The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1919-05-12
PROPOSED TO CUT COSTS
Reduction of Living Expenses
Among Aims Frustrated
by Government.
RAILROADS CONTROL POLICY
Hines Under Domination of
Old Group Is Charge;
Secretary Glass Hit.

WASHINGTON. May 11.-George
n Peek, chairman Of the department
Of commcrce's industrial board which
was dissolved last week after long
controversy with the railroad admin
HtrRtion concerning steel prices. de-
clarcd in statement tonight that
the public would demand an cN-
planation OF tho wrecking, apparent.
~ on tho obstinacy OF single In -
dlvidual OF plan to make an i'm
mediate reduction in the cost OF Nv
ing Of sucR an apparent national
value"
II can only conjecture an cxplana-
ton said MIR Peek. "Throughout
the battling controversy Tho board
has found itself checked by forces
IN opposition which 1t co1!d neither
understand, reason with nor over
come, but which grew In strength
until they rendered further progress
Impossible and forced abandonment
OF the plan.
Approved Generally
IN theory the plan has been an
proved almost Unanimously bv bust
ness men and associations and by
editorial and press comment the
country over; In practice the plan
has been proved by the order books
Of steel producers and tho buying
revival Immediately followed the
announcement of steel prices and
ceased Immediately upon the railroad
administrations rejection OF those
prices
TT Is inconceivable that tho rail.
road administrations unsubstantial
objection alone was sufficient 10
Justify the abandonment OF a nolicy
Of such importance Nor toward the
end has tho director general been
alone In thwarting tho purposc Of
me board. Tho secretary OF tho
treasury has taken stand In dlrec,
contradiction with his message to
. me president urging the creation of
mo hoard. The attorney general has
rendered an opinion that the pIan
OF The board contravenes the Sher-
man act hut the facts assumed as
me basis OF that opinion are so in
consistent with the actual course OF
conduct OF tho board as 10 render
,he opinion inapplicable. vet IL has
peen used as basis for tho abandon.
hent OF the boards plan.
IN all this opposition the board
mas sought I'm vain for n substantial
reason II has urged the raIls,I,d
ADMINISTRATION first, to aid II nv ono
Nngl" fact, or argument. 10 arrive AZ
loWer price for steel. and second
10 name It price which the railroad
Sulnlnlstra'ion would .considerT(air
Ihe raidroad administration
uniy answer has been that the steel
puce announced by the board Is
oo nigh If&too Nigh means that
,ne railroad administration can force
oWet prices hy smashing industry
sulashlng labor, smashing the public
interest and throwing production
mo The hands OF the most powerfuI
snd lowest cost producers the board
psI'es mat tho price IL too high.
4l J., was precisely these results the
s"ato was set up to prevent and the
- stands proved that lower prices
Ennout those results arc impossible
tul me 81 administration per
nmss and announces specifically that
~ oh!y view OF n low price is one
rs "a snail by inherent attractive
ra induce buying not by the rail
h. administration alone, but also
~ me Old railroad corporations who
w ahly represented In the ad-
btLntIauon by the director general
. tSypuset and by Messrs lSovett and
walters who have headed the oupo.
s''ion TO the board
mat the administration would
commit itself against tho nublIc in
urest merely to support the ancient
na dlsHrediled railroad slogan the
yuoIic be damned is unthlnkshIe
~ after an. It is the adminls,ra.
npn not the director general alone.
'"o mad rowsr to thwart the board
,-, Improved h, Glass.
nor" is no question that the
L.a was set to do exactly what II
w. uohe and was set up with the fun
i,uN,'o 'ogc and assent of the admin.
M ma'lon and was given Godspeed
recn us way by Mr., Glass. The
.1, on this point Is clear.
,,o r'"hcrs Of the industrial board
capeHenccd business men. un-
i,s,eu IN the devious ways OF par
NJ p"hiios. They came to their
n, TASK without hone OF reward
auNdnGfment believing that the
sun" adlourument Of politics i'm
nion" affairs Of economic i'm
~ 'dh'" had ben extended TO cover
bs period Of reconstruction They
ps,., become s'ifled by the impreg-
atmosphere that has come
vs, yie armistice and are leaving
,sS"ess only by the conclusion that
s,,,, separation OF the war was not
,in. .ehl to induce the administro-
i,,l ~ give over the business OF NON
wv '"' business o6govornmcn,a !
's. sSe~<- y
Nsk French Prolectorntc'
r,.s,,'o. May ll.--An Abyssinian
atn, ~ was received today by Prcsi. |