Evening star., 1934-09-29
President Seen Reassuring
Business New N. R. A.
Will Be Cautious.
FULL DEBATE ON ALL
CHANGES is PROMISED
Richberg Says No Upheavals
Need Be Expected-Roose-
welt Final Authority.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The question of shorter work
week-one of the most controversial
Of all recovery ssues-popped into
the new N. r. A. picture today.
President Roosevelt acted to OBJ
tain further light on the problem.
In calling for hearing on an orGer
cutting hours in the cotton garment
industry without reducing wages, he
was believed to be seeking to reas-
sure industry that changes in the
recovery program would be made only
after deliberation.
His action followed q statement by
Donald r. Richberg, director Of his
Policy-making Committee, that there
will be full discussion" Of any i'm
portant changes.
Last month the President issued
an order cutting the hours of cotton
garment workers from 40 to 36 with
out loss of pay Amendments TO the
code, putting the changes into effect,
were due to take effect Monday.
Strike Threatened.
Manufacturers revolted some threat
ening to appeal to the courts. Two
powerful unions - the Amalganated
Clothing Workers and the United
Ladies' Garment Workers-agreed to
call strikes at any plants that failed
to observe the order.
Last night the President, pointing
out that N. r. A. was being reorgan-
lied, postponed the date of the change
to October Is. The new National In
dustrial Recovery Board, which is
taking over Hugh S. Johnson's job,
was directed to appoint three impartial
persons to hear protests, investigate
the facts and report to the President
by October 10.
The shorter work week as q road
to more jobs and recovery has been
advocated by high labor leaders and
attacked by many industrialists.
Sidney Hillman, president Of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers and
member of the National Industrial
Recovery Board of five men that will
administer N. r. A., led the fight for
the shorter week in the garment in
dustry.
Richberg's Assurance.
Richberg's assurance to industry
that no sudden upheavals need be ex-
pected was given at crowded press
conference called, he said, to avoid
misunderstanding and misinterpreta-
ton" of the relationships between his
Emergency Industrial Committee and
the Recovery Board. headed by Clay
Williams of North Carolina.
The most important service at the
present time in N. r. A." he said.
"is to provide continuing assurance
against sudden or sweeping changes
of policy, assurance of deliberative
action and full discussion and an op-
portunity for those involved to be
heard. The absence of sweeping
changes applies to personnel as well
as anything else"
Then Richberg. speaking emphatic
ally as the reporters pressed close to
his desk. added:
THE President will decide the poll
cies. Our committee couldn't veto
decision by the Industrial Recovery
Board. but I would say the President,
through our committee. could"
President to Hear Plans.
With a smile, Richberg said his
committee will make the recommen-
cations as to the course of N. r. A.
directly to the President, but will
intrude very little advice to the new
board itself"
The suddenness of the creation Of
the new N. r. A. Administrative
Board evidenced Mr.. Roosevelt's de-
sire for pressing his reorganization
plans. Hillman and Leon Marshall,
the two labor members, were the only
ones in the city except for the ex-
oficio pair-Blackwell Smith, N. r.
A. legal adviser, and Leon Henderson,
economic advisor.
Williams selection as chairman,
after being the No. l member named
by Mr.. Roosevelt, was regarded as an
obvious presidential choice. In some
quarters, it was considered significant
that with two labor men, two in
dustrialists and a disinterested NTH
member 1t was business man VINO
received the top post.
The new board is expected to hold
its first formal meeting Tuesday.