The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1919-04-11
RAILROADS REFUSE
FIXED STEEL PRICE
WHOLE QUESTION OF PRICE RE-
ADJUSTMENT MAY BE
REoPENED NOW
STORMY CONFERENCE HELD
Director General Hines Says Railroads.
Which Are Largest Purchasers OF
Steel. Should Have Rock BOT
tom Prices on Commodity

Washington. April 3.--Director Cen
eral Hines of the railroad admlnistra-
ton. which is the largest purchaser Oh
steel In the United States, refused yes
,erday To accept the price readlust-
nents arranged by the Industrial board
Of the department of commerce IN con-
ference with representatives, OF the
steel industry.
An effort to effect an agreement
between the board and the head OF the
railroad administration failed, al
though members of the cabinet, the In
d1strinl board and representatives OF
the food and fuel administration, the
war trade board and the war finance
corporation conferred for four hours.
The conference at times grew stormy
with the cabinet members finally with
drawing to an adjoining room from
which they emerged with a recommen-
dation that the question be committed
to the board for further consideration.
This finally was agreed upon.
Members of the conference were
.reticent in discussing the proceedings.
Secretary Glass, who called the con-
ference, refused to see newspaper men
afterward, and the official statement
concerning the gathering was very
brief. AS originally issued it read:
Issue Brief Statement.
''The steel prices approved by the
Industries board Of the department OF
commerce, not having been accepted
by the railroad administration, the
views of both were expressed at the
| conference. The views of the indus
| trial board were expressed by Secre
| tary Redfield, Chairman Peek anG
other members of the board. The view,
Of the railroad administration wer,
presented by Director General Hines
The matter was recommitted to tn,
board for further consideration"
The statement caused such flurr,
by its intimation that the entire ques
ton of steel prices would be reopene,
|
Chairman Peek to make the last sen
tence read:
1.-THE matter was recommitted to tn
board for further consideration wit
the railroad administration"
Additional conferences will be held
it was said, at which the board will
attempt to show the railroad admin
istration that the prices agreed upOl
are not excessively high according t.
cost figures obtained by the fedora
trade commission.
Kicks on Price Fixing.
Director General Hines has main
tanned that the railroad administra
ton was entitled to its enormous Dur
chases at prices as low as could b
obtained.
Mr.. Hines, according to one of tn
officials present, told the conference
that the agreement on steel price
reached by the board with tn esteel In
dustry two weeks ago was made owe
his protest and was without warran
of law. The director general was re
ported as declaring that no matte
what term was applied to the wor
of the board in its attempt at price RI
adjustments, 1t was price fixing. TIL
Sherman antitrust law, ii was sale
was cited by Mr.. Hines. He furthe
stated, 1t was said, that the railroa
administration had been left to max
lis purchases mt prices acceptable I
IT, and that he would not accept arb
trary prices recommended by tn
board after agreement with the indu.
try.
When the conference broke III
those VINO had attended filed out, eac
one saying that Secretary Glass wa
the spokesman and whatever was mad
public would have to come from hin
Some officials who have been inte,
ested In the work of the industris
board looking toward restoring indu.
try 10 peace basis. predicted freel
tlat unless the railroad administers
ton agrees 10 cooperate as to pric
recommendations and will make II
steel and other purchases on this basi,
the board will collapse.
Coal. another point of disagreement
on the part of the railroad ADMINISTERS
ton. was not discussed at the meetin,
officials said. The National Coal n.
ISOLATION last week announced that
would not continue its conference
with the Industries board cuncernip
price adjustments unless the railroa
administration would agree 10 abid
ny any agreement the board made wit
the industry.