General Hearing on Op"ration of Lumber Code

Washington, D. C., Jan. 1S.-Generalities characterized the testimony of those appearing during the first day of the hearing on the lumber ,code ,convened January 9, in the auditorium of the Department of Commerce, to such an extent that Deputy Administrator E. A. Selfridge, who presided, found it necessary on one occasion to state that "what we are after is facts." The hearing had been called by the Administration to determine if the code was operating in a way to effectuate the policies of the National Recovery Act and to the benefit of the industry and the public at large.

Practically every phase of the Code came in for mention by the witnesses who desired to be heard. Some argued for a decrease in minimum wage scales, some for an increase; some complained of the effects of cost-protection prices, and some objected to production control.

The first on the list of witnesses was Justin McAghon, President of the Cabinet, Mill and Architectural Woodwork Institute, which he stated represented a membership of 166 firms employing 12,000 people. His chief complaint was that these woodworking plants, situated mainly in large centers of population, were compelled to pay high wages because of agreements with labor unions. These firms, he stated, were in direct competition with woodworking firms operating under the Lumber Code situated in other parts of the country and paying, he declared much lower wag'es. Under questioning by Alvin Brown, Assistant Administrator of the N.R.A., McAghon admitted that the form of competition against which he complained had been partially corrected by the Lumber Code.

His idea of further improvement was to strip the Lumber Code of jurisdiction over everything but sawmills and other primary operations. He recommended that all woodworking plants, presumably including those which were part of sawmill operations, be included under a new code, separate and distinct from the Lumber Code,with a wage rate of 75 cents for skilled labor and 5O cents for common labor in the Northern zone; 67% cents and 45 cents per hour in the central zone and 6O cents and 40 cents per hour in the Southern zone.

H. P. Fullmer, member of Congress from South Carolina, who voiced a plea for the relief of small mill operators in his state, declaring it was impossible for mills in his section to operate under code wages.

Congressman M. C. Tarber, of Georgia, followed with a plea in behalf of small mill operators in his district, alleging that they are forced to shut down because of inability to pay code wages. He declared that these operators received only $10 to $11 per thousand feet for their lumber and stated that appeals to the administrative agency in his district had been in vain.

Geo. H. Lakey, representing the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, declared in effect that one result of the Lumber Code was that it reduced the wages of skilled mechanics, who in many cases had been laid ofi "on Friday night and rehired on Monday under the Lumber Code." He also alleged that lumber prices had been increased to a point which discouraged building. In response to a question by Deputy Administrator Selfridge, Mr. Lakey stated that the brotherhood was composed of 164O local unions, and that about two-thirds of the membership were now out of work.

John P. Davis, who represented the "Joint Committee on National Recovery," a group of. 21 national organizations, vigorously protested any downward revision of wages in the Southern Pine Division.

R. W. Alt, who described himself as "the first worker to take the stand today," said he represented 1,000 members of three Sawmill and Timber Workers Unions in West Virginia. Mr. Alt declared that present curtailed production had so decreased the total earnings of the sawmill workers in his section that a condition had been brought about which can be remedied only by establishment of a uniform work week of 3O hours with a minimum wage of 5O cents per hour.

H. Morton Jones of the Buffalo Lumber Exchange appealed for strict enforcement of the code's cost piotection prices, charging that there were repeated violations on the part of manufacturers and wholesalers, who endeavored to break down the code minimum price schedule through such devices as shipping more lumber than had been invoiced and substituting better grades.

Deputy Selfridge then introduced William Green, President of the American Federation of Labor, who began his remarks by stating that the Lumber Code was "one of the most complex codes in operation" covering.a total of 3O00O known plapts.

Mr. Green insisted that there must be no reduction in rvage scales and pointed out that although the average hourly rate in the industry of. 33.7 cents in July had been increased to 42.8 cents in November, the reduction in hours worked each week brought about an actual reduction in weekly wages from $14.59 in July to $14.37 in November.

He alleged that the A. F. of L. had "voluminous evidence" that "drastic reductions" had taken place in. wages and that the minimum wage was tending to become the actual maximum. He suggested that provision be made for three non-voting representatives of the N.R.A. on the Code Authority, one of whom should be empowered to speak for labor.

Mr. Green then urged the granting of a separate code for the woodworking division and voiced his opposition to any proposal for the inclusion of cooperage under the Lumber Code.

Burt L. Knowles appeared for the Association of General Contractors of America. He objected to the Code on the ground that prices established under its provision had raised the malket to a level r,r'here building was being discouraged, substitutes for lumber encouraged and the development of monopolies fostered. He further charged that retailers were "in collusion" to compel contractors to pur'chase lumber from them at retail prices and that these prices had been increased from 30 per cent to 100 per cent. Deputy Selfridge questioned the witness in an endeavor to bring out facts to support the contention advanced, but Mr. Knowles merely repeated his general and srveeping assertions. The Administrator informed the witness that "what we are after is facts."

I. L. Halsted of the Charles A. Briggs Lumber and Manufacturing Company, appeared to protest against allocation of production.

Frederick Brenckman, representing National Grange and American Farm Bureau, complained about the advance in prices of containers for shipping farm products, alleging that this advance was predicated upon the increased price of lumber.

L. M. Rhodes of the Florida State Marketing Bureau also alleged that the Code had unreasonably increased prices on fruit and vegetable containers. In response to questions by Mr. Selfridge the witness expressed the belief that shippers would have considered an increase of not more than 30 per cent perfectly "fair,"

-The hearing was recessed until 10 o'clock A.M., January 10.

A statement by the Consumers Advisory Board of the NRA to the effect that they approved of minimum costprotection prices in principle, though objecting to some of the prices now in efiect, together with a statement by C. Arthur Bruce, executive officer of the Lumber Code Authority, that the Authority "has welcomed this oppor- tunity to study these effects in practical operation," *ere the features of the se,cond day's hearing on the Lumber Code before the NRA here.

W. E. Shoults, Consumers' Adviser, appeared for the Board and presented evidence of lumber price increases under the Code, in some cases as high as 100 and 150 per cent. He suggested that a representative of the Consumers Advisory Board and one from the Labor Advisory Board be named by the Administrator for the governing body of each Divisional and Subdivisional ageniy of the Lumber Code Authority.

Mr. Shoults recommended: (1) Control of Production provisos be revised so that due allowance shall be made for efficiency of operation in determining the basis of allotments, so as not artificially to destroy natural advantages of a producer. (2) That Cost Protection articles be revised so that minimum prices will be regulated by individual colts of production rather than weighted average costs. (3) That interpretations and promulgations of rules regarding cost protection by the Code Authority be subject to approval by the Administrator and may be initiated by him.

The protest of the Consumers Board included a statement that the Lumber Code Authority has placed an unjust item of cost on users of lumber by the system of lumber basing points used in determining delivered and F.O.B. mill prices.

Bulletin No. 32 Protested

In connection with cost-production prices considerable time was devoted to statements concerning Bulletin No. 32, relating to_sale of lumber produced in the West Coast Log- ging and Lumber Division. This rule provides that salis in the California market shall, if made on a delivered basis. be made at prices not less than cost-protection prices plus actual cost of water transportation. Frank OTonnoi of the California Wholesale Lumber Association, contended that this method benefits a few large concerns owning or leasing ships and owning lumber mills in Washington-and Oregon, whose "actual cost of water transportation" is below that of conference rates. Fred N. Fenwick, representing_the_Pacific.Lumber Conference, took the same position.

W. B. Greeley, Secretary-Manager of the Weit Coast Lumbermen's Association, upheld the contentions of these witnesses and insisted upon the restoration of "competitive opportunity" in the California lumber trade by the iescinding of order No. 32.

Vi{or T,arsen, representing the Willamette Valley Lumber Manufacturers Association of Oregon, asked thit water and rail rates be equalized to some extent. Paul Scharrenberg of San Francisco, representing the International Seamen's lJnion, said he would favoi higher water rates if they meant higher wages. Charles L. McCormick, of San Francisco, joined the protest against order No. 32.

G. A. Van Ness of Chicago protested the terms and discounts to wholesalers for hardwoods as entirely inadequate.

A,group-of Pacific Northwest manufacturers of Douglas fir doors for export protested that high material priies, caused bythe Code's.operation, prevent them from mieting Iorelgn prlce competltlon.

The Curry Veneer Mill, of Indianapolis, Indiana, expressed the opposition of some 20 or 25 face veneer pro{gce1s to quota allotments of materials affecting that Subdivision of the industry.

V. H. 'Walker, of McMinnville, Tennessee, President of the Central Tennessee Sawmill Association, a group of 500 small mills between Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, appeared to protest the application of the code wage scale.

The hearing then returned to consideration of the claim by the Cabinet, Mill, and Architectural Woodwork Institute, that woodworking plants should be taken from the jurisdiction of the Lumber Code. Justin McAghon, President of the Institute, who spoke at length on this subject during the first day's hearing, appeared again and was followed by George Leonard, Chairman of the Institute's executive committee.

Deputy Administrator E. A. Selfridge, who presided throughout, adjourned the hearing until 9:30 in the morning of Friday, Jantary 12.

"This is a bold social and industrial experiment, almost without parallel, and I point out to you the fact that these minimum wages, higher than any previous average in good times or bad, were the deliberate act of the Administration. It is primarily the Administration's responsibility, not the industry's, to sustain the minimum wages in the Lumber Code. They are admittedly oppressive to the industry. But this industry is not to be expected to oppose, and it will not oppose the Administration if it wishes to continue no further its cooperation with this bold adventure of a great industry to lift itself for once and for all from the mire of sweat-shop wage and price competition."

In this manner Wilson Compton, Counsellor of the Lumber Code Authority, speaking yesterday at the N.R.A. Lumber Code hearing, placed"the respon'sibility for maintenance of the present wage scales in the lumber industry squarely upon the National Recovery Administration.

C. Arthur Bruce, Executive Officer of the Lumber Code Authority, testified that it was a reasonable presumption that after five months of operation there would be iause of complaint against such a Code as the Lumber Code, but that.such__presumption had not been verified during this hearing. He called attention to the vagueness of complaints and lack of factual evidence, and described the testimonv of most witnesses as being general and non-specific in chaiacter, unsupported by eviden,ce.

"It would be unfortunate," Mr. Bruce explained, if he was "construed to mean the Authoritv does not admit fallibility and that there may be just complaint. There is probably such subject matter within this hearing. The Authority stands willing and anxious to absolve the just complaint, by amendment of the Code if this is required or by change of procedure or administration if this is indicated."

_ With respect to the recommendation by Wm. Green, President of the American Federation of Labor. Mr. Bruce made the following statement:

"As Exe'cutive Officer of the Authoritv I shall recommend to that body at its next meeting on the Dth of. January that Mr. Green's recommendation for a place in an advisory way for a representative of labor and i representative of the ,consumers from appointments made by the respective Boards of the National Recovery Administration be approved."

"The suggestion, however, made both by representatives of the Cabinet, Mill and Architectural Woodwork Institute and by Mr. Green that woodwork be removed from the T, umber Code impresses the Authority as entirely impracti'cal, and would subje,ct the Lumber Code and its administration to problems that ivould be in'capable of solution."

Mr. Bruce was followed by Col. Charles Green of Laurel, Mississippi, spokesman for the Southern Pine Association, who discussed the problems of that administrative body and told in some detail of the efforts made to care for the interests of both large and small mills in the Association'$ territory.

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Prayer Of An Outdoor Man

By Wilfred Peterson

With the leafy branches of the forest trees

I lift my arms to pray;

With the babbling brooks and singing birds

I raise my voice in praise:

I thank Thee for the out-of-doors;

I thank Thee for the solitude of wild places, the strength of the hills and the calmness of quiet streams;

I thank Thee for old clothes, rough work, and the right to let my beard grow;

I thank Thee for the curling smoke of a campfire in the early morning;

I thank Thee for steaming coffee, sizzling bacon, and an out-door appetite;

I thank Thee for the swish of my paddle, and the joy of watching fleecy clouds roll by;

I thank Thee for the call of a whip-poor-will at dusk, across a silent lake;

I thank Thee for silvery moonbeams on rippling water;

I thank Thee for the singing of my reel and the bending of my rod as a big one strikes;

I thank Thee for the contentment that comes from the patter of rain on my tent at night;

I thank Thee for wild blackberries along an old stump fence;

I thank Thee for my dogs, my gun, and the faming colors of the. autumn woods;

I thank Thee for wild ducks flying south against a dull grey sky;

I thank Thee for the glory and rnajesty of the stars;

I thank Thee for strong winds pulling at my hair roots and the spray from the lake on my cheeks;

I thank Thee for old trails, old rocks, raging rapids and for a glimpse of deer drinking in a secluded pool;

I thank Thee for the drum of the partridge, for squirrels, trailing arbutus, the aroma of pine needles, sunshine through the leaves, and all the other eternal miracles of the out-of-doors.

She Knew The Answer

She was an actorine, and she talked Bostonian, and she was traveling with a road show, and staying at the small town hotel. It was the last night of April, and she asked the girl at the telephone desk to call her at 6 a.m.

t'Going to catch a train?" asked the telephone girl, pleasantly.

"For what other reason would one leave an early call?" asked the actress, haughtily.

"Oh," replied the telephone girl, still pleasantly, "one might be going to be Queen of the May."

A Morning Wish

The sun is just rising in the morning of another day, the first day of a new year. What can I wish that this day' this year, may bring to me? Nothing that shall make the world or others poorer, nothing at the exPense of other men; but just those few things which in their coming do not stop with me, but touch me rather as they pass and gather strength.

A few friends who understand me, and yet remain my friends.

A work to do which has real value without which the world would feel the poorer. A return for such work small enough not to tax unduly anyone who pays.

A mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be not blazed. An understanding heart. A sight of the eternal hills and unresting sea, and of something beautiful the hand of man has made. A sense of humor and the power to laugh.

A little leisure with nothing to do.

A few moments of quiet, silent meditation. The sensc of the presence of God. And the patience to wait for the coming of these things, with the wisdom to know them when they come.-W. R. Hunt.

His Worldly Goods

A filling station operator on the outskirts of Eustis, Florida, has rendered to the county assessor a personalproperty return which wins the praise of local editors as a masterpiece of detail and descriptive comment. The St. Cloud Tribune quotes it thus:

"Household and kitchen effects-one pine table, homemade; one one-man bedstead, two by four sides with lath nailed across, rough lumber; one wood-burning heater' made out of grease drum (she's a good one); one threeburner oil stove when I get one new burner; pretty good ice-box; two fairly good chairs after I nailed 'em up; one alarm clock, still ticking; put up at auction the whole push wouldn't cost much. Darned if I know how to estimate the value.

The sample was a sardine can soldered to an iron rod, with a tag describing the device as a skillet.

Brevities.

-Burdette