Evening star., 1934-05-04
CRITICS. BARRAGE
TROUBLES n. R. A.
Johnson to Marshal His
Sharpest Words on Eve
of DarroW Report.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
An embarrassing spot for N. r. A.
developed today with completion by
Clarence Darrow's review board of a
report on codes from the viewpoint
of small business.
The review board, after six weeks
Of listening to objections against a
score of codes. has passed Judgment
on six or eight, among them the
steel industry's. 1t is now recon-
mending series of changes to Presi-
dent Roosevelt
This criticism from inside the Gov
ernment family will come right on
top of shafts launched by a con-
servative business bloc at the con-
vention of the Chamber of Commerce
Of the United States.
just now also Hugh S. johnson,
already rebuffed in the endeavor to
effect a general quick shortening
OF work hours, is engaged in con-
troversy with some industries because
OF his declination to let them dis
tribute Blue Eagles. He has insisted
that If they want to impose assess
ments to support code authorities,
they must submit their books to
N. r. A.
johnson Blast Expected.
johnson will speak tonight in Co
1umbus, Ohio, delivering his first
major address since early March, and
those close to N. R. A. expect him
to turn loose some of his sharpest
words in support of N. R. A.
There have been forewarningS that
the Darrow report would be some
what sharp in tone. One member
John F. Sinclair of New York, to
all intents has withdrawn from the
board because Of disagreement with
Darrow's methods. The rest, picked
as representative small business men,
have stuck and signed on the dotted
line. Much of the report was writ
ten by Charles Edward Russell. 73,
journalist and writer, once vigorous
Socialist. Although not a member
of the board, he is Darrow's adviser
and friend.
Borah May Join in.
The review board itself is re-
suit of N. r. A. denunciations by
Senators Nye and Borah, Western Re-
publican independents.
Despite sharp attack by johnson,
Borah never has changed his view
point that the antitrust laws must
be left in full force. Should the
Darrow report furnish ammunition,
both Borah and Nye probably will
speak.
johnson issued a statement last
night reiterating that N. r. A. itself
would continue to distribute Blue
Eagles because unSupervised collection
of assessments by some code author
tiles had "conclusively demonstrated
that rackets were growing up He
said he issued the statement because
"a few code authorities have COM
planned"
"Would Withhold Insignia"
THE fact that each Blue Eagle
card now bears the name of the
particular trade or industry in which
the employer is primarily occupied
does not change its status in the
slightest.
Some code authorities object be-
cause distribution is by N. r. A. and
not by the code authority. In almost
all instances, this is because they want
to withhold the insignia for non-pay-
ment Of assessments.
"A few weeks experience with the
attempts of some code authorities to
collect assessments under the previ-
ously suggested plan conclusvely DEM
onstrated that rackets were growing
up, especially in local code authority
agencies. The way to prevent such
rackets is Government supervision of
the expenses of code administration
and Government regulations of Gov
ernment insignia"