The Washington times., 1934-09-11

R|CHBERG GIVEN
POLICY FIXING
. ASSIGNMENT
Judicial Branch to Handle
All Labor Controversies;
Dead Wood Cut
By EDWARD B. LOCKETT

HYDE PARK, N. Y, Sept. IL
0N.SO An MIRA divided clearly
and sharply into three divisions
legislative, judicial and admins
trative-With Gen. Hugh S. John
son retaining the title of admin
istrator and heading the admins
trative division, emerged today as
the form of temporary reorganiZa
ton to be effected by President
Roosevelt.
The President and General John
son. comforting here in the EXecu-
tive's home on the Hudson River
have reached the stage of putting
the new set-up on paper. General
johnson arrived here late yester.
day and last night he and the
President worked until past mid
night at their task. Early this
morning they were hard at work
again.
Progress Reported
General johnson carefully
avoided reporters, but direct
from the President through his
secretary. Stephen T. Early came
word that definite progress was
being made.
Mr.. Roosevelt did not specific
ally define General Johnson's
duties under the new Set-up, but
it was reiterated that he would
continue in his technical post OF
administrator. Some time ago
General johnson made it plain
he did not longer wish to be
associated with the policy form
ing branch of NRA work.
General Johnson will leave here
after today's meeting and return
to his Bethany Beach DelD cot
tage within the next few days
to whip into final shape the re-
organization plan for submission
to the President.
Under the new Set-up. the NRA
legislative division will fix the big
recovery machine policy.
The judicial division will handle
all labor disputes and the work
being done by the various code
authorities.
The administrative branch will
be the executive body of the new
set-up. It's duties will embrace the
executive work, apparently includ-
ing the compliance enforcement
job, up to the point Of any dis
putes, when it is understood, this
work would be transferred to the
judicial branch.
AS the picture was unfolded
through the Presidents word to-
day, it appeared probable that the
task of handling the important
policy-fixing executive division
would fall to the lot OF MIRA
Counsel Donald r. Richberg, al
though his name was not brought
into the matter at all specifically.
Mr.. Richberg's work in recent
weeks-a work which has resulted
in a wide breach between Gen
eral Johnson and Mr. Richberg-
has been along this line.
Mr.. Roosevelt made it clear,
though early today that the real
work involved in the reorganiza-
ton involved a clipping off OF
dead wood" in the big recovery
unit. 1t was pointed out that
there was a very considerable
overlapping of functions under
the old set-up.
Date Uncertain
Just when the new Set-up will
be actually effected remained
somewhat in doubt today, al
though it was apparent from the
word brought to reporters today
that Mr.. Roosevelt intends to
move carefully and that no steps
will be taken until he is sure of
his ground.
Apparently the General John
son idea of board to govern
MIRA will go into effect under the
reorganization. Heads of the
three major divisions of NRA
would, obviously, be members of
this governing body. Whether
there are to be other members
was a matter of doubt.
The only report available here
was that the President and Gen.
eral johnson we're working in per-
feet harmony in reshaping the
MIRA. Some weeks ago there was
an obvious difference between the
reorganization ideas of General
johnson and Mr.. Richberg, and
it was impossible to tell which
program Mr.. Roosevelt favored.