Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-23
WARNING AGAINST
|. WAGE REDUCTION
Secretary Redfield at Flint,
Mich, Defies Employers
Tariff Threats.
INQUIRY IS STILL LIKELY
United States Commerce Head Tells G.
Plan to Investigate Public
Utilities.

Flint, Mich, Oct. 23.-Notice was
served on employers of labor last
night by Secretary Redfeld of the de-
partment of commerce that he had
not abandoned his intention of inves-
tigating general reductions of wages
made on the plea that the new tariff
compelled retrenchment. The secre-
tary voiced his views in an address be-
fore the Flint board of commerce.
when this matter was suggested
some months ago." he said, there ap-
peared very general comments on the
alleged action, which comments were
chiefly remarkable for their vigor in
dealing with an assumed state of facts
that did not exist.
IAN attitude of courteous candor
which was not for a moment misun-
derstood by the gentlemen who were
directly concerned wss so altered in
the telling of it as to put the depart
ment in the position of menacing indi-
viduals and establishments with hos
tile intrusion If excuse could be found
for so doing.
when the direful results which
prophets of evil foretold did not occur
the facile imaginations of some editors
led them to say that the secretary Of
commerce had withdrawn from his at
titude The secretary of commerce had
done no such thing. He accepts no
responsibility for the vagarious re-
marks they would have had him say
and which they would like to criti-
else.
WILL NOT BE "BLuFFED."
Meanwhile the department will not
be 'bluffed by those who wish it to
err into action which would have for
the sole basis of it's existence the hope
of some that it might make mistake"
The secretary declared that the
threats of reduction in wages as a re-
suit OF the Underwood tariff law had
become few of late. This he attribut
ed directly to the declaration of the
administration that IT would act
promptly where such threats were
carried out.
The fact that powers exist" he
said" in hands that will use them if
and only if general and sufficient cause
shall appear for such use, and will
then use them conservatively and con-
siderately If at all. seems to have had
a SOLDERING effect upon those who
would make the wages of the laborer
a fulcrum On which to poise their po-
litical arguments"
Investigation of public utilities cor
porations, the secretary said, was a
line of inquiry his department propos-
ed to begin with the object in view
of aiding both the corporations them
selves and the public utilities commits
sions of the states and cities. Con-
gress is to be asked to appropriate
100000 to begin the work
This fund" explained Mr.. Redfeld,
would be used TO enable the bureau
of standards to carry on such investi-
cations as would fix standards OF ser
vice for public utili-s companies, that
would assist the public service com.
missioners of the states and cities, and
other authorities in regulation and
control of these utilities.
/ Two parties. one city or a state,
the other a public service company,
may disagree Who is to be the arbi-
traitor You say the court, but the
question is technical one and upon
what standard of technical knowledge
and inquiry will the court base it's ac-
ton? II the public is - have a square
deal there must be just as good infor.
nation in the hands Of the public ser.
vice commissions as there is in the