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 NATIONAL PJFCOVERY J1D7TIIUISTAl i r);

 TASTSI; .;-.:, D. C.

 45 Trondray
 Nev York City


 May ii, 1934

Dr. Earl De;mn Howrrd
Deputy Administrator, Div. V. 1IRA
Department of Commerce Building
Wnshington, D. C.

Uy depr Doctor Howard:

IN RE: LADIES HiT=IMTOA COD AU' RI TIi
 THLn2SDAT- MAY 10. ______

The first order of business scheduled for last night's meetin*u was
settlement of the matter of definition of semi-skilled w.-rkerr. I am
sorry to spy that it was necess-ry to postpone this matter again. :
This was the condition that I found.

The New York group are now negotiating with labor for a new -',reemnent.
Based upon -ost e:urience, they cane to me last night, and pointed out
thet if this definition were immediately settled, and under this new
definition the out-of-town seni-skilled workers would be raised, the
Lbor Union in New York would iu:iedi-tely insist unon a -oro-oortionate
increase bein;- mnde for this group in the ITe7 York area, Which would
immediately -olace Nlo- York in the brcd competitive position with respect
to the out-of-town manufacturers.

I also discovered that the committee had been unable to a-eroo, there
bein a shnr-p division of opinion, divided on the basis of 4 to 3 on
each item t.kcn up for settlement. In addition to that, Labor itself
turns in a third re-oort. I have a,-;reed to mn!ke visits to some factories
during this cor'in.- week for the -ur-)ose of soeinf: for T:ynelf exactly
what is involved in these various ooerrations and cn -oresent a more in-
telligent ooinion as to what is a pro--er definition.

I trust this will meet with your approval. Much as I re.-ret the delay,
I am convinced it was sound to ; pjain post-one it for n short tie.

I find the financial situation is not so hot. A rei'uest was sent out
to the Industry to -oay $25.00 each on account, to be credited r--inst
their Label orders. So far Industry had not responded. The Code Auth-
ority crn discount with the bank ,ll orders for lbels they receive but
they cannot secure these orders until the bu. :et sot-up and label olin
is ao-proved. This I believe had becd in 17l 3hi ;:t 0: for a week or two, ,l
I wonder if it is possible to -et some i..ediate action .