Evening star., 1934-03-06
(ContinNed From First Page.)

tute, joined in, too.
And the applause from the packed
meeting rooms showed that any num-
Der Of factory owners wanted to see
their wheels turning faster and
longer.
Opposition to hours shortening had
plenty of supporters after Flanders
led the way. Robert w. Irwin, Grand
Rapids furniture manufacturer, said
he challenged the soundness of the
philosophy that reducing hours by
law was beneficial. Irwin, like others,
was hitting at the Connery 30-hour
bill.
Price Plans Complained OF.
At the session on price control, two
leading industrialists, George H. Mead,
head Of a big paper concern, and
Herman Lind of the machine tool
industry, defended open price asso-
Citations and price uniformity. Both
plans have been much complained
against. Testimony from sellers was
generally for price control, with buyers
opposed.
Flat disagreement over desirability
OF continuing code provisions for cut
ting down production developed in
another session, with James w. Dean
of the fertilizer code authority saying
ALLEGATION of available orders among
the operating mills would make busi-
ness stagnant, to the detriment OF the
efncient. Lumbermen were found to
speak both for and against production
control as written into their code.
Pleas by labor and consumer groups
for representation on code authorities
did not develop much reaction from
the business men considering that
topic.
Paul M. Gadebusch, a wholesale
trade code man. contended N. R. A.
was losing prestige because Of the red
tape code authorities involved them
selves in. delaying important interpre-
tations.
johnson, present at the session,
closed it by remarking be appreciated
the criticism, but since N. r. A. had
been born only eight months ago, he
couldn't "shrivel too much under the
accusation OF lack Of speed"
Assures n. Il. A. Critics.
President Roosevelt yesterday had
set the keystone of N. r. AS attempt
to correct its own mistakes and push
ahead, with these words:
1T Is the immediate task of in
dustry to re-employ more people at
purchasing wages and to do it now"
In his longest address since he took
Office, he also gave assurance to those
critics who have complained that
N. R. A. has fashioned wise to crush
small business with:
The essential provision of the
codes should check or reverse COM
petitive methods by which the small
business man was or Is being squeezed
out"
Another charge often made and
repeated is that the recovery unit
has failed to carry out the provisions
which gave labor the right to organize
freely. Mr.. Roosevelt made it plain
that he wanted workers to have this
privilege.
Claims Revision Essential.
If there was any doubt beforehand,
there was none after the President
spoke that the three-day meeting Of
code authorities in Washington will
consider first and foremost the ques-
ton of shortening hours and raising
wages.
AS if amplifying Mr.. Roosevelt's own
words, Senator Wagner, Democrat, Of
New York, head of the National Labor
Board, later told the gathering that cit
is essential that most code wages be
revised"
Donald Richberg, counsel for the
Recovery Administration, spoke after
Roosevelt. From 1919 to 1929, he said,
I'VE exalted the absence Of planning
and the presence Of political incom-
petence as guarantees of individual
Iiberty-the liberty of passengers in q
leaking ship manned by q drunken
crew."
Richberg said business must not be
regimented or standardized through
arbitrary uniform requirements, but
broad rules Of fair competition could
be applied.
He urged q further reduction in
hours and an increase in wages, but
said this also should not be arbitrar-
lily done. The necessity for allowing
workers to have the right to organize
was stressed by the N. r. A. counsel.
Secretary Perkins Hailed.
Wagner was introduced by johnson.
who denied all published reports of
personal friction with the New York
Senator, and said N. r. A. and the
Labor Board had harmonious aims.
Secretary Perkins. who followed
Wagner. was given q prolonged out
burst of applause by the delegates.
Her speech dealt almost entirely
with statistics. She said that by
January, 1884, the employment index
had risen to 69.3, Q gain Of 22.4 per
cent as compared with January a
year ago.
The need for stimulation Of the
durable, or heavy industries. such as
steel, was stressed by the Secretary.
Employment In these industries
will have to be increased by mil
lion and halt" she said. "or by 81
per cent If the number on the pay
rolls of the manufacturers Of durable
goods Is to return to the level Of