Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-04-12
PRICE SQUABBLE
SETTLEMENT NOW
UP To PRESIDENT
Both Hines and Peek Have
Had Their Say, While Sec
rotary RedfieId Passes the
Buck to Paris White House,.

Washington, April 1.-THE gov.
ernment's attempt to stabilize prices
and stimulate industry through the
industrial board of the department OF
commerce now waits on word from
President Wilson.
Secretary Redfield, after two con.
ferences today with Chairman Peek
of the board, Assistant Secretary
Sweet and Solicitor Thurman cabled
the president statement of the situa-
ton arising from the refusal of the
railroad administration to accept new
steel prices arranged by the board, or
the ground that they were too high
the secretary asked the president to
indicate whether the board should
disband at once or continue in exist
ence until the president returns from
Paris and a policy can be formulated
Director General Hines also is un-
derstood to have cabled the president
statement of his attitude in the dis
pute and in statement said the mat
ter had come to the question of
whether the railroad administration
should approve prices believed to be
excessive--a question which he had
decided in the negative.
No request was made by Secretary
Redfield for a decision on the differ
ences between Mr.. Peek and Mr..
Hines. The secretary emphatically
said it was not and never had been
the purpose of the board to force any
government purchasing agency to ac-
cept the prices arranged by it.
Until the president replies. the
board will remain quiescent. No con-
ferences will be held with representa-
tiyes of industry and no new prices
on lumber, brick, cement and other
commodities. which have been under
consideration will be announced.
Criticises Boards Insistence.
! Charging that the industrial board
has initiated an industrial policy
which was not set up by the govern
ment, Director General Hines in his
statement tonight only criticized the
boards "insistence" that the railroad
administration buy at the agreed
nrices below which the general pub
lie ought not to expect to buy dur
ing the rest OF this calendar year,
Mr.. Peek says that the government
has set mp an industrial policy with
one hand and torn II down with the
Others" said Mr.. Hines. 1.-THE fact
is. however, that the industrial policy
which has been interfered with Is one
which was not set up by the govern
ment, but appears through some mis-
conception to have been initiated by
the industrial board itself The poll
cy which was authorized was the es-
tablishing of a committee which
would endeavor TO bring government
purchasing agencies and producers of
certain commodities together, by vol
untary action on reduced prices at
which the government purchasing
agencies would be justified in buying
freely.
"Mr. Peek instead of attempting to
carry out this specific nolcv entered
deSnite the railroad administrators
notification that it would not agree to
buy at the prices proposed. upon
very different policy fixing prices
with virtual insistence that the rail-
road administration must buy at these
prices regardless of its Judgment"
The director general said that Mr..
Peek's alarm that the steel interests
Of the country might be subjected to
the monopolistic buying power of the
railroad administration was unwar-
ranted"