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 disturbing elements in the industry. After a .short time under the co&d
 the manufacturers' realized that this was being accomplished, and they i
 fell'in line. 7It was admitted by the manufacturers that the code had 3
 suilted in immeasurable good to them. As proof of their desire to contj
 benefits accrued to them under the code, they entered into a voluntary
 reement to perpetuate these benefits. This voluntary agreement is now
 effect in the industry.

 The' weak features of the I MA administration were the delays in gel
 action from the administration on important matters confronting the ini
 After hearing in Washington, it sometimes took months before an ameW
 would. be passed by all of the boards and approved by the administration
 realize that a great'deal of this delay might have been due to the doul
 aboit the constitutionality of the law, but we do believe that by trani
 ing the industry from one division to another, and from one deputy to 4
 other, caused considerable delay. It took time for a new administrator
 come thoroughly acquainted with the intimate problems of the industry i
 ready understood by the former administrator, because he not only Iknew!
 important problems off the i.ndastry, but also knew the temperament of ii
 portant members of the industry, and had succeeded in gaining their coi
 dence. i

 'The strongest feature of the NRA administration was the fact that
 member of the industry, na matter how large or small, or wherever locE
 the country, was governed by the code for the industry.

 UJnder a Voluntary agreement, there is no compulsion to join, and.
 the agreement is'only enforceable against th.se who do assent, no vol
 agreement can ever become effective in any industry. It is only a mai
 time when those who have not assented to the agreement will chisel to
 an extent that 'Trill make it impossible for those who have assented to.
 their competition. Feeling the loss in sales volume, they want to be.:
 compete, even if they' have to engage in the same practices which even|
 destroy their chances of making a profit. Another weakness of the N
 the varying conditions in closely related codes. Labor provisions sh.
 been uniform, so that one code would not offer more favorable conditi
 another, causing manufacturers to fight to remain under more favorable|

 The Code Authority consistently refused every request for except
 or exemptions from the labor provisions or the trade practice rules o
 code. In every case, the investigations proved that the requests mad
 manufacturers were not intended to equalize conditions for them, but
 tain some advantages over other manufacturers. Geographical location
 disadvantage in the"handbag industry, since they are offset by other
 stages, such as the difference in labor costs. Experienced workers in
 York are paid two and tne half times as much as are workers recruited
 ally in other cities, and since machinery and methods are used extenoi
 do the operations formerly performed by skilled workers, no efficient
 "orated factory is handicapped by being located in any other part of
" country. The advantage of catering more intensely to lonal markets..o.
any added' costs' in freight and cartage of raw materials from eastern

 In refusing any exceptions to or exemptions from the code, it wa.
 ible to'cheek'compliance more -easily. It is muqh more difficult to
 violators of the code when exceptions are granted for one reason or


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