Evening star., 1934-03-06
House Group Action Comes
After Goal for 100000
More Jobs Is Set.
SURVEY SHOWS ABILITY
TO CUT TIME FURTHER
Administrator Tentatively Pro-
roses 10 Per Cent Blanket Slash
Balanced by Pay Raise.
By the Associated Press.


In line with the administration goal
for employment of at least 100000
more men in private industry. the
House Labor Committee today vo1ed
unanimously for a fiat 3O-hour week
for N. R. A. industries subject to
modification by a governmental board
in case of labor shortage or "other
emergencies.
This was done while criticism-and
some praise-of N r. A. was being re-
ceived at five separate meetings of
code authorities brought here in an
effort to improve the Recovery Admin
istration.
Follows Roosevelt Call.
Before one of the meetings letters
written by Representative Fulmer.
Democrat. of South Carolina, we're
read, advising South Carolina saw
mill operators to work on common
sense basis" regardless Of their N. R.
A. code. Fulmer told reporters he
stood by the letters.
The House committee acted after
President Roosevelt in opening the
N. R. A. meeting yesterday had called
for shorter hours and higher pay In
his plan to restore prosperity.
Although Secretary Perkins, Recov-
cry Administrator Hugh johnson and
Civil Works Administrator Harry L..
Hopkins opposed an arbitrary 30-hour
week in industry, the committee was
hopeful the legislation as drafted was
sufficiently broad to meet their OBJ
jections.
Chairman Connery said he would
seek immediate House consideration.
Gen. johnson seeks the immediate
Unemployment of at least million
more men in private industry. This
is his minimum and immediate goal
for the overhauling of N. r. A.. which
is now in progress 1t was learned
on high authority that this objective
was based on a survey just completed
by Johnson's economic staff.
The survey was reported to show
to the N. r. A. chiefs satisfaction
that fully 80 per cent OF the more
than 600 code industries now are able.
and probably willing. to make
further cut in working hours without
reducing the amounts in pay en-
velopes.
Such a work-week reduction was
figured wide enough to absorb ap-
proximately million men.
Counts on Job Gain.
johnson hopes to get even more
code groups to go along. He has
tentatively proposed a 10 per cent
blanket hour reduction, balanced by
a 10 per cent increase of wage rates,
with provision for immediate exemp-
ton for all industries unable to stand
the gaff
johnson also was said by his aides
to be counting, as a result of yester-
days Federal Reserve governors ap-
proval for capital credit expansion
plan, on a steady employment gain in
the heavy industries as soon as the
money gets out.
N. R. A. and its critics both agree
that revival in machinery, equipment
and construction lines is the biggest
recovery need at the moment.
The several thousand business men
In the code sessions carried on their
discussions today. Yesterday they
launched a barrage of arguments
against general hour shortening al
most Immediately after President
Roosevelt declared for shorter hours.
In some spots the business men
critics we're aided by men within the
N. r. A. organization.
Quizzes Hettinger.
johnson pitched into the argument
last night at the session on labor
questions after finding one Of his own
economists, A. j. Hettinger of Detroit,
in the midst of a speech expressing
doubts of the economic feasibility of
blanket hour shortening.
The administrator at once started
give-and-take cross-examination.
Hettinger held to his stand as John
son suggested fiat cut with exemp-
tions for industries unable to make
the grade.
Then William Green. president of
the American Federation of Labor.
reasserted his belief in shorter hours,
saying:
Il challenge the leaders of indus
try to find better way to put people
back to work.
The long-term credit plan of the
Federal Reserve will not actually get
moving until after national survey
CONTINUED on Page 4, Column s.