the skilled workers should be
paid time and a half for hours above
the code minimum.
Not only industrialists, but labor
and Congress leaders watched for
Johnsons speech tonight. He has
three-folk task:
To secure maximum unemployment
and protection for public, labor and
minority interests.
To head off possible congressional
tinkering with the industrial law at
this session.
To make both industry and labor
as happy as possible in situation
which, it is said, permits neither to
have its full desires.
Meanwhile. the assembled indus
trialists hurried on today to COM
plete their discussion through morn
ing and afternoon sessions.
hour Shnrt -
ening they did not generally expect
the plan bespoken by President Roose-
welt to be abandoned. N. R. A. men
regarded as significant the fact that
so far the most vociferous opposition
has come from the capital goods IN
dustries. Many felt that this class
is virtually sure to be left out OF the
new unemployment drive for the
present.
Leaders Criticized.
An exhortation to industry mot TO
resist the administrations hour
shortening plans too much was
made by John R. Mckinley, Pennsyl-
yania member of the silk textile in
dustry. He said that while the 80
NOIh NtGh Nuo ~ ~ tSNoNAN' -
was possible for many industries TO
stand an additional reduction OF OF
hours a week.
He then launched into a detailed
criticism of the way many cooes are
administered by their authorltles, III
the midst of which Johnson walked In.
Mckinley urged that the authorities
act on their own initiative to work out
the problems of fair competition con-
fronting them, especially LABOR phaSeS'
and johnson said:
II think you are absolutely right.
The code authorities should take the
initiative and when they can't agree,
come to the Government. Policing OF
their industry and seif-regulatlon Is in
their hands for the first. The oppor-
tunity is theirs and the outcome OF
the whole program is in their hands.
If they fail tn whole thing is going
to be the worst flop in the world.
johnson then said McGlnleys testl-
mony and argument was just what he
had wanted. but had not developed
earlier in these sessions.
He said he hoped that at the con-
cluSon of the authority meeting
enough ndustrialists would remain
here to sit down with him and work
out methods of dealing with all the
problems that have been raised.
The delegation that johnson wants
the code authorities to designate to
remain behind in Washington would
be asked to help draft more DELI
mite re-employment program.
johnson showed clearly that he
believed the only method for speedy
action was for President Roosevelt,
by executive order, to declare the 10
per cent reduction in work hours.
This, under his plan. would be ac-
companied by balancing 10 per cent
increase in wage rate. The admin
istrator emphasized that he cid no.
believe all industries could stand the
additional load and that he wanted
it made clear that the less favored
ones would not be expected to
carry 1t.
Labor Leaders Watch.
Labor leaders, losing their demand
for more sweeping re-employment
than is intended by Johnson, watched
warily for further handling OF the
union question.
1t was. brought to the fore sud-
denly yesterday when Compliance
Director William H. Davis told the
code men that most employe repre-
sentation plans of the steel and auto
mobile industries violate the intent
of N. R. A., and will have to be re-
modelled to remove employer influence.
In congressional circles, chief at
tention focused on measures to re-
strain monopolistic tendencies, to keep
prices under a close cheCk-reln, and
to ease up on the more hard-pressed
small businesses.
Action has been promised by john
son on every point.
The statement against steel and
automobile labor organization plans
broke Unexpectedly in the midst of
yesterdays sessions and sent ripple
of excitement through the industrial
ranks.
Davis, speaking with express au-
thority Of johnson. said the steel and
auto plans are considered to con-
tain continuing violations OF the
spirit of section ca. and continuing
interference with the rights of self
government of the employees"
He singled out commonly used
clause which prevents change in the
worker organization structure without
approval of employers. The task of
correcting this. he said, will be tackled
so0rl-DrObably within a week or