Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-17
O'NE|LL ASSUMES
IN. R. A. DIRECTION;
.STAFF Treasured
New Chief Promises Orderly
Liquidation OF Jobs as
First Act.
PROGRAM OF RESEARCH
OUTLINED FOR AGENCY
Procedure Will Look to Finding
Permanent Force for EmaS-
culated Service.

The N r. A. began the third year
Of its cratic existence today. shorn
Of all active, regulatory power and
prepared within three weeks to be-
come merely a research organization
employing about $500 of the present
$500 employees under the control
Of James L. ONeill. last night named
administrator by President Roosevelt.
The first act OF this tall New York
banker. who has been control oficer
of the Recovery Administration, was
to give reinsurance to his workers ~
an orderly liquidation of most Of the
jobs. He said in his first statement
ss administrator:
The most pressing problem con-
fronting the National Recovery Ad-
mfnistrstion is adjustment of the Or
gsnization and its personnel To the
work 10 be done during the coming
months.
That adjustment cannot be MADE
intelhgently without planning the
work itself. The next few weeks will
he devoted 10 developing such plans,
and announcements will be made as
soon as possible concerning appro-
pirate changes in personnel
Jobs VIII Continue.
Pending this adjustment and In
order to f1nd an opportunity for
orderly procedure, I am now adopt
ing and confirming the action OF the
National Industrial Recovery Board
in continuing our personnel in their
present positions on a temporary basis
until further order"
Later O'Neill said the organization
adjustment OF the administration end
its personnel is the most pressing
problem facing us" He added that
salary reductions for higher ofncials
are being given consideration
The new administrator also an
nounced that Blackwell Smith. now
acting counsel, would be appointed 10
this post.
The one-time Pittsburgh steel-mill
worker who will preside, for . few
months at least, over the work Of
recapitslating N. r. A. mistakes and
accomplishments preparatory to draft
ing an expected new recovery act for
the next Congress plans an educa-
tionsl campaign to sell the country
the need for a permanent eagle.
To key positions Immediately under
O'Neill. who is on leave Of absence
from his post of vice president Of the
Guaranty Trust Co. Of New York,
the President named IN his executive
order Leon C. Marshall. a member
of the old National Industrial Recov-
cry Board. who will run the Division
of Review" 70 survey the effects of
the old codes. and Prentiss L. Coon
ley, hitherto code administrative
officer. who will head the Division Of
Business Cooperation"
Will Test Voluntary Codes.
Its establishment Is viewed ss the
wedge for the experimental estab-
lishment Of voluntary codes covering
labor treatment, minimum wages and
maximum hours and outIaving child
labor and unfair competitive prae-
tices.
To suggest permanent safeguards
for labor, industry and the consumer
in the new recovery legislation which
the President limited he will ask, an
advisory council OF six members was
appointed to help O'Neill, Marshall
and Coonley. 1t consists Of;
Charles Edison, named to the N. I.
r. B. about a month ago. and Howell
Cheney, Connecticut silk manutac-
turer, to represent industry.
William Green, president Of the
American Federation of Labor and
head of the Labor Advisory Board of
the old N. r. A., and Phillip Murray.
vice president of the United Mine
Workers and another N. L r. 3.
member, to represent labor.
Emily Newell Blair, chief of the old
Consumers Advisory Board, and Wal"
ton H. Hamilton. another N. I. r. 3.
member. now in Geneva. to represent
the consumers
George L. Berry. president Of the
International PreSsmen's Union and
a division administrator in the old
N. r.. A. set-up, was named special
(See N, II, A, Page A.