The Washington times., 1913-03-03
COAL COMPANIES
GAIN BY AGREEMENT
Anthracite Miners Got Little
Benefit Under Pact of May,
kageI Tells House.

A report showing that the anthracite
coal companies have vastly increased
their profits since the strike agreement
of May 20, 1872, and that the miners have
received comparatively small benefits
Hereunder has been forwarded TO the
House by Secretary Nagel, of the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor.
The report is made as a result of the
Difenderfer resolution adopted by the
House during the past session. The Bu-
reau of Labor investigated conditions in
the anthracite coal region and the
operations of the alleged trust and the
report sent to the House last night
holds out little hope for the relief of the
consumer.
Mr. Nagel's report says the effect of
the increased prices has been apparent
in the retail trade in New York, Phila-
delphia, Washington, Boston and other
cities.
Millions in Increase.
1t is further stated that the coal COM
panies had reaped about s13, $4,000 in
view of their increased prices, whereas
the miners, under the strike agreement,
given as one reason for the advance by
the coal companies, have received only
SioO0oo0. The report of the Secretary
says in part:
The increase in wholesale prices as
measured by the net receipts from sales
of anthracite coal by the operators
since the agreement of May -, 19l:.
amounted to an average of approx
mately a6 cents per ton, if the prices
in June to September, 1911, are COM
pared with the prices realized in the
same months of 1872 On this basis of
comparison the average increase in the
price of sizes of coal prepared for do
mestic consumption amounted to BIB
cents per ton, and the average in
crease on pea coal and the smaller
steam sizes amounted 20 1914 cents per
ton.
.'The discounts of so cents and 40
cents a ton customarily allowed on sizes
prepared for domestic consumption in
April and May. respectively, were sus-
pended In April and May. 1912. As a
result. the operators gained not only
by selling their domestic sizes Of coal
during these two months at 40 or 80
cents more per ton than during the
corresponding months of 1911. but, in
addition, the purchasers, who were un-
able to secure their customary supply
ofcoal during April and May, were forced
TO puy II either during June. July, or
August when the regular dicounts were
smaller. or in September and the later
months, when the full circular prices
are charged.
Result of Conditions.
As a result of these conditions in
1872, the coal companies received
through the general increase in prices
and through the suspension of dis
counts about SIS, $50 600 more than they
would have received for the same ton
mage at the prices previously existing
OF this amount about Slo,9oo,oo0 was de-
%l.A m
prices and about ss,J50000 from the
suspension of April and May discounts.
In addition. a limited number of OPP
orators received very large sums
made possible by the shortage of ship
ments
These amounts il should be under
stood, do not represent the amount of
increases in net profits to TIE operators.
because out of these increased receipts
cessation of work in April and May, and
also the increase in the wages of en-
ployes resulting from the settlement
Of Nav 20
th-acite operators for these increases
in prices are that they were necessary
TO cover (al the advance in the wages
of their employees, amounting to be-
tween and 10 cents per ten- resulting
from the agreement of May 20, 1912. and
Of production which have taken place
between 1902 the date of the last gen.
eraI increase in prices, and 1872. largely
as result of increasingly difficult
physical conditions of mining, increases
in taxes, and more stringent mine laws.
Workers Are Benefited.
The anthracite mine workers were
benefited by the agreement of May 20,
1912, not only through net increase
in their wage rates, which averaged
sc per cent. but through the conces-
sion of certain working conditions
which were considered of importance
thouge they cannot be measured In
terms of money. An additional item of
Importance to the miners was the par
tial recognition Of their organization,
both in the negotiations and In the
form in which the agreement was
signed The advance of Sc per cent in
mine workers wages represents an IN
crease of from to 10 cents per ton in
the cost of producing coal. and on the
basis OF the shipments from June to De-
cember. 1872. amounted in round num-