The Detroit times., 1913-07-17

coal mines would share with cOnsuin-
ers OF the coal the profits OF gov
eminent 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
regulated competition The govern
ment does not propose monopoly OF
the exploitation Of Alaska. Private
interests are invited to compete. and
half OF all the public coal lands are
reserved for leasing 10 any private
interests which desire 70 lease and
operate them for terms OF 80 years
and in tracts not exceeding 1850 acres
10 any single interest. The govern
ment sets the standard for operation,
however The bill provides elaborate
~ for the manner in which labor shall
be treated in the government mining
and transportation service. for ex-
ample. providing for an eight-hour
day a minimum wage. the prohibition
of child labor. a workman compen-
sation ahd accident insurance plan,
proper sanitation housing and gener-
al living conditions, etc. All these
things are guaranteed TO employees
who are 10 help Uncle Sam dig coal
and operate his railroads and ships.
II is also required that persons TAX
ing leases and proposing TO compete
with the government mines must du-
pl,cate all these conditions in their
privately operated plants.
The next most interesting feature
of this remarkably advanced legisla-
ton is that which specifies how and
where the products shall be marketed
There is created what might be call
ed a preferential market for govern
ment mined coal. The government
mining service is empowered 10 give
preference in selling it's coal TO GER
tain classes of consumers as follows:
% the government railroads. ca the
L. s. navy and other government ser
vices. CD schools and other public
institutions. including municipalities,
(4 domestic users OF coal or ultimate
consumers. 60 cooperative associa-
tons dealing with ultimate consum-
ers. t6D commercial retailers, ca
Wholesalers, (Sl manufacturers and
all other purchasers. The govern
ment il 10 establish distributing sta
ticns in Alaska and on the Pacific
coast foS disDosing OF its coal which
is 10 be conveyed 10 these stations
by means Of its own railroads and
steamships
The bill provides that the govern
ments activities in all these direc-
tons must eern five per cent on the
capital invested The object of this
il 10 pax interest on the bonds which
are floated 10 raise the money TO
start the work. and to furnish sink
ing fund for the retirement Of these
bonds at maturity.
The prices Of coal and transporta
ton are to be fixed by agents appoint
ed by the president. The president
r. also charged with the full RESPONSE
bility for carving out the provisions
of the act. and is given power 10 APP
point such agents as may be neces-
sary 10 this end.
The most ingenious feature of the
bill is no doubt that which provides
for harmonizing the interests Of the
producer and the consumer. In elab-
Grating the idea OF sharing profits,
the bill works out a plan by which
1t is provided that any surplus which
Il left over after paving the cost OF
operation and the interest charge.
shall be divided between the employees
OF mines and transportation services.
and the purchasers of coal or OF
transportation. The share going 70
the operatives is TO be proportional
TO the wages they receive and the
share going to consumers is in pro-
portion TO the amount paid by them
for coal or transportation.
in explaining the provisions OF the
bill today, Senator Pondexter said:
"The plan in this bill has been work
ed ont with a great deal OF care. II
represents many weeks OF considera-