New-York tribune., 1919-05-10
Redfield Accepts Resigna-
tions After Hines and
Steel Man Failed to Agree
on Peace Time Prices
Readjustment Plans End
Secretary Says His Depart.
ment Will Make No More
Attempts at Sterilization

WASHINGTON, May 9.-"The chap
ter is closed" said Secretary Redfeld
of the Department of Commerce to-
day, as he announced the passing of
the Industrial Board and the stabiliza-
tion and industrial readjustment
alleviation idea for which it stood AS
sponsor of the ambitious effort which
Walker d. Hines, Director General of
Railroads, blocked Mr. Redfield ex-
pressed his regret for the untimely
demise, but added that he drew some
satisfaction from having made an
earnest effort in good cause After
the failure of the steel producers and
Mr. Illness advisers to get tigether
in New York yesterday, there was
nothing left to do, he said, but pro-
nounce the valedictory.
"And is this the end of the recon-
struction programme Of the govern
ment?" Mr.. Redfeld was asked.
II don't know what other depart
ments may be doing, but this is the
end of our undertaking" was the an
swer.
Mr.. Redfeld intimated that the
statement given out by Mr.. Hines in
New York was prepared before the
fnal conference. He also made public
the telegram from Mr.. Hines, sent
from Wyoming April 27, which was an
swered by Mr. Redfeld yesterday. This
telegram indicated that Mr.. Hines
thought, on account of the Industrial
Boards willingness to make still fur
ther efforts to get the railway admin
lstration and the steel men into a con-
ference, that the board had changed
It's policy. 1t also stipulated that no
member of the board was to attend the
conference arranged by it. Mr.. Red
field comm ented that the board had
never receded from it's original policy.
but had merely gone to the limits of
courtesy and endeavor in the hope that
something might result.
AS to the railway administration
argument that the price of scrap had
been omitted altogether by the board
as factor in determining reasonable
prices for steel, Mr.. Redfeld remark
ed that as the railways were the
largest owners of scrap it might be
sell theirs for the $15 ton mentioned
by the final Hines statement as the
present price. The board, he said, had
not overlooked the scrap factor.
Other farewell information given
out by Mr.. Redfield was that the pol
icy OF the board, as understood by it.
SELF, was concurred in by every ex-
ecutlve present at the original Cabinet
meeting that indorsed the project, Gin
cluding MIR. Hines" and that Attor
ney General Palmer had not advised
that the plan was illegal, but merely
that it had no authorization of law.
which was never aSSun1ed
In accepting the designations Of
members of the Industrial Board, Mr..
Redfield sent to all but Mr. Powell, the
railways representative on it, a COPY
Of his general letter to Chairman Peek.
which follows in part:
ut is not necessary to review the
history of the board You have shown
desire to modify statements, to con-
slider facts, to cast aside personal pref
erences, to do any and every thing with
in your power to be helpful. You have
not sought to control, but to cooperate.
You have exhausted the resources of
courtesy. Your attitude has been un-
selfish, generous, and your vision
broad. This is true not only of your
self, but of those who have served with
you, between whom and yourself there
has throughout been an earnest desire
to do the country service in difficult
time"
All the data and correspondence re-
lating to the three months controversy
between the Industrial Board and the
Railway Administration are to be SUBJ
mitted to the President.