THE CALIFORNIA LUMBER MERCHANT
September I, 1933
President Signs Lumber Code The Lumber Code under the National Recovery Act, 'which covers forty-eight divisions of the lumber and timber products industries, was signed by President Roosevelt on August 19. It became effective as to wages and hours on Tuesday, August 22. The remaining provisions, except Trade Practice Rules, will become effective on August 29. The Trade Practice Rules, which are subject to further revision, will become effective not later than No-
(b) "Person" as used therein includes, without limitation, any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, trust, trustee or receiver subject to the jurisdiction of the Code. (c) "Divisions" and "Subdivisions" as used refer to the several administrative units of the lumber and timber products industries which are established and defined in Schedule "A". Divisions and subdivisions initially established are as follows: Cypress Division;
The Code establishes several precedents such as the regulation of lumber production through the allotment of production quotas to balance lumber consumption, and the determination of minimum prices. Provisions in the Code are also made for the forest conservation and sustained production of forest resour'ces, provisions which the President personally supervised. The maximum hour week has been established at 40hours. Minimum wages range from 23 and 24 cents an hour in the South to.42l cents in the lumber districts of the Northwest and 50 cents in the metropolitan section of the North and East. The first meeting of the National Control Committee, the executive body of the newly constituted Lumber Code Authority, was held on August 21 at Washington. Dudley Cates, deputy NRA Administrator, was present as the Administrators' representative, in accordance rvith the provision which stipulates that the Administration shall be represented on the Authority and on the Control Committee. John D. Tennant, Longview, Wash., was elected chairman and C. C. Sheppard, Clarks, La., vice chairman. C. Arthur Bruce was elected executive officer of the Committee, a position which corresponds to that of president of a corporation. Carl Bahr, Washington, D. C., qas chosen secretary-treasurer. Conforming with the provision of the Code which requires that the schedule of wages and hours shall become effective August 22, telegraph instructions were sent to all the forty-eight Divisions of the industry to make the necessary arrangements at once. Action was also taken to have all the Divisions curtail production in accordance with the prospective consumption. "shortening of the work hours in the lumber industries", Mr. Bruce said, "means many more workers the number being estimated at between 75,000 and 150,00O men. The wages of all employees will show a marked in'crease, thus the industry will shortly make effective those objectives that President Roosevelt considers of prime importance in the partnership between government and business. "The lumber industry entertains a genuine belief that in the administration of its affairs under the Code there will be substantial benefits to it and equally to the public. In other words, we feel that we can govern ourselves for the President's objectives in conformity and letter of the NRA. We intend to do so." CODE OF FAIR COMPETITION Article l. Sets forth the purposes of the Code: to reduce and relieve unemployment in the lumber and timber products industries, to improve the standards of labor therein; to maintain a reasonable balanie between the production and consumption of lumber and timber products; to restore the prices to levels which will avoid further depletion and destruction of capital assets; and to conserve forest resources and bring about the sustained production thereof. Article 2-(a) "Lumber and Timber products" as used in the Code is defined to include (l) logs, poles and piling; (2) sawn lumber and planing mill products operated in conjunction with sawmills; (3) shingles; (4) woodwork (millwork) including products of planing mills operated in conjunction with retail lumber yards; (5) hardwood flooring; (6) veneers; (7) plywood; (8) kiln dried hard' wood dimension; (9) lath; (10) sawed boxes, shook and crates;
ern Hemtock Division; Northern Pine Division; .Redwood Division; Northeastern Softwood Division: Southern Division and Southern
vember l.
(ll) plywood, veneer and wirebound packages and containers.
H'ardwood Division-Appalachian and Southern Hardwood Subdivision, Mahogany SuMivision; Philippine Mahogany Subdivision, Walnut Subdivision, Northern Hardwood Subdivision, North Central Hardwood Subdivisibn. Northeastern Hardwood Subdivision; North-
Rotary Cut Lumber Subdivision; West Coast Logging and lumber Division, Douglas Fir Plywood Subdivision and Douglas Fir Door Subdivision; Western Pine Division; Woodwork Division, Stock Manufacturers Subdivision, Wholesale Distributors Subdivision and Special Woodwork Subdivision; Wooden Package Division, Sawed Bbx, Shook, Crate and Tray Subdivision, Plywood Package Sui.di-
vision, Standard Container Subdivision, Pacific Veneer Package Subdivision, Egg Case Subdivision, Wirebound Package Subdivision,
Veneer Fruitlnd Vegetable Package Subdivision; Red Cedar Shingle
Division and Stained Shingle Subdivision; Oak Flooring Division; Veneer Division; Maple Flooring Division; and Hardwood Dimension Division.
Article 3. (a) The "Lumber Code Authority", which is referred to as the Authority will administer the Code in conformity with the provisions of the National Industrial Recovery Act under the authority of the President. (b) The-Authority shall issue and enforce such rules, regulations and interpretations as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes and enforce the provisions of the Code. (c) The Authority is authorized and instructed' with respect _to the Rules of Fair Tiade Practice set forth in Schedule B, to devise and apply further requirements or prohibitions. Such requirem.ents or prohibitions, when adopted by the Authority, s_hall !e submitted to the President for approval, and if approved by him will then be deemed to be supplements to and amendments of the Code.
(d) The Authority may establish Divisions.and Subdivisions and shall appropriate agencies for the administration of the Code in each Division and Subdivision. (e) The governing body of the agency of each designated Division or Subdivision shall be fairly representative of each group, irrcluding any substantial minority group wthin the Division or Subdivision.
(f) The Authority shall coordinate the administration of the Code with such codes, if any, as may affect any division or subdivi-
sion of the lumber and timber products industries or any related industry, with a view of promoting joint and harmonious action upon matters of common interest. (e) The Authority shall admit or cause to be admitted to participati,on in any Division or Subdivison to whch he belongs, any person on termi of equality with all other persons participating therein. Article 4. In order that the President may be informed of the extent of observance of the provisions of the Code, the Authority shal[ make such reports as the Administrator may require, periodically, or as often as he may direct. Each person subject to the juiisdiction of the Code and accepting benefits of the activities of ihe Authority shall pay to the Authority his proportionate share of the amounts necessary to pay the cost of such reports and data. Labo,r Provisions Art. V. (a) Employees shall have the right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and shall.be free from the interference. restraint, or coercion of employers of labor, or their agents, in the designation of such repreieniatives or in setf-organization or in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection. (b) No employee and no one seeking employment shall be required as a condition of employment to join any company union or to refrain from joining, organizing or assisting a tabor organization of his own choosing. (c) Employers shall comply with the maximum hours of labor, minimum rates of pay, and other conditions of employrnent, approved
or prescribed by the President.
(d) No individual'under 18 years of age shall be employed, except that boys 16 years and over may be employed in the Wooden Package Division and in non-hazardous occupations during school vacations or if there are no wage earners of 18 years or over in
their families
Ho'rs of Labor Art. VI. (a) General Provisions and Exceptions: (l) No employee shalt be permitted to work for two or more