Evening star., 1934-07-24
MIRA. COUNSEL HIT
At GRE|F HEARING
Federal Judge al Baltimore
Charges "Pettyfogglng"
and Evasion.
~ .hs lssotisasd Pr.ss.

~ tbs 1ssetiatsd Press.
BALTIMORE, July 74.--Federal
Judge william C. Coleman yesterday
charged attorneys representing the
Government In the National Recovery
Administrator injunction proceedings
with evasion and "pettyfogging.
His statement was made after o
hearing on the temporary injunction
granted last week to L. oreif a. Bro,
clothing manufacturer, prohibiting
prosecution OF the firm for alleged
n r.. A. violations and preventing
withdrawal OF the firms Blue Eagle.
The national recovery act he de-
srribed as "vagle--much too vague,
apparently. to accomplish efficient
operation.
Injunction Continued.
After ordering the injunction con-
tinued until September. Judge Cole
man said:
Il cannot refrain from making the
statement that the court is certainly
not impressed with the attitude OF the
Government In a matter OF as great
importance as this
The court has before 1t what
might be called a suffeit Of counsel
representing various branches and
agencies of the Government. 1t would
seem TO the court that the Govern
ment and It's representatives would
welcome some opportunity TO have
tested their authority under this act.
The Government authorities Will not
get from the court any encouragement
in the sort OF tactics which have been
prevalent here today.
We have here a vivid example OF
q complainant who in good faith has
been unable to learn how or where
70 proceed. He made repeated efforts
to learn from the authorities the
method OF procedure he should follow
and could not / am satisfied that
these efforts were made in good faith
and that the complainant has the
right 10 resort TO this court at this
time. .
"Cioud Of Pettyfogging."
"The court cannot refrain from dep
,recating the attitude which has been
shown here today on the part OF the
various representatives Of the Gov
ernment. Instead OF an attitude Of
willingness to meet these issues which
are new--and We are now blazing q
trail--there has been cloud of petty
Jogging on the part Of various rep
resentatives OF the Government where
there ought to have been a willing
ness TO meet business men fairly and
squarely on these vital issues and
thrash them out In court Of compe-
tent jurisdiction" .
Judge Coleman first made the ac-
cusstion of evasion when Curley c.
Hoffpauir, an attorney testifying as
an expert on the N. r.. A., said that
no one except the President or the
National Recovery Administration has
the power to revoke q firms Blue
Eagle. A few minutes later 1t was
brought out that the labels TO be
attached under the N. r. A. may be
withheld as well by the National Ad-
visory Board as by the code author
ity.
Si00, ,000 Refund Ordered.
The Greif Co, second largest man
ufacturers of mems clothing in the
country, has been charged with fall
ure TO pay wages in excess OF the
minimum wage as ordered by the code
authority and was ordered TO refund
more than 100000 to employees or
lose its Blue Eagle and face prose-
cution.
In postponing the injunction hear
ing until September today. Judge Cole
man reduced the number of officials
the injunction restrained from 20 to
3. The three were all from Maryland,
the Judge holding that out-of-State
defendants, including Gen. Hugh s.
johnson, could not be bound,