Evening star., 1934-02-27
criticism the breath Of its life than
any other on record.

dIly OtIlcE OH TeCOTQ.
Constant Controversy.
But. in curious inconsistency, the
structures on N. r. A. 60 on to say
that there Is constant controversy in
this organization. BY the very nature
Of the organization and method have
just described, controversy on con-
flicting views of adversary interest is
Of the very essence of N. r. A. 1t
could have been done differently with
great ease. We could have set up
here q military oligarchy. (By the
way. We have been accused of that)
Instead Of bringing in men commits
stoned to express adversary opinions
we could have fired anybody who did
so. We elected the contrary course
because N. r. A. is an economic
democracy. an arena for controversy,
a place where an earnest attempt is
made to reach realistic compromise
Of conflicting opinion for the general
good and not a place for the ex-
ploitation of academic theory at the
expense of the common welfare.
But there is sort of assault on
objected. 1t is a very different thing
from what l have described-unwar-
ranted aspersions on the good faith
of men assisting here who to my Ger
tain knowledge have come to us at
great personal sacrifice and given
their strength and ability and health
and manhood-like crusaders in a
holy cause, and to limits of devotion
the like of which I never saw even in
the war. With two exceptions, the
maximum salary here Is $4,000 and
there is hardly any one here in a
principal position who has not earned
much more than that. Some of them
can and do earn many times more in
other employment. They are here to
serve their country at crisis in
spired by just such taith as sends
soldier into the ranks in war.
I object to attempts, by furtive in
nuendo, to shake public confidence.
by outright lies or BALI baked and
ignorant assertions respecting acts
and policies-usually uttered with the
air Of some secret and special infor-
nation. There is no inside informa-
tion about N. r. A. because it does
whatever it does undei the full gaze
of whoever desires to take the trouble
to look. I do not repel these state
ments when they are true, but do
think they are vicious when (as in
go per cent Of cases. they are entirely
inaccurate and misleading.
Objects to Epithets.
I object to having my assistants
characterized by epithet without an
iota Of justification in fact. 1t tends
to make public service by competents
impossible.
I think we have right to answer
such statements to the American
people. to substitute facts for nom
sense and. where we know the cir
cumstance of such destructive and
sterile criticism, to state those cir
cumstances, especially when we know
that the motive of such sniping and
sapping is to deceive the public for
some particular purpose-polltical or
Otherwise purpose subversive OF
good. To hold differently would be
to say that there is some handicap
on a great national enterprise that
leaves 1t helpless and naked to the
assaults of its enemies. There Is no
such handicap. We shall continue in
the future as in the past to welcome
constructive criticism, to act on 1t
promptly where we can, and to an
swer and resist destructive and un-
supported attacks in every case.
The purpose Of this meeting Is to
make a roundup of every kind OF
helpful comment that has been pro-
duced as a result Of six months OF
operation under the Presidents re-
| employment agreement and the codes.
| That should be time enough to give
up some real results Of experience.
| Do not suppose that we do not have
great deal Of material wholly out
side what will be gathered here. We
receive from 1000 to 5000 letters
day. They are all digested and the
comment in them classified, not only
! for the purpose of feeling daily the
pulse OF the recovery program, but
for the identical purpose of this meet
ing-to get all critical comment
promptly and to find out where there
is an inequitable or unintended bear
ing on the codes. Also the admins
tration maintains a daily digest of
newspaper comment which covers
practically every publication. These
also are studied personally every day
by myself and my assistants.
Need for Attention.
Before we open this hearing it may
be appropriate to say what we already
know from all these sources needs
immediate attention.
Ia more uniform and equitable
rule Of national price staollization In
those cases where it is necessary to
maintain wages at a decent standard
against the certain results OF preda-
tory and cut-throat competition. and
further insurance against increase OF
price faster and further than increase
of purchasing power.
2. A more effective rule on costs for
the purposes of maintaining rules
against sales below costs of production.
3. Uniformity of wages and hourly
rates in competitive industries.
4. Uniform classification of areas
for the purpose of the .North-South
differentials.
S. Further reductions in hours per
week and further increase in hourly
wages.
Protection Against Monopoly.
6. Certainty of protection against
monopoly control and oppression OF
small enterprise, and, especially. the
inclusion in codes of adequate buying
(as well as selling) provision to guard
against oppression of small business.
Z. A much improved method for
securing prompt and effective COM
pliance.
8. A safe method of financing code
administration without racketeering
| and abuse.
g. Elimination Of inconsistent or
conflicting provisions among various
codes
10. Adequate labor and consumer
representation in an advisory capacity
on code authorities.
| IL. Uniformity of governmental
representation on code authorities.