The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-07-15
MINERS TO BE WELL TREATED
Competition Not to Be Shut Out
But Will Be Regulated
MARKETS ARE PROVIDED FOR

Washington, July Ex-senator Miles
Poindexter of Washington. is the au-
thor of a novel and very interesting
duced into the Senate by which it is
proposed that the United States gov
eminent become coal miner as well
as the operator of railroads and other
transportation facilities in Alaska.
The more unusual feature, however.
i'm this proposed legislation is care
fully worked out cooperative plan by
which employees of the government in
the government coal mines would
share with consumers of the coal the
profits" of government coal mining.
This principle Is also applied to the
government transportation service.
Even more unusual is the feature Of
the bill for what might be called reg
ulated competition" The government
does not propose a monopoly of the ex-
ploitations of Alaska, Private interests
are invited to compete, and half of all
the public coal lands are reserved for
leasing to any private interests which
terms of 50 years and in tracts not
exceeding $500 acres To any single
interest. The government sets the
standard for operation. however. The
bill provides deliberately for the man
ner in which labor shall be treated i'm
the government mining and transpor-
tation service; for example, providing
10 t,,i,
wage, the prohibition Of child labor,
worlxmans compensa ton and accident
insurance plan, proper sanitation,
housing and general living conditions.
etc. All these things are guaranteed
TO employees who are To help Uncle
Sam dig coal and operate his railroads
and ships 1t is also required that
persons taking leases and proposing
to compete with the government mines
must duplicate all these conditions in
their privately operated plants.
Market Is Specified.
The next most interesting feature OF
this remarkably advanced legislation is
that which specifies how and where
the products shall be marketed. There
is created what might be called "A
preferential market for government
mined coal. The government prefer
ence in selling its coal to certain clas-
ses of consumers as follows: Cd the
government railroads; CD the L. ;.
navy and other government services:
(3) schools and other public institu-
tions. including municipalities: (4) do
nestle users of coal or ultimate con-
sumers; (5) cooperative ASSOCIATIONS
(6) commercial retailers; 90 whole
salers; (s) manufa cturers and all other
purchasers. The government is tn es-
tablish distributing stations in Alaska
and on the Pacific coast for disposing
Of it's coal. which is to he conveyed to
these stations by means of its own rail-
roads and steamships.
The bill provides that the govern
ment's activities in all these direc-
tions must earn per cent on the cap
itaI invested. The object of this is to
pay interest on the bonds which are
floated TO raise the money to start the
work. and to furnish a sinking fund
for the retirement of these bonds at
maturity.
The prices Of coal and transporta-
iion are TO he fixed by agents appoint
ed by the president. The president Is
also charged with the full response
hility tor carrying out the provisions
of the act, and is given power to ap-
point such agents as may be necessary
IN this end