The Washington herald., 1919-04-27
REDFIELD MAKES
APPEAL To END
PRICE WRANGLE
Wires Director General
Hines Seeking to Ar
range Conference.
HOLDS RESERVATIONS
Industrial Board Tenders
Ihem, But Secretary
: Defers Acceptance.


Secretary of Commerce Redfield yes
terday declined to accept the resigna-
tions of members of the Industrial
Board, although George N Peek.
chairman Of thsA body. made a per-
sonaI visit to his office to persuade
him to do so.
Instead Mr.. Redfield sent another
telegram to Walker ID. Hines, Director
General Of Railroads. in an eleventh.
hour effort to bring the Railroad Ad-
mihistration and the Industrial Board
together on the controversy over the
price of steel rails.
The Secretary's last stand was
further fortified by a communication
to Mr.. Hines from Mr.. Peek, wherein
the latter tells that the boards steel
price was the result OF an exhaustive
Investigation by different govern
mental agencies
~a-7T Resixnatlons offered.
The Industrial Board, it was re-
vealed by dr. Peek, Is now and has
been ready Use April 1. in fact. to
toss up the ,Sponge in the price
feud" with the N1ilroad Administra-
tioR-
Only strenuous tactSSs on the part
of Mr.. Redfield, in acquaiating the
President with the facts. has pre-
vented a -walk-out' by the Indus
trial Board members long before
this. and in his telegram to Mr..
Hines the Secretary again relies on
President Wilson's long distance
powers as a mediator to bring about
an agreement. His message to the
Director General of Railroads is as
follows:
Mr. Tumulty has informed me of
the Presidents cablegram to you re-
questing cooperation with myself
and associates respecting prices. /
regret that the meeting of your ad-
visers with the Industrial Board
Thursday. 2ith instant. failed to ad-
vance matters because thSy candidly
stated they had no new facts and
reserved their views respecting
proper prices.
II shall be more than glad, how
ever. to take any possible further steps
that will bring US into accord and re-
lieye existing business tension.
Am ready, therefore, to reconsider
candidly all facts you or your repre-
sentatives may care to present and to
give same sympathetic attention.
You are cordially requested to ask
your representatives to confer anew
with the Industrial Board with the
spirit on both sides of gentlemen en-
gagged in a common service, seeking a
mutual end and speakig without re-
serve and with entire absence of bar
gaining and without thought OF main
tafning previously expressed opinions
save so far only as facts may when
fully developed justify.
Friendly Spirit.
II assure you in advance that the
Industrial Board will act in this spirit
Kindly advise. II possible by telegraph,
whether you are prepared to act as
above suggested. This is asked be-
eslise you will appreciate that in the
absence of action looking to definite
results il will be necessary that the
members OF the Industrial Board re-
sumo their personal AFFAIRS
The meeting referred to by the sec
retary was the latest session Of the
Industrial Board with representa-
tives of the railroad administration. 1t
was termed the ''fifth and final' ses-
sion, but no progress was made, and
in this respect 1t corresponded to all
OF the other meetings.
The designations of all the mem
bers Of the board" said Mr.. Peek,
have been in the possession OF Sec
retary Redheld since April /. He Is,
of course, at liberty to accept them at
any time he believes conditions war
rant"
The reported resignation OF Secre-
tary Redfleld. himself, Is attributed
to the row between the board and the
Railroad Administration. and his fail
ure to obtain proper Presidential sup
port on behalf of the board, which is
an adjunct to the Department Of Com
merce.
Peek's Letter.
Mr.. Peek's letter to Mr.. Hines.
written SO that a misunderstanding
OF the boards position" could not be
taken, tells that the steel prices rec
onfmended were the result of a study
of costs prepared by experts of the
Federal Trade Commission.
He said the prices were the lowest
possible that could be arrived at, and
that despite The Railroad Admins
tration's refusal to accept them. the
board felt 1t could not take a par
tisan attitude and ask the steel pro-
ducers to agree TO a further reduc-
ton.
The Railroad Administration, how
ever. is invited i'm the letter to sub
NIT any data in its possession to in
dicate the prices unfair. and the In
dustrial Board. according to Mr..
Peek, will render "all mutual aid
to bring about an understanding be-
tween the Railroad Administration
and producers of steel on the broad
-. -
isting wage scale and the preserva-