Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-06-12

freight prepayment on small ship
ments and by seemingly unfair as
sessments for code administration.
That the bedding code forbids man
ufacture of secondhand bedding and
deprives of business some so bedding
restorers whose market Is among the
poor of New York City.
That the brake Lining division of
the asbestos code is not being en-
forced and therefore rather worse
than farcical and not worth sustain
ing"
Criticism of the shoe code turned
largely on N. r. AS amendment of q
fiat 30-day credit limit to allow pay
ment 80 days after delivery date speci-
fed in order or date of shipment"
The boards contention was that
small manufacturers, forced to pay
promptly for their materials, could not
compete II discounts were to be al
lowed so long after the order was re-
ceived. This was pronounced an "in-
tolerable injustice"
Official Complimented.
The cement code was scored for
provisions which the board held aided
the dominant units to perpetuate mo-
nopolistic control Of the industry. The
report on this code, however, compn-
mented for the first time an N. r. A.
official, Barton w. Murray, deputy ad-
ministrator, for explaining what had
gone on under the code and moves
taken by N. r. A. to prevent possible
acts of oppression.
But it turned right around and
recommended removal from his pres
ent duties of an unnamed assistant
deputy administrator on the code who
had advised lumberman not to cut
prices on old stocks because 1t might
bring later retaliation from manufac-
turers.
1t also urged removal of an I'M
named executive secretary of the lum-
Der code authority for what it called
failing to take care of a situation de-
veloped at Darrow board hearing
and removal from Office of the West
ern Pine Association, agency Of the
code authority, on the ground it had
established discrimination against
certain types Of lumber.
Reforestation Levy Hit.
Unlike the recommendation for
more stringent control of oil produc-
ton and proper conservation meas
ures, it criticized the lumber code for
denying to the producer ''the right
to decide how much he will produce,
what price he will ask, or what per-
sons he will regard as a wholesaler or
a retailer"
1t took special exception against
allowance in prices Of an item for
reforestation, product Of the admin
istration's insistence that the code be
used to prevent the rapid destruction
of American timber resources.
ITO charge present consumers Of
lumber prices that include the fair
current value of the timber from
which the lumber is produced and
also include the cost Of growing
future supply of timber is to pile
monopoly upon monopoly's head"
It objected also to insertion in
prices of an allowance for deteriora-
Oh Hill C4ulP1tlC4Ab 6AA0 4A4VCoSAAA~AAt
in plant facilities.
Both lumber and cement codes
brought on a fresh attack on the
"bssing point system of pricing, sub
ject of much turmoil earlier over
the steel code. In lumber, the board
found particularly that freight for
long distances not actually traversed
by the shipments were frequently re-
quired, equalizing prices Of COMPETE
tive producers at the expense OF the
customer.
In cement it found the practice
led to collusive or at least identical
bids filed by all competing firms.
Halls New Policy.
The board, in a brief general COM
ment to the President, recited that
it had held hearings on another dozen
codes not yet reported on and that
it heartily congratulated" N. r. A.
for its recently adopted anti-price f1x-
ing policy but:
I'VE cannot refrain from remarking
that If the willingness to apply rem
edies to fragrant abuses now manifest
ed so succinctly had been shown when
the first report of the board appeared.
much time would have been saved In
the curing of these evils and the pub
lie would have been spared needless
agitation.
. I'VE are sure that, although the
spirit of cooperation has come late,
it will be welcomed by the country as
an indication that harmony and q
common purpose to serve the interests
of the Nation animate all branches
of tia Gounn.r,,onanf xnur anlirfed for