Evening star., 1934-01-09
4OEH0UR WEEK SET
FOR AUTO INDUSTRY
Gen. Johnson Approves Mod
ification of Code to Per-
NIT Increase.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Modification of the automobile code
to permit the motor plants to work their
employees 40 hours instead of the orig
inal IS hours q week fixed by their
codes has been approved by Gen. Hugh
s. johnson.
This increase in working hours, the
first action Of its kind ever taken on an
N. r. A. code. was justified by johnson
by the statement that increased pur-
chases of cars next Spring would. at
the present 35-hour schedule, result in
bringing to Detroit and other manu-
featuring centers an excessive number
of workers who would have to be laid
of Immediately after the Spring pro-
duction rush had ended.
Johnson outlined the case in a spe-
cial report to President Roosevelt. This
paper carried reports from manufac-
turers showing that in September of
last year employment was 150,756. as
against only 73,4l1 in September of
the preceding year and 194,274 in Sep
tember. 1929
This table indicates" johnson said
that there were 77,345 more workers
employed in September of 1888 than in
September, 1882, or an increase Of ap-
proxlmately los per cent. and an in
crease of So 760 workers over the same
months in 1890. or an increase of ap-
proximately "a per cent.
While the employment level OF 1928
has not been reached it is my opinion
that satisfactory absorption of labor
should not be measured by employment
in that year as there was a substantial
percentage Of floating workers brought
to this industry from their normal pur-
suits. many. if not most Of whom. it is
my understanding. have since returned
to their former homes.
I'm addition. the decrease in produc-
ton must be considered as indicated by
the fact that the production in Septem-
ber 1929. was 257,5l7 vehicles, as COM
pared with 144367 in September OF
1888. a decrease of 43 per cent. while
employment in September of 1888 was
only % per cent below that of Septem-
Der. 1929.
THE contemplated increase in auto
mobile purchases in the Spring Of 1884
would, under the present average Of IS
hours per week, probably result in again
attracting a considerable number OF
men to Detroit and other automobile
manufacturing centers, who would be
without jobs after the Spring period OF
large production had past"
In Line With Reservation.
johnson also pointed out that the
modification. requested by the industry
was in accord with reservation in
cluded in the original code. which pre-
scribed that If the code were extended
beyond December 81 as it was. the in
dustry should be entitled to, reconsid-
Grafton Of the maximum hours pro-
vision.
Johnson's action in modifying the
code was final and needs no eonfirma-
ton by the President. 1t was taken
under an executive order issued some
time ago which gave the administrator
authority to make notifications when
necessary.
At the same time, an attempt to ra-
tionalize competition between the many
industries supplying the country with
fuel and energy was undertaken by
N. r. A.
william H Davis, deputy administra-
tor in charge of coal and related codes,
disclosed yesterday that he had set up
an informal committee of Government
specialists which is to make a survey
OF fuel and power resources and rec
commended methods. through codes
LEGISLATION or otherwise. for controlling
wasteful and destructive competition
and saving such industries as anthra-
cite, which Is being steadily driven
down by cheaper fuels.
Public Works Administration money
may be sought to carry out the project
Davis indicated
This new planning development
headlined a day in which BARRIERS OF
the country demanded N. r. A. approx
al for fiat price fixing on shaves and
haircuts: Gen. Johnson completed hall
a dozen code authorities for minor in
dustries by naming Government men,
bers, and Federation Of Labor spokes-
man issued q brief denouncing COM
pany unions as a menace to success OF
the industrial control program.
Warning that the attempt to nix bar
ber shop prices would only involve the
industry in difficulties was sounded by
Division Administrator Arthur D. White
side. who pointed out how the dry
cleaning trade had run head-on into
trouble at the outset Of its price fixing
experiment.
The attack on company unions was
delivered by John p. Frey, executive
of the labor federation's metal trades
department, and followed close upon q
strong defense of well run company
unions by Walter C. Teagle, president
of Standard Oil of New Jersey.
Frey said the company unions nave
grown in defiance of the spirit and let
ter of N. !. r. A"
Farm Codes 10 Be Shifted.
Codes of fair competition formerly
handled by the Farm Administration
will be officially transferred to the N
r. A. within a short time.
An agreement has been reached re-
tanning about IS codes under the Farm
Administration supervision and send
ing about 200 to the N. r. A.
The executive order of transfer viii
be offered for President Roosevelt's sig.
nature possibly today.
Among the codes to be retained !.
that covering grain exchanges. Tht
packers agreement Is being revised
Secretary Wallace said yesterday. anc
will contain a provision allowing in
spection Of packing companies book!
by the administration.
Mrs. Frank W. Ballou, wife of the su.
perintendent of schools; Mrs Doyle
Miss BERTHE Bachrls, principal of the
Alice Teal Junior Tyiph School uhicf