Evening star., 1934-03-25
Code Authorities
Council Is Likely
BY HARDEN CoLFAX.

The creation of q council Of code
authorities in the N. r. A. at an
early date Is regarded both in Gov
errment circles and among private
business men as marking the begin
ming of the final stage of the reor-
eanization Of the National Recovery
Administration. 1t Is freely admitted
that some reorganization is inevitable
II this agency is to obtain the best
results In its campaign to bring about
self-zovernment in American business.
During It's experience meeting In
Washington. the N. r. A. was the
object Of much criticism, and many
suggestions as TO It's activities were
offered. Much of the criticism was
admitted to be due, in the f1nal
analysis. to the state of Social and
economic mind" which has made the
N. r. A. necessary. The American
business man has so long been ac-
customed to rugged individualism"
that he finds it hard to submit to any
kind OF Government regulation In the
conduct Of his business.
Most of the discussion and criti-
ckm centered around the points
brought out by Gen. johnson himself
in his admonitions to the business
world-more help. shorter hours OF
Ia Dor and penalties to be enforced
against noncompliance and unfair
trade practices.
The code administration was criti-
cized and the N. r. A. itself admitted
that the violation Of codes has long
been one Of its worrisome problems.
Therefore. it has been found neces-
sary to organize code authorities more
thoroughly, and this seems likely to
be the direction In which the reor-
sanitation Of the N. r. A. will 60
forward. A National Council of Code
Authorities to bring about general
compliance. or enforcement, Is now
seen to be the need Of the hour.
In many cases, owing to the rush
OF code-making. codes were drawn
up by o minority Of the number OF
enterprises in certain industries. In
these cases the enterprises agreeing
to q code frequently could not de
liver" the rest of their industry.
Moreover, in some industries as much
as 10 per cent of the business and
invested capital has been found to be
under control of q comparatively
small percentage Of the total number
of units coming under code. This
has resulted in these industries
weighing down" the rest of the
group.
Within the N. r. A. itself there
is q feeling that. even If there be
no national organization of code
authorities. there must be a code
authority division in the Washington
organization. There is already q
trade association" division. one
search and planning" Why not one
concerned with code authorities9"
For the assistance Of code authori-
ties and code sponsors, the idea Is
gaining adherents that, in addition to
there should be q formal certificate
which might be called the Charter
Of industrial self-government," de-
livered, under impressive public cere-
monies, to industries which meet the
requirements Of the N. I. r. A.
It is significant to note the ex-
tent to which q number of the more
important industries now under the
codes have brought with them all
their units and workers. Up to March
10, 339 codes had been approved. The
great majority Of these concerned
small industries. About 90 per cent
of N. r. AS objective OF approx
mately $4,000, 900 workers under codes
has now been reached. OF the first
800 codes approved more than 125 in
dustries employed fewer than 5000
wage earners each in 1929. The 70
smallest codes had only $1,000 en-
ployes In 1929, while N. r. AS Eve
largest codes employed more than
5000, 900.
(cepyriEht. 1s3z1