Evening star., 1934-04-18
NEWSPAPER CODE
DECISION TO WAIT
Indications Are Buckley Will
Not Seek Hour, Wage
Provisions.

In spite of the executive order OF
President Roosevelt that "determi-
nation Of hours and wages for news
department workers shall be made in
not less than so days" from February
II, which expires today, indications
are that no effort will be made by
George Buckley, division admins
traitor in charge of the newspaper
code, to have any such provision
written into that code.
Buckley explained yesterday that
data collected from publishers cover
ing wages and hours of news depart
ment workers are still In the hands of
the division Of research and plan
ming of the N. r. A. and as soon as
q digest of the figures is completed
the entire matter will be placed be-
fore President Roosevelt without any
recommendation as to code provi-
sions.
Buckley also explained that because
the effective date of the newspaper
code was postponed after the Presi-
dents order was issued, he interpreted
OF the orders provisions as we'll. He
added, however. that he has since been
informed that the order is in effect
without any change as to dates or
other provisions, but that he learned
of the correct status too late to alter
the course he is at present pursuing.
Seek Representation.
Instead of writing wage and hour
provisions in the code, it Is Buckley's
intentions to set up newspaper in
dustrial bard as court Of appeals
from all local wage and hour disputes
involving news writer's. Already such
a board has been organized to take
care Of the mechanical employees of
newspapers, but without reporter rep
resentation.
The American Newspaper Guild. rep
resenting news writers. has asked that
at least one newspaper reporter be
named to the industrial board. Buckley
plans instead to appoint news writer's
as alternates to the four present men,
bers and to require that the alternates
sit in all cases growing out of dis
puteS involving hours and wages of
writer's or editorial employees They
will not, however, have any voice in
matters growing out of printers, press
mems or stereotypers' difficulties.
Buckley Is waiting until May IL to
make his report of the findings of the
division Of research and planning on
wages and hours. He said he could
not explain how that date was fixed,
In view Of the 60-day order of the
President, except that when publishers
asked for postponement Of the effec-
tive date of the code. all other provi-
sions were likewise put off.
Error Corrected Too Late.
That does not mean, he says, that a
clause covering minimum wages and
maximum hours will be ready then.
He also said he had learned that Gen.
Hugh S. johnson, administrator, has
supported the contention of the guild
that the provisions should have been
made by today. But his error Of inter-
probation, he said. was corrected too
late to accomplish any such under
taking.
Il don't know yet," he said, "just
what the news writers want. They
don't seem to agree among themselves
what they want. Furthermore, the
code is publishers code, drawn for
them, and not a reporters code.
1T Is my suggestion to the News
paper Guild to draw up their own con-
tracts in each city where they are or
ganized and submit them to the pub
fishers. Then, if no agreement can be
reached locally, the news writer's may
appeal to the Newspaper Industrial
Board.
Il don't know that they want the
board as it is at present constructed,
but 1t Is at least a starting point.
They can knock it down and submit
JUS what they want in its place"
Code Provision.
The Presidents executive order ap-
proving the newspaper code was dated
February II and carried the provision
that the determination of hours and
wages for news department workers
shall be made not later than so days
hence"
The code itself makes the following
provision:
The code authority is authorized to
secure the necessary data and to de-
ternline the maximum hours and min
1mum wages for news department
workers and. subject to the approval
of the administrator, to incorporate its
findings In the provisions of this code.
Until such time as its findings are
made part Of this code, present con-
ditions shall be maintained"