Milford chronicle., 1934-09-21
F. E. r. A. Launches Vast
Manufacturing Program

The Federal Emergency Relic
Administration is preparing Il
build or lease manufacturing plants
throughout the country for employ
ment of hundreds of thousands, and
probably millions. of persons now
on direct relief rolls, and will pro-
duce bedding and clothing of all
varieties. and foods that are canned
or processed, for distribution to 49,
100000 persons now on relief.
In setting up and operating this
vast network of manufacturing
plants. which will place the Amer
ican government in business deeper
than any except the Soviet, the
FERA will order that all working
conditions conform to NRA, but will
ignore such state laws as those
governing Workmen's COmpensa-
tiOn.
Industrial News Service is the
first press organization in Wash
ington to obtain detailed informa-
tion on the extent to which FERA
is planning to set up competition
with private industry.
The manufacture of 100000 mat
tresses and an equal number of
comfoTters heads the list of opera
tions to be launched Immediately
by F'ERA, working through the var
ious state organizations, but the
program calls for production of all
kinds of clothing and shoes. for ex-
pansion of food canning and pro-
cessing activities, and for engaging
in practically every line of industry
required to supply the necessities
of life-food, clothes, and shelter.
The official source said the mat
tresses manufacturing phase of the
program will give employment to
10000 women now on direct relief.
that it will reduce the cotton sur
plus by 250,000 bales, and provide
approximately 100000 mattresses
for needy families. Manufacturing
units will be set up in each state.
Mattress factories will be leased in
some instances. The official report
said, workers in mattress work
shops are paid the prevailing rate
of wages for similar work in the
locality where the shop is located,
but in no instance can the wage be
less than 80 cents an hour"
Goods manufactured under FERA
will bear a stamp prohibiting resale.
Persons employed in the Govern
ment factories will be paid straight
wages. Those receiving the manu-
factured goods will receive them
free. but with approval of ease
workers of the social service divis-
ion of State Relief administrations. >"
1t was disclosed to Industrial
News Service that FERA expects to
provide work for approximately g.
O0O, 900 persons out of the 100000
families on relief, and that it is
hoped by these officials that at leest
half of these 100000 Government
paid workers will be engaged in the
same kind of work to which they
were accustomed before the depres-
sion. Asked the direct question of
whether mattress workers would be
shifted to dresses and other lines of
clothing later, one high official Of
FERA said:
Certainly. There is no reason
why they should not make dresses.
and some already are making dres-
ses. We expect to manufacture eV-
erything we can for distribution to
families on relief"
The Governments cattle buying
and slaughtering program threw
millions of hides on the market,
wrecking the leather industry. An
effort was made to have the RFC
lend money to buy the surplus hides
and hold them until prices improv-
ed. but this failed to clear legal
hurdles, and it was decided to let
the Federal Surplus Relief Admin
istrator buy the hides. which ii is
doing. FERA officials said these
hides must be used, and that the
factory program in
cludes plans for making shoes and
other leather goods-all for those
on relief.
Union labor organizers are eag-
erly awaiting the operation of the
new Government factories, and IL is |
certain that an immediate effort will |
be made to uniOnize the workers. |
When asked what the labor policy
Of these factories will be. that Is,
trade unions will be allow
ID to organize the workers and col
ect union dues, FERA officials at
irst ignored the question. then dis
missed it with the assertion that:
I'VE expect to observe all NRA
The practical effect of the factory
perating policy of FERA will be:
Persons on relief rolls will be paid
IRA wages for producing millions
{ dollars worth Of manufactured
oods. These same persons will re-
Give the manufactured goods free. Il