The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-26
COAL TRUST THREAT
TO AMERICAN PEOPLE
KEEP HANDS OFF
OR PAY PENALTY
Public Warned Prices Will Be
Advanced if Miners
+ Are Aided.

Journal Special Service.
New York, March 26.0'It must be
apparent that the public would have to
pay very high price if it's support
should enable the miners to exact the
demands they now make upon the oper-
ators. ~
Such is the conclusion of a statement
issued today by the presidents of the
coal-carrying companies, in which they
declare that if the public should aid
the miners in obtaining their demands
coal would be $l.20 ton more than
that paid for it during the last three
years.
The statement declares that if the
demands of the ml4.s- are granted the
public must pay the difference between
what the miners are now getting and
what they are asking for. 9 -.
The Operators Statement. =
The anthracite coal operators state
ment is as follows: ...T j..
"Much inquiry has been made as to
the precise calculation by which the
| anthracite coal operators establish the
fact that in order to grant the de-
mands made by the coal miners it will
be necessary to raise the price charged
| the consumer by $1.20 a ton: The de-
mands Of the miners provide for a
threefold increase of wages: t.,
-" Tristan increase of 10 per cent
to all miners engaged in cutting coal
or other men engaged on contract work.
"Second-The establishment of a
minimum wage for each class of labor
This minimum day wage, in many in.
stances, is 100 per cent greater than
the rates now being paid.
Third-The establishment Of an
eight-hour day, instead of a nine-hou1
day, without any reduction in day e
pay. 3D..
How They Compute It. -
"By careful calculation from the pay
rolls of the operating companies, the
effect of the three increases is to add
an average of OLGA per cent to the
actual labor cost per ton of coal This
is equal at the present labor cost OF
$1.55 to an increase Of 33.6S cents pei
/ ton on all sizes of coal which are mined
1t must be understood, however, that
the so-called steam sizes of anthra
cite, which are a by-product of the in
dustry, como into direct competition
with bituminous coal and must, there
I fore, be sold for price regulated By
soft coal. The result is that all the
added labor cost of the entire industry
must be borne by the domestic sizes
which comprise IS per cent Of the en-
tire output. E-
"'This is exactly the same principle
that holds good in other manufacturing
industries, as, for instance, in the grail
or milling business. Wheat at presen
costs about SO cents bushel Afte
this wheat is milled, 81 per cent Of tn
product sells for price Al per cent les
than the actual cost Of the wheat be
fore milling, and the cost of the -four
or main product, has to be increased &C
cordlngly to make up for this loss. I
IS the same way, with anthracite coal.
/ Burden on Homes.
"This placing the burden on the do
nestle sizes-a fact against which Their
can be no .appeal-brings about tina
the labor cost of each ton of coal to tn,
domestic consumer would be raise,
under, the new demands by SIS cents
ton.
"The general public asks, sWh
would not the addition of 51.8 cents t.
the market price regain the entire ex
ira outlay of the outputa' This inquir,
ignores one of the important award
u.
The sliding SCALE
According to the sliding scale, tn
present fiat rate Of wages must be PAL
for every ton of coal soid at tidewate
for $3.50. Every cents increase on thi
market price of coal under the slidin,
scale adds l per cent to the wages O.
every class Of laborer. IT signifcanc
of this is that out r .fy 5 cents O.
additional price s miners employee
by the Lehigh Valley Coal company
for instance, must receive 2.9 cents an
the operator 81 cents.
4 Push Up the Price.
cit is thus apparent that if the mar
ket price Of coal should be increase,
so cents, the operator would receiv
only 81 cents to recoup him for tn
51.8 cents added labor cost per ton be
fore the increase began.
cit becomes necessary, therefore, t.
push up the price Of coal until the ne
4 share Of the operator is sufficient t.
! pay the 5l.8 cents. It will be under
stood that the miners wages increas
with every advance in the marke
price. But the operator must secure
sufficient net increase to equalize tn
net increase paid to the miner. Thi
equalization is reached, according to tn
figures Of the Lehigh Valley Coal com
pany, at about $1.20. Some of the com
panies estimate the raise at a little less
some at little more. But the princi
pie is always the same. y
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