Evening star., 1934-06-13

Continued From First Page)
which the monopolistic practices We
revealed and protested are now to be
curbed and abolished
THAT this statement Of the Review
Board is merely q maneuver by which
1t hopes to re-establish itself In the
good graces Of the National Recovery
Administration Is patent from q care
full examination Of the real character
Of the announced price, fixing policy
For this policy represents nc
change In administrative procedure
that will in any way abolish the
monopolistic practices and their con-
sequences revealed in our report.
Queries Operation of Policy.
According to Gen. Johnson's state.
ent, the new policy does not affect
codes already approved Practically
all major industries are now operat-
ing under approved codes. Just
how, then, does the newly-announcet
policy eliminate monopolistic prac.
tices If 1t does not apply to ap.
proved codes?
1.-THE announcement Of q new
price e-fixing policy is merely device
to calm an aroused public realization
Of the extent Of monopolistic prac.
tices.
That it does not represent any
change, but rather the continuation
Of the old policy, is evidenced by tht
statement that the code authorities ol
approved codes will amend the price
fixing provisions. In other words, a
the supplementary report stated
'monopolistic combinations are ex.
pected to enforce against themselves
a law to prevent monopoly"
Thompson said N. r. A. codes al.
ready had resulted In marked In.
crease il prices" for the broad con.
Stunning masses Of population"
Textiles Curtailed.
"Also," he added, "as q result oi
high prices and decreased purchasing
power, the textile industry has beer
forced to resort to q IS per cent cur
tailment Of production.
In other words, the amount oi
goods that can be bought by workers
with declining real earnings hal
dropped as q result Of price advance:
created by monopolistic practices.
Monopoly, with its elimination o1
smaller, less profitable plants and
concentration In larger, more efhcient
units has been able to enforce greater
speed up and stretch out on the work
ers who are employed.
"A desire for the maximum produc'
ton during the shorter hours Of thu
codes has added to this speed-up
Although hourly rates in certain in
dustries have been raised under tn
codes, reduction in hours has mean
that weekly earnings have in M
measure kept pace with the rise IL
hourly rates. Nor have weekly earn
ings increased anywhere nearly as fas
as production and prices.
Wage Levels Cut.
'"The actual result Of the N. r. A
codes has been merely o continuation
of the stagger system, under which
more workers are attached to tn
pay roll, but all are receiving who'll!
inadequate earnings.
'"The minimum wages established
under the codes have tended to be.
come the maximum, thus draggini
down the general average Of all wages
Even these minimum wages hav,
given no relief to Negroes or ts
many other categories Of lower-paie
workers
THE N. I. r. A. clearly reflects it
class character as an attempt Of tht
capitalists to find o way out Of tn,
crisis by passing the burdens ont<
the shoulders Of the masses Of work.
ers and farmers.
"The N. r. A. reflects the inabilit!
Of so-called enlightened capitalism
to operate o planned economy Il
improve the living standards Of th'
masses. Its development day by da!
reveals more clearly a marked trent
toward fascism in the United States.
The Darrow Board in yesterday
report hkened N. r. A. methods to 9
military encampment. Gen. johnson
at once retorted that the description
was ridiculous"
The second report Of the board sait
some ''unrevesled and mysterious
agency" changed trade practice pact
somewhere between their approval b!
the trade and promuigStion by tn.
White House. The report did moi
mention johnson by name, but 1t wa
favored with military terms.