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 EXHIBIT N

 March 30, 1934

Dr. Earl Dean Hgward
National Recoveyry Administration
Washington, D., C.

 Re: Homework
Dear Dr. Howard:

 The more I look into this question the stronger becomes my convic-
tion that to arbitrarily do away with this practice would work grave
injustice to employer and employee alike.

 As you are probably aware, Codes already approved forbid this
practice on and after certain set dates. Perhaps it was a majority of
manufacturers in the several industries affected who selfishly wanted
this rule made absolute and prevailed in their argument. Undoubtedly
they marshalled a great mass of supporting evidence which warranted the
Administration forbidding the practice.

 My personal feeling is one of opposition to the practice. I know
of the evils that have and do exist. I know of the unsanitary condition
that so generally prevail, and I recognize the; frightful exploitation |
the human factor. Notwithstanding all of these conditions, I must rem
that the people affected, employer and employee alike, have a stake in
this form of operation, and to destroy that is a serious matter. TWhile
I believe it is true that a certain percentage of such workers can be
absorbed into factory operation, I am certain that a quite large percent.
cannot, and it is of these I am particularly concerned. Their earnings
pitiful and small as they have been are an important -oart of the home
economy, and one cannot ignore it, for to do so would be a grave injust
and would tend to add to the great w'ant that already exists.

 Difficult as the matter of regulation is, and of necessity will be
I am very certain today that drastic regulation can be made effective,
of course, 100%, or perhaps approach that, but sufficiently to bring a.
a vast improvement.

 It has been suggested to me that a form of licensing through a st
agency and a paid policing through the several Code Authorities affect"
could be brought about, and rould be of tremendous help.

 The suggestion made provides for a fairly stiff licensing fee 01
that would to a degree at least, keep the irresponsible employer out o0
the picture, and on top of that, they be required to pay a sum to theil
Code Authority sufficient to provide for the policing. The burden of
roof as to the cleanliness of the home where work goes, and as to the
of pay, would be placed squarely on the shoulders of the employing
manufacturer, and sworn statements from him as to compliance be require
with an agreement that extremely heavy penalties could be summarily in
flicted for noncomnliance, all of which he would agree to when he made
application for his license.


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