Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-22
STEEL ROW MAY
OPEN FOOD ISSUE
Decision to Renew Metal Dis
cussion May Indicate Gen.
eral Price Review
REDFlELD RUMoR AFLOAT

Washington. April 80. Director
General Hines. Of the railroads. il was
said yesterday, has decided to follow
President Wilson's suggestion and re-
open the steel price discussion with the
industrial board Of tho Department Of
Commerce. As result of this dcci-
sion Washington was rife with rumors
that the entire price stabiization
policy OF the industrial board. held
in abeyance because Of the steel row,
is shortly to be revived again even to
tho point Of including the consideration
OF food commodity prices.
The announcement that Mr.. Hines
has indicated willingness to discuss"
the steel prices once more was made
by George y. Peck. chairman of the
industrial board. Last Friday Mr..
Peek. on the strength of cablegram
received from the President by Sccre-
tary of Commerce Rpdfield. wrote Mr..
Hines requesting a renewal of negotia
tions. Yesterday Mr.. Peek said he had
been notified that Mr.. Hines. who is on
tour Of the railroad systems of the west e
had designated Robert S. Lovett. of
the Union Pacific. and Henry Walters
Of the Atlantic Coast Line. as members
Of the railroad administration nd-
viSOry committee on purchases. to con
fer with Mr.. Peck on the stccl prices
Mr. Lovctt was i'll in New York yes
terday. so the scheduled conference was
postponed.
Hear RedHeld May Resign
The continued mystery over the exact
text Of the Presidents message to Sec
rotary Redfeld, which the secretary
has declined to make public, and the
presence in Washington late last week
Of Julius Barnes, president of the
'nited States Grain Corporation. is
regarded as responsible for the rumors
that the price stabiization policy is 10
bc taken up again and may be extended
70 food 1t also was responsible yeSter-
day for the rumor. that Secretary Red e
field expected to "csign il the price pol
icy was not pursued. but this report
lacked any real confirmation. In fact.
the Presidents recent message is taken
to mean. if anything. n strengthening
of Secretary Redfield's hand.
In reopcning tro steel price discus
sion. Mr.. Peck said yesterday. the steel
mon and the board had gone as low as
was deemed possible if wages were to
remain at tn"lf DrtSCD1 lrNPl. ana lF
was the original intention Of tho board
to induce industry to make price rcduC =
ton without disturbing wage levels. at
least until the cost of living in general
was definitely reduced.
Confer With Food Officials
Chairman Peck intimatcd that once
! the cost of living was clearly reduced
! the matter of lowering wages might bt
given consideration. and upon some such
grounds. commodity prices. such as
steel. might be lowered again without
great injury to the industry as a whole
Since food forms one Of the most i'm
portant items in the cost of living. Mr.
Peck's statement Yesterday was taken as
an admission that the board evcutuall,
would be called upon to consider foot
prices. 1t is also known that boar,
members have conferred with food ad
ministration officials. officials Of tn
grain corporation, and even with th'
packers. with a Wow 10 considering
food prices.