Evening star., 1935-05-21
JOHNSON ENTERS
FIGHT FOR N. R. A.
Appeals to Little Business,
Wage Farmers and House.
wives for Support.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated freSs.
Plunging into the bitter congress
sional fight over continuing N. r. A,
Hugh S. johnson is seeking to muster
support for President Roosevelt's two
year extension plan among little busi-
ness men, wage earners and house
wives
The former recovery administrator
appealed to them last night to tell
their Senators the Blue Eagle is not
"a political hot poker" He suggested
that they send petitions giving
facts"
Laying aside for the moment his
differences with Donald r. Richberg,
N. r. AS present chief. johnson
turned his vocabulary on the organi-
zation's critics In q radio address last
night.
"The charge of monopoly comes
from monopolists, that Of oppression
from oppressors, that of regimenta-
ton from industrial martinets," he
said.
Sides With Richberg.
Siding with House Democrats, Rich
berg and the President against the
Senate-approved plan to extend the
agency only 91a months. the man
who helped create N. r. A. declared:
The effect of the Senate bill would
plunge all business into blank un-
certainty. 1t would be far better to
kill N. r. A. now. Yet to kill it out
right might produce the worst busi-
ness setback since 1882"
johnson spoke as preparations were
made for a rally of N r. A. supporters
in the Capital tomorrow. The meet
ing already was under fire in the
Senate, where Senator Nye. Republic
an, of North Dakota, contended 1t
was well financed drive upon the
part of N. r. A. office holders, code
authority officials and code enforce
ment employees to impose their will
upon the Congress in the matter of the
extension Of N. r. A
Borah Hits Rally.
Turning down an invitation to at
tend the rally, Senator Borah, Repub-
lican, of Idaho. asserted those coming
for the gathering ARE here for their
own selfish interests" and are ASK
ing for the power to initiate prices"
Ward Cheney, chairman Of the COM
mittee arranging the conference, re-
piled in a statement to the press that
these attacks had so incensed tax
paying business men that increased
pledges of attendance had resulted and
a larger hall been engaged.
AS to the activity of code authori-
ties in connection with the rally.
Cheney said: I'VE are proud of the
leaders who have been fairly and hon.
estly elected to represent their groups
on the 700 or more code authorities
organized under the N I. r. A. and
strict Government supervision"
Democratic members of the House
Ways and Means Committee, mean
while, were in tentative agreement on
bill substantially following the form
desired by Mr.. Roosevelt and his Ma
tional Industrial Recovery Board.
Provisions of Bill.
This bill, which the committee MEM
bers expected to report to the House
by Saturday at the latest, would:
/. Extend the life of N. r. A. to
June 16, 1887.
2. Authorize the President to ap-
prove or prescribe codes for any in
dustry which is subject to the Federal
power over interstate commerce. Small
or local enterprises which do not
substantially affect" such commerce
would be excepted.
3. Permit price fixing. when neces-
sary and in the public interest" under
governmental control.
4. Require that every code shall in
clude provisions covering minimum
wages, maximum hours of labor and
prohibition against child labor.
S. Give the Federal Trade Commis-
sion the task of enforcement, with or
ders to issue cease and desist orders
speedily against firms when COM
plants against them are supported by
presidential findings of facts.
6. Provide for fine of $500 for each
day of violation against wage, hour,
child labor or other major provisions
Of the codes.
The nine-and-one- -half-month ex-
tension bill which the Senate already
has approved would exempt from the
codes all business which does not cross
S.ate lines.