The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1934-05-24
National Topics Interpreted

President Roosevelt, in which 1T was
outspoken in its criticism of many
MIRA principles, has created more of a
furore in Washington than anything
since the administration Cancelled the
airmail contracts, without granting
the contractors hearing. In fact, |
gather from all indications that the
boards attacks were directly respons-
ible for General Johnson's action in
releasing small businesses of certain
kinds from responsibility under the
codes. The far-reaching consequences
of the boards criticism at this time,
but the celebrity of the johnson ac-
ton in meeting some of the charges by
the board has led to more than
sprinkling of suggestion that it may
be the beginning of the end for NRA.
General johnson explained, in re-
leasing the minor industries from the
codes, that they constituted too small
part of the recovery program to
warrant the expense and time involved
in administering those codes. OF
course, he could not very well admit
that MIRA was failure insofar as
the tslittle fellows" are concerned, but
nevertheless there are plenty Of OBJ
servers in Washington who so con-
strued his statement. The interesting
thing about it was that his announce
ment was made public after the re-
view boards report had been sent to
President Roosevelt and after the
President had submitted the docu-
ment to NRA for an analysis of the
criticisms.
The board was convinced after hear
ing appeals for relief by compar-
atively small number of individual
businesses that some Of the codes were
having the opposite effect intended.
Evidence which is gathered seemed to
show that the "little fellows" in the
business world were being stifled by
the larger units, and that was the very
thing which President Roosevelt had
hoped MIRA would prevent.
1t is to be remembered that the
review board never was wanted by
General johnson and the MIRA sup
2porters. The board was the brainchild
.of several senator's and representa-
etives who had received so many COM
plants from the "little fellows" that
they felt the urge to demand some
lmeans of review of MIRA policies and
codes. It's origin might be assumed to
have caused the board headed by Clar-
ence barrow of Chicago, to feel it's
mission was one Of protection for the
little fellow. Having watched it OPP
eerate as hearing body, / think / can
say it's members tried to maintain an
> open mind. On one occasion, recall,
the board did not mince words in tell
ing the representative of small bus
mess that he could expect no help
from it until his own linen had been
washed of chiseling and sharp prac-
tice.
Thus the board catapulted hand
full of red hot Goals into the political
arena. Mr.. Roosevelt lodged the first
bombshell by sending the report to
Attorney General Cummings, to the
Federal Trades commission and to
General johnson for what he called
~an analysis" Newspaper correspond
ents thought they could analyze the
thing, but they did not get the oppor-
tunity. Their discussion these days
gives rise to the thought that they will
sit around awaiting the chance to
"analyze" it to the full extent of their
powers when they do get hold of it.
Business Confused
As a result of the fresh outburst
of trouble for NRA, / made number
of inquiries around MIRA headquart-
ers which are continuously crowded
with representatives of businesses
who are seeking to find out what to
do. These individuals, to man, were
thoroughly COMPOUNDED and confused.
They were, in many instances, un-
able to determine what to do as to
many business practices; they could
not get complete instructions or inter-
pretations, nor were they able to
learn the NRA attitude in an advisory
way on propositions on which they
desired rulings. Having observed the
job that General johnson and his NRA
staff is trying to do, can understand
why these various questions can not
be answered. They simply have so
much work to do that it is almost a
physical impossiblity to get it done.
But to me, that fact tells the story
of the weakness inherent in any at
tempt to codify practices of businesses
national in scope-from a Washing
ton bureau.
As an exposition of the problem in
another way, learned that one great
corporation is operating under 81
codes. There is one department store
here In the City of Washington that
is operating under and responsible to
IL code authorities. One corporation
relatively small in size and doing a