New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-31
Bureau Of LabOr'S Report on
"AnthraCite Trust" SubStan-
tiateS the Charges Made
by The Tribune.
PROFIT IN HIGHER WAGES
Consumers Made to Pay Much
More than the Increase to
Mine Workers, and
Added Cost Will
Be Permanent.

Washington. March 30.--The arbi-
trary increase of the price of coal TO
the domestic consumer by the anthra-
cite trust will be put squarely up to
the Democratic Congress when it cor
yencs in a report by the Bureau OF
Labor. completely substantiating the
charges made by The Tribune in lis
expose OF last May.
The report shows how the increase Of
the wages Of the mine workers, instead
of curtailing the revenues Of the trust,
has been made to yield a handsome
profit at the expense of the public. Tho
consumer has been made to pay not
only the increase OF wages allowed the
mine workers, but an additional mar
gin of profit TO the producers chief
among whom are the anthracite rail
roads which have a grip on the in
dustry.
The Bureau of Labor. confirming in
every particular the charges made by
The Tribune when the plan OF the trust
was first put into operation. finds:
That the coal companies received in
1912. through the increase in prices and
the suspension of discounts, about $13.-
10000 more than they would have re-
ceived for the same tonnage at the
prices previously existing.
That the advance in mine workers
wages amounted, in round numbers, to
S4.000.Oo0.
Permanent Increase in Price.
That the average increase in the price
Of domestic sizes Of coal for 1912 was
approximately 3l.23 cents a ton. OF
this amount % cents is regarded as
permanent increase 10 be paid out Of
the pocket Of the consumer.
That the average increase received
by the miners was cents n ton.
That of the $13,4JoO0o increase re
ceived by the coal companies S2.5J0,0pO
was obtained through the suspension
Of April and May discounts under cover
of a coal scare" created by threat
ored shortage. a much greater short
age existed i'm 1909. but there was no
scare" ut that time and prices were
not advanced.
That the coal roads received a clear
purchased from the Independent op-
orators under the 80 per cent contracts.
constituting large proportion Of their
sales. The independent operators re-
oeived only o. per cent of the increase
IN price and paid the full advance in
wages. The railroads received 80 per
cent Of the increase in price and paid
no increase whatever in wages or cost
Of production in the case Of coal pur-
chased from the independent colieries.
That the recent increase in prices
more than compensates those com
panies where costs Of production have
increased most rapidly, and has greatly
increased the profits Of those com
panies whose costs Of production either
decreased or remained stationary dur
ing the same period.
Scope Of investigation.
The investigation was undertaken by
the Department Of Commerce and La
bor by direction of the House of Rep
rcsentatives, which adopted resolu-
tion calling for the information. fol-
lowing The Tribune's expose of the
plan Of the coal trust. The inquiry was
confined to the coal companies owned
or controlled by the eight railroads
which penetrate the anthracite region.
with a single exception. In that case
Continued on sixth page. second column.