The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1913-03-07
MADE PROFIT ON
PHILANTHROPY
Raised Miners Wages, In
creased Fuel Cost.
wen Suspended Discounts
To Make Dividends
r. Larger.

Washington, March 3.-iIardcoal
com Anies increased the wages of
theiA employees at the rate of ST.
(MM0 a year by the strike agree
8[l{ OF last May and increased the
r1ce of anthracite to consumers $751;
.O00. according to report based
On an investigation by the Bureau
0f Labor submitted to the House to-
day.
The report submitted by Secretary
Hagel is the result of an investiga-
fion conducted in response to House
RESOLUTION. asking for the elements
Of cost and profit included in the
present high price of anthracite"
An average increase of twenty-six
cents a ton In wholeale coal prices
WAS discovered to have been made
since the strike agreement OF last
Nay.
VA ID spite of the fact that the work.
~ benefited about S4,000,000 in in
Groased wages during the year, the
1oDort adds that the recent increases
~ prices have been more than suf-
eient to compensate fully those COM
~nies whose costs OF production have
creased more rapidly during the
81 ent years and at the same time,
nave very greatly increased the pro-
of those companies, of whom
fheI are at ,east several. whose
cos of production either decreased
" Remained stationary during the
.isA period"
- Nal for the domestic uses increas-
klta fraction over 81 cents q ton
LAT on pea coal and the small steam
nixes 10 cents ton. These figures
Vore based on comparisons of net
Ioeeipts by the operators after the
GRreement of May last with their
11ceipts during the same months,
INC TO September, 1911.
Of the more than 100000 gain
~ by the operators after the strike
&Sreement $10.9OO.O00 was derived
rom general increase in prices and
about s2,550,00O from the suspen-
sion of April and May discounts,
nile in addition a limited number
r. operators are reported to have
r7ecovered large sums through the
uo1e of coal at premiums made pos
N1ble by the shortage of shipments,
1ncident to the strike.
As a result the operators not only
lined by saving this discount, says
~ report, but in addition purchas-
~ who were unable to secure their
d supply in those months were
q Jed to buy it during June, July or
AlkEst. when discount rates were
sm6(tr or in September and later
when full circular prices are charged.
The l3.450,00O the report says,
was not profit because out of it
came the cost OF the six weeks ces-
SAN of work by the strikers and
alo6xehe increase in their wages.
Ihe increase i'm wages. however,
he report adds. represents a raise
* only to 10 cents a ton in tho
cost of coal production.
The report does not estimate how
much more the public paid for its
coal last year than in 1911 dates had
continued, although II says that the
Increase in wholesale prices affected
retail prices and that I'm all commun-
tiles these advances were felt. The
retail increase averaged 25 cents a
ton on stove and 40 to 80 cents on
chestnut coal.
In New York. Philadelphia and
washington retail advances CORES
'Donded very closely with the advances
IL the circular prices of the opera
ogs.'
In some instances, however. the
'ces were much more pronounced,
the report cites Springfield,
!, and Manchester. N. H.. where
C las approximately $3.50 a ton;
AL Aoston and New Haven, where
It was so cents.
The retail dealers. 1t says. bene-
fitted very unequally from the price
advanced. Whether these increases
were Reasonable must be determined,
~ IMPORT adds. for individual CON-
n1ttses.