Evening star., 1936-03-15
LABOR HELDL0SER
WITH n. RIA. GONE
A. F. of 1. Says 1,041,0 900
Added 10 Idle Ranks, With
Hours Longer.

Painting picture of poaN. r. A.
labor conditions described as much
worse" than that said to be contained
in the secret Robert report" on the
N. r. A., the American Federation Of
Labor disclosed last night 1t Is COM
pleting a widespread survey on the
death of the Blue Eagle in industry.
In preliminary discussion Of find
ings to date, the federation declared
that 1,04l 900 persons lost jobs last
year after abolishment of the N r. A.
in June-due to an increase of three
hours in the average work week.
The report of the governmental
Robert committee was withheld after
presentation to the President, but is
expected to be released April l along
with reports Of studies made BY the
N. r. A. history and review unit. The
latter studies will not be completed by
that date, but Senator Pope Demo-
crat, of Idaho. has introduced reso-
luton to extend this work until fin
iShed.
The federation's survey will be so
comprehensive, its officials said that
the long concealed Robert report"
on the same subject will be "ot little
value and soon forgotten"
Small Firms Assailed.
Labor economists said small firms
were the worst offenders" in length
ening hours after the Supreme Court
wiped out N. r. A. codes and added
the Labor Department did not cover
small firms adequately in collecting
the statistics.
The Robert report, compiled last
Fall from Code Authority figures under
the direction of Capt. W P. Robert,
U. S. NJ, has been kept under lock
and key since its completion. When
the skeleton N. r. A. was transferred
to the Commerce Department jan
uary /, the report went with it. Sec
retary Roper some time ago sent it
to the White House. President Roose-
welt sent it back to Roper. Last
week the Commerce Department chief
told reporters it would be included in
a general report on N. r. A. to be
made public about April /. He said
it could be better understood II it
were given its proper place in q gen.
eral report.
The preliminary A. F. of L. report
said industry had made temporary
gains but that the workers had lost
ground by the end Of N. r. A.
Elimination of Government con-
trolls has indeed been followed by a
period Of more profitable operation Of
industry for security owners, longer
rise in production than at any period
since the bottom of depression and
a beginning Of recovery in the capital
goods industries" it concluded.
Employment has also increased and
more than 900 900 of thu unemployed
have gone back to work.
Lack of Balance Seen.
"Workers, however, have not shared
in the gains of industry and progress
since N. r. A. has been decidedly
unbalanced.
The work week has been heightened
by three hours, eliminating more than
l,000,000 possible jobs; the upward
trend of wages has ceased and wage
rates have decreased by ! cent per
hour.
Although workers income has risen
somewhat, the increase has been due
entirely to the longer hours worked.
Although the increased earnings
Of industry made it possible to in
crease wage rates and reduce hours of
work, thus giving the workers their
share of the increased wealth created
by industry, neither of these essential
adjustments has been made.
Unless employment and buying
power are increased proportionately
with the increase in wealth, we can
never hope to reach lastin. prosperity
or to raise living standards to the
levels modern industry makes pos
sible."
The report found that if production
recovery and employment kept in
creasing at their present rate, the Ma
ton would have 9,500,000 unemployed
when production reached its 1929
prosperity level.
Would not a slower business ad-
vance be better If it kept production
and employment in balance and thus
/ laid foundations for more lasting
| recovery?" the report asked.
Two Hours Held Added.
BY October of last year, the re-
port said, two hours had been added
to the average work week. 1t found
the third was added by December.
making the average week 4112 hours
compared with N. r. AS 1872. The
average for April, 1888, just before
the N. R. A. started. was 4lA.
1t said the average hourly wage
dropped from 56.8 cents in July to
$50 cents in December. The weekly
wage rose from s20.36 to $21.49. but
this gain was made entirely by work.
ing longer hours at lower pay"
The rise in production and profits
since N. R. A. has been spectacular;
but there were substantial increases
in production and profits while N.
r. A. was in effect" the report sai6.
During the N. R. A. period. the
workers side Of the balance was held
up.
From 1888 to 1884, for instance,
| industrial production increased per
cent, employment per cent and
workers buying power, 4 per cent.
While from 1884 to 1885, production
increased IA per cent; employment, 2
per cent and workers buying power
less than per cent.
Profits also increased substantially
from 1888 to 1884. although less than
| .la,, ;raraoeaJ Froy,a 1OoA to Io9S