El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-10-23
WILL PUSH PROBE
Of CUT IN WAGES
Secretary Redfield Says
Plea of New Tariff VIII
Not Stop Investigations

Flint, Mich, Oct. 23.-Notice was
served on employers Of labor today by
secretary Redfield, of the Department
of Commerce, that he had not. aban-
doned its intention to investigate re-
auctions Of wages, made under the
plea that the new tariff compelled
retrenchment- The secretary voiced his
views in an address to the Flint
board of commerce.
when it was suggested some months
ago." he said, that the inquiry powers
of the department might under certain
conditions be used to learn whether
conditions in any general INDUSTRY
were such as to justify a reduction OF
wages when alleged to be made pc
cause of tariff changes, there appeared
very general comments on the alleSSu
action, which comments were emery
remarkable for their vigor in dealing
with an assumed state Of facts that
did not exist. An attitude OF cour-
teous candor, which was not for mo
ment misunderstood by the men VINO
tered in the telling of it as to put the
department in the position of menac-
ing individuals and establishments
with hostile intrusion, If excuse could
be found for so doing.
VIII Not Be Blufted.
"The department will not De
'bluffed' by those who wish it to err
into action which would have for the
sole basis of its existence the nope
of some that it might make a mistake
The secretary declared that the
| threats of reduction in wages as re
| suit of the Underwood tariff law had
| become few of late That he attributed
directly to the declaration OF the al
/ ministratiOn that it would act promptly
! where such threats were carried out.
The fact that powers exist" he said,
/ Gin 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 consider
! ately if at all. seems to have had a
/ SOLDERING effect upon those who would
/ make the wages of the labOrer 1ul-
| crum on which to pOise their political
! arguments"
To Probe Utilities Corporations.
| Investigation Of public utilities cor
| porations, said the secretary, was a
| line of inquiry his department pro-
| posed to begin The inquiry would be
I made by the Bureau of Standards and
| it would be conducted in a spirit of en-
\ tire 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
| 100000 to begin the work.
I, 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 utility companies that
! would assist the public service CON-
/ missioners Of the states and cities and
/ other authorities N regulation and con-
/ troll Of these utilities There is no
| suggestion or idea that in this con-
1 nection the bureau of standards would
! exercise any legal authority whatever;
/ no more so than it does in its other
/ scientific standardizing work"
| Two parties. one a city, or a state
/ the other a public service company.
! may disagree Who is to be the ar
| bitrator2 You say the court, but the
] question is a technical one and upon
1 what standard of technical knowledge
1 and inquiry viii the court base its &C
! uon2 II is of the greatest Importance
/ that all state and municipal commits
| sions should possess full technical in
| formation in regard to utilities which
! they are required to regulate in order
| that they may act intelligently and
! Justly as between utilities 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 commissions as there is
| IN the hands Of the public service com
! panies-"