Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-03
REJECTIONLIFTS
STEEL PRICE LID
Entire Issue Reopened by
Illness Hostility to
Rate for Rails
PEEK OUT OF BOUNDS
Glass States Definitely That
Conference Recommitted
L. S. Policy

Washington, April 3. - The entire
pohcy OF the government in undertaking
TO revise and stabilize prices through the
industrial board of the Department of
commerce has been reopened as the re-
suit Of the conference yesterday over
me refusal of the railroad administra-
ton to accept a new scale of steel prices
arranged by the board
secretary Glass, who presided over
the conference of cabinet officers and
heads OF government purchasing agencies
with the Industrial board held in his
ofce; said today Chairman Peek. of the
poaru, had acted without authority in
amending the statement Of the result. SO
as to make 1t appear that only the dis
pute with the railroad administration
had been recommitted.
Whole Program Referred
1t was the intention OF tile confer
| ence. Mr.. Glass said TO recommIt the
entire matter of price agreements for
further consideration. Officials who
were instrumental in organizing the in
| dustrial board said there never had been
! any intention of forcing government
| agencies to buy at agreed prices. and
| mat 1t would lie necessary for the board
! TO change it's course.
In connection with the statement is
sued yesterday. Secretary Glass made
! this comment:
| ANY addition to or subtraction from
the statement issued was not authorized
ana, in my opinion. the amendment, as
| published does not reflect the sentiment
| OF the conference. It was the intention
or the conference to recommit the en-
tire matter to the board for further con-
sideration and not merely one phase of
the boards disagreement with the rail-
road administration"
illegal Price Fixing"
| Mr. Peek's amendment consisted in the
| addition of the words with the rail-
road administration" to the sentence an
| nouncing that the entire matter had been
recommitted. It developed today that
Attorney General Palmer, who appeared
at Secretary Glass's office just as the
conference was assembling yesterday. left
before the meeting began. It also was
learned that Director General Hines told
the conference that steel prices had been
arranged by the board without warrant
of law and that others present declared
the new prices amounted 10 illegal price
| fixing
| Director Hines indicated that the S45-
SAT price for rails approved by the
| board was higher than that at which
purchasing officials OF the railroad ad-
ministration were disposed to buy
The plan of the industrial board to re-
duce prices by voluntary agreement be-
tween the industries and the government
is predicated upon the cooperation Of
all government departments, on the as
! sumption that these departments will
| buy at the prices agreed upon as fair bv
the board and the industry. 1t is the
only definite program for industrial re-
construction thus far evolved by the
present administration, and until a week
| ago it was presumed that all the govern
ment departments would co-operate te
! fully.
Action of Conference
! With Director General Hines on a
| tour Of the South, officials OF the indus
! trial board decided to await his return
proceeding further conference. As the
result of his arrival in Washington Tues
day night. Secretaries Glass and Red
| field called a conference of all concern
ed to hear Mr.. Hines set forth the
In the meantime. Secretary Redfield had
cabled President Wilson asking him for
| decision.
The President approved the establish
ment of the industrial board as an ad-
junct of the Department of Commerce
and has advanced $4,000 out of his
personal fund for its maintenance in the
hopes that the voluntary reductions of
commodity prices proposed would stimu-