Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-28
PRESIDENT AUTHORIZES
PRICE INCREASE At Mines
Will Absorb Wage Raises Recently
Agreed Upon Between Opera
tors and Employees.
AMOUNTS TO 10 CENTS y TON
Order, Which Becomes Effective at
O'Clock Monday Morning, Octo-
her %, Follows Receipt of Letter
From Fuel Administrator.
Tlsy Associated prcssl

I3y Associated Prcss1
WASHINGTON, october 2I.-Presi
dent Wilson tonight granted an in
crease OF 40 cents a ton in the price
of bituminous coal at virtually al
mines in the country, effective at
O'clock Monday morning. The new
price will absorb wage raises recently
agreed upon between operators and
miners in the central competitive aud
other fields.
The Presidents order provides that
the increase shall not apply in case ci
existing contracts providing for an in
crease in price to cover any raise in
miners wages. Neither will it apply il,
districts where miners and operators
fail to agree upon Il miners penalty
provision satisfactory To the fuel adj
ministration.
FORMER SCALE or PRICES
AMENDED BY PRESIDENT
The Presidents executive order fol-
lows:
The scale or prices prescribed Au-
gust p. 1917, by the President OF the
United States for hituminous coal ut
the mine. as adjusted and modified by
order of the United States fuel aG-
lions in certain localities. is hereby
amended by adding the sum Of 10 cents
to each of the prices so prescribed or
so adjusted and modified subject. how
ever, to the following express excep-
tons
Il. This increase In price shall not
apply 10 any coal sold at the mine
under an existing contract containing
provision for an increase in the price
OF coal thcreundcr in case of an in
crease in wages paid to miners
20. This increase in prices shall not
apply III any district In which the
operators and miners fail to agree upon
n penalty provision satisfactory to the
fuel administrator for the automatic
collection OF fines in the spirit of the
agreement entered into between the
operators and miners 1T Washington
October 6, 1917.
This order shall become effective at
a. NJ. on October %. 1877.
(Signed) WOODROW WILSON"
WOULD ALLOW FAIR
PROFITS TO OPERATORS
DR.. Garfield had written President
w lscn as follows:
Dear Mr.. President:
1T is my understanding that in ax
ing provisional prices for the sale of
Goa! II was intended to allow 4 fair
prof; TO the operators. The public does
not desire nor is ii necessary 10 meet
tl:e present emergency that the coal
industry should he asked 10 make more
OF a sacrifice thon may reasonably be
required OF A.. staple Industries. EN-
crfi'ant prices only are the subject OF
confederation.
III needs no argument TO justify
congressional and executive action
asains; prohieer!ng when the people
"i Tie Cn!;eG states are called upon
70 make unusual! sacrifices. AS the re-
suli o: conference held in Washing
ten between the operators and miners
OF the central field. an agreement was
reached on the 9Th Of octobe, provid-
Ing among other things, an increase
OF wages "a follows.
IAN advance Of 10 cents per ton 10
miners.
Advances ranging from 20 cents TO
S1.iQ per day 20 !aporcrs
An advance OF - per cen, for yard
age and dead work
This VIII result in an increase to
miners of 30 per cent and to the best
paid !aboreys Of ~ per cent over the
wages Of Aurll i, 1919. These in
creases ar6'. not IL excess OF the ad :
vance in cost OF living FOR that period.
ut is obvious that these advances
in "ages must be taken either from tins.
operator or the consumer.
CAREFUL COMPUTtTION
MADE ny EXPERTS
The consumption prices fixed yielded
a fair profit 10 the operator. but il is
clear that If this increase of wages
Is to fan entirely upon the operators,
their profits viii 10 longer be fair. nm
Tess the result Of the increase bears an
insignificant relation to those profits.
This question was submitted 10 me = q
iuel administrator. 1t is not possible
10 estimate the exact effect of the
proposed increases upon the prices
liked. But the experts OK the Federal
Trade Commission and OF the fuel ad-
ministraton have made as careful
computation as the data in hand pcr-
m!ts. have asked these gentlemen
to exclude from their computations any
allowance which could properly he re-
sssiIs
/ Wrist !