Evening star., 1934-01-19
RETAIL BUSINESS
IN CAPITAL GAINS
7PCT. UNDER CODES
87I2 Pct. of Firms Quizzed
Report Increases Since
N. R. A.
PAY CUT CRITICIZED
AS TRADE HANDICAP
Call for Frank Views on Effect of
Blue Eagle Brings Praise and
Unfavorable Comment.

Eighty-seven and one-half per cent
of the retail business establishments of
Washington have reported an increase
in the volume of business since the in
ception of the N. r. A.
Seventy-five per cent had an in
crease ranging from to 20 per cent in
December as compared with December,
1882.
Ten per cent had December increases,
but less than per cent.
Fifteen per cent had decreases in
business in December of from 2 to 19
per cent.
AS result, the volume of the entire
retail business in Washington is esti-
mated at per cent more in volume for
December OF 1893 than for the same
month the previous year.
The figures were made public today
by Maj. Raymond J. Walter, director of
information and compliance for the
N. r. A. in the District of Columbia.
The statistics were tabulated as the
result Of a QUESTIONABLE sent to 100
representative retail establishments that
were asked to discuss frankly the effects
OF N. R. A. on their business.
Pay Cut Criticized.
AS whole, Washington men claim
benefits from the codes. although many
of them pointed out that the National
Capital, not being an industrial city,
has not reaped the harvest many cities
should expect. There was also wide
criticism of the Government pay cut
as a factor in keeping the gains at a
minimum. Many business men at
tributed to the pay cut their failure to
| show a more favorable report.
| The survey is the second completed
! by Mai. Walter, the first being con-
fined to unemployment. That tabula-
ton showed that 10000 unemployed
| have been returned to work since the
| Presidents unemployment agreement
was promulgated. the first step taken
under the Blue Eagle program. This.
! of course, does not include the 10000
employed on c. w. A. projects.
In his QUESTIONABLE, Maj. Walter in
vited criticism of the N. r. A. as it af-
fected the several classes of retail bust
ness. The bulk of these replies were
favorable, although in a few cases
benefits were disclaimed although in
juries to business we're not charged.
Maj. Walters figures show that the
increases claimed in December by the
sample firms queried ranged from $50
to S52.500, but no figures in dollars
were given for losses Percentages.
however, were submitted and as result
Maj. Walter figures the average gain
for the entire Washington trade area
was approximately Z per cent.
Typical Replies.
Included in the unfavorable comment
on N. r. A. here were the following
answers which virtually summarized all
such replies:
Has not materially affected my
business
1T is all right for industrial centers
but bad for Washington unless Gov
ernment salaries are increased"
Hard for the smaller retail mer-
chant"
On the other side, however. were III.
following commendatory answers:
I'VE have shown net profit since
the inception of NJ r. A. and losses
for the seven months prior to its in
ception."
IN. R. A. has served to increase
business
We believe it has far-reaching pos-
sibilitieS. affords greater spending
power, and is of material benefit to
/ our business
DO not think our increase in over
head Justifies our increase in busi-
ness"
There also were a number of sug
gestions that N. r. A. be continued as
a permanent part of the Government
and even those who criticized pro-
fessed a more hopeful outlook for fu-
| ture business.