Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-23
Sec. RediieId to Investigate
Reductions Of Wages.
After Employers Who Plead
Tariff Compelled ReiIenchmehi,
Warning Issued In Address to Flint,
Mich Board Of Commerce.


served on employers of labor. tonight
lay Secretary Redfeld of the depart
ment commerce, that he had no
abandoned his intention under certain
conditions to investigate general re-
auctions of wages. made under the
plea that the new tariff compelled re-
trenchment. The secretary voiced his
views in an address before the Flint
Board of Commerce.
When it was suggested some
months ago." he said, that the in
quiry powers of the department might
under certain conditions he used to
learn whether conditions in any gen
eral industry were such as to justify
a reduction of wages when alleged to
be made because of tariff changes.
there appeared very general COM
ments on the alleged action, which
comments were chiefly remarkable for
their vigor in dealing with an assum-
ed state of facts that did not exist
An attitude of courteous candor,
which was not fer a moment misun-
derstood by the gentlemen who were
directly concerned, was so altered in
the telling of it as to put the depart
ment in the position of menacing in
dividuals and establishments with hos
tile intrusion, il excuse could be found
fer so doing.
When the dircful results which
prophets of evil foretold did not occur
the facile imaginations of some edi-
tors led them to say that the seere-
tary of commerce had withdrawn
from his attitude. The secretary of
commerce had done no such thing.
He accepts no responsibility for the
vagarious remarks they would have
had him say and which they would
like to criticise The views expressed
in the address. because of which all
the dust arose, have not been changed
and the action that was suggested in
that address will be taken il the cir
eumstanees suggested therein should
arise and seem to make it necessary.
Meanwhile the department will not
be 'bluffed by those who wish it to
err into action which would have for
the sole basis of its existence the hope
of some that it might make a mistake.
The secretary declared that the
threats of reduction in wages as a
had become few of late. That he at
tributed directly to the declaration of
the administration that 1t would act
promptly where such threats were
carried out.
THE fact that powers exist he
said, lin 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
considerably if at all, seems to have
had SOLDERING effect upon those who
would make the wages of the laborer
a fulcrum on which to poise their po-
litieal arguments"
Investigation of public utilities cor
porations, the secretary said, was a line
of inquiry his department proposed to
begin The inquiry would be made by
the Bureau of Standards and it would
be conducted in spirit of entire
friendliness and with the object in
view of aiding both the corporations
themselves and the public utilities
commission of the states and cities.
Congress is to be asked to appropriate
$4,000 to begin the work.
This fund.-" explained Mr.. Redfield.
would be used to enable the Bureau of
Standards to carry on such investi-
cations as would fix standards of SER
vice for public utility companies that
would assist the public service COM
missioners of the states and cities and
other authorities in regulation and
control of these utilities. There is no
suggestion or ideas that in this con-
nection the Bureau of Standards would
exercise any legal authority whatever.
no more so than it does in it's other
scientific standardizing work.
There is, however, a wide field for
the activities of this scientific bureau
in carrying on and publishing inves-
LEGATIONS Of purely technical char
acter for the purpose of establishing
standards and methods that may be
adopted generally by state and muni-
cipal commissions. Uniformity of pro-
cess and of requirement is greatly
needed and without some coordinating
agency which is impartial and disin-
.erested it is hard. if not impractical
BILE, to secure such uniformity.
1.-Two parties. one city. or 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 its
action? 1t Is of the greatest impor-
tance that all state and municipal
commissions should possess full tech
nicai information in regard to utili-
ties which they are required to regu-
late in order that they may act in
telligentiy and Justly as between util-
tiles companies and the public. If the
public is to have square deal there
must be just as good information in
the hands of the public-service com
missions as there is in the hands of
the public-service companies"
An air-propelled hydroplane has