Evening star., 1935-03-26
LYNCH LAW SEEN
|NCLOTH|NC CODE
St. Louis Critic Charges
Grave Abuses in Ap-
plicat!on.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
N. r. A. was assailed today by
clothing manufacturer before the
Senate Finance Committee as 'bu-
reaucracy" with "the power Of eco
nomic lynch law"
This description Of the Recovery
Curlee, representing a minority of the
mems clothing manufacturers. He
charged grave abuses in the admins
tration Of the clothing code.
Opposing the extension Of N. R. A.,
Curlee protested There can't be
thing done m industry without COM
ing TO Washington to get permission
and that there was "a bureaucratic
finger in every pie"
I'VE have come to a parting Of
the ways" Curlee said pounding the
table, "on whether our rights will be
determined by the courts or a bu-
reaucracy"
Questioned Closely.
Members Of the committee nvesti-
eating N. r. A. questioned Curlee
closely before another capacity crowd.
Curlee contended the Code Au-
thority extended a number of exemp-
tions from code provisions to units in
the dominant wing of the industry.
He cited two exemptions granted to
companies which had officials on the
Code Authority. One was an exemp-
ton from the hour provision another
from a prohibition against an unfair
trade practice.
Curlee, a ST. Louis clothing manu-
facturer, cited the power to make ex-
emptions from the code as 'one Of
the major vices of the whole system"
Il am opposed TO giving a bureau
power to make, break or extend the
Law at will" he said.
1T is inevitable that people are
going to play ball with their own
team. The code authorities and the
administration work in close contact.
Any one opposed to N r. A. is an out
slider and opposed to the team"
Curlee said Congress must decide
whether we are to have a uniform
law"
Senator Costigan. Democrat of Colo
RADIO. asked what change Curlee would
make in the law.
1T is no secret" Curlee replied,
that I don't think the law should
be continued. But certainly there
should be no discretion to suspend
the law"
Opposes Guessing.
Curlee added that business should
not be compelled to guess at its peril,
or exist on its ability to convince some
official of the justice of its cause"
1T is a vicious system" he con-
cluded. emphasizing his point by
pounding the table.
Questioned by committee members,
Curlee said his objection was ":hiefly
to the method of administration" OF
N. r. A., which he termed "intoler-
able"
IF 1t continues" he said, there
will not be another clothing manu-
| facturer in the South or West
Curlee told of an attempt to start
small plant in Shelbyville. KY,
where employment conditions were
bad. The company, ne said, got per-
mission from a local board 70 pay
less than the minimum wage because
all of its employees were unframed.
Later, Curlee testified, the code au-
thority charged it with violation Of
law and assessed $4,000 for back pay
This plant. he said, gave employment
to 100 men, out cannot go on much
longer.
"In view of this experience" Curlee
said, mo man would dare to open a
new clothing business"
! The witness then turned to speeches
by Hugh johnson, former N. R. A. ad-
ministrator. which he said encouraged
boycotts. He read from speech john
son made in st. Louis in typical john
sonian language. which he said ter
rorized the population"
"St. Louis was almost deserted the
next day." Curlee testified, as the spec
tators laughed.
1T was like the order of Hitler not
to deal with Jews in Germany, wasn't
it?" Senator King, Democrat, of Utah
asked.
Very much" Curlee agreed
'Well, the population which moved
out the next day has returned" Cos
tigan remarked. You have continued
In business?"
"Yes," Curlee conceded, "in trepi-
dation, fear and trembling"
Nevertheless, you testified your
production as well as profits in
creased?" Senator Costigan reminded
him.
Eyes, sir"
"You would not describe it as eco
nomic death"
IT would describe it as economic
death to Shelbyville, but not to we'll
organized institutions" Curlee replied.