Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-07
URGE U.S. BASIC
CECOMMITTEE
President Asked to Name
Body to Fix Govern
ment Scale
REDFIELD FAVORS PLAN
By the Associated Press

Washington. Feb. 7.-Presideih viii
son has been asked to name a commit
tee Of industrial leaders and government
representatives which will have the
power to investigate and suggest a scale
Of prices for basic commodities at which
the government will buy during the post
war period. Secretary of Commerce Red
field announced today
The step was taken after conferences
OF producers and labor representatives
and government officials who were
unanimous Secretary Redfeld said. in
recommending it,
Redfeld Indorses Plan
I Mr. Redfeld explained that no legal
authorizations by Congress would be
necessary and no use of The govern
ments war powers was contemplated.
He made a statement in which he said
after mentioning the existence of unem-
ployment accentuated by tho return of
the troops:
! 'It was recognized that in a large
measure the Unemployment was season.
al and due to the impossibility OF carry
ing out open-air construction in GER
/ tain States at this time of the year. II
was. however, agreed that a second inn
| portant cause was the reluctance of
/ buyers, to purchase more than their
| emergency requirements at the present
level Of prices, and it was felt that n
determination Of a postwar level of
prices for basic commC dties was ur-
gently needed.
1t was the general opinion, illustrate,
| by many specific cases, that a larg'
latent-buying power existed i'm tfe coun
try which needed only a satisfactor!
level OF prices to become effective.
was felt that wages would remain OF
a higher level than before the Europeal
war and that no readJustment in In,
true wages Of labor ms measured b,
purchasing power should be ATTEMPTED
though IL was felt that as tho cost o
! living iS reduced. labor would rcadil,
agree to the corresponding adjustment
in money wages
III events are left to take tho natura
course, the establishment of post-wa
prices would probably be difficult ant
protracted matter since prices Of on
commodity affect other commodities an,
producers would wait for one another [,
! I.ldho Nho III olbps puNI a course o
procedure would involve much unem
ployment and a loss to both labor ant
capital.
| Manufacturers Asked to, Lead
at was the sense of the meeting tina
the fine spirit OF voluntary "co-operatior
In industry which had proved such
valuable factor in the conduct of tn
war should be availed of TO ease an,
expedite the processes of readjustmen
and that the manufacturers of the coun
try would be willing to take the frs
step. After a full discussion of tn
situation which occupied the create
; part of the day. a resolution wa
adopted asking the Secretary Of Com
merce TO seek the approval of tn
President to the appointment OF a com
, mittee to deal with the situation.
1T was contemplated that this com
mittee should call into conference tn
!. representatives of the basic indusuie
of the country to examine condition
IN industry with a view TO the formula
i tion of a scale Of prices at which tn
government departments and other buy
, ers' would be justified in buying free
) ly and at which manufacturers woul
( be willing to sell with a view 10 main
taining or restoring business activity I
a full volume.
1T was felt that time was the yer
. essence of the problem and that, there
fore, the appointment and action OF tn
| committee should proceed with all poss
BILE speed. 1t was believed that publ
announcement Of the conclusions OF sue
committee would have great value
/ establishing confidence in a level {
prices and would be accepted by banl
ers and others as q basis for credit.