Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-10-29
Beginning This Morning Mines
in Middle States May Ask
45 Cents a Ton Additional
for Their Output, :
SCALE is AFFECTED
THROUGHOUT COUNTRY
Wages Largely Based on
Standard Of Ohio and Peau-
syIvania; Unions Agree ia
Work Now, ,-
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Washington, Oct. ,2s,--Miliiors oe
dollars OF Increased cost 70 consuIn-
ers Is involved Ia President Wilson'S
order, issued late last night. grahdhg
an increase of 45 cents ton In. tho
price Of bituminous coal at virtually
all the mines In the country. The or
der was based upon recommendations
made to the president by Fuel Admip-
isirator Garfield, after a careful SUR
vey OF conditions 10 all districts. and
becomes effective Monday. THE praet
refers specifically only to the syatse
agreement entered into az the con-
ference In washington, October 8, be.
twees operators and miners ln the
central competitive field OF Ohio, flli-
nols, Indiana and Psnnsylvania, 'bnt
wages thrpughpht the Country, are
largely based on. those paid 10 the
central district. Z, 81. 1f~-a
The presidentsdorder fcilows.f AZ
'sThe scale OF prices prescribed Ali.
gust 2i. 1917, bys the president OF the
the mine, as adjusted andsmodifted by
order OF the United States fuel ad-
ruinistrator to meet exceptional con-
ditions In certain localities. 10 hereby
amended by adding the sun, -ot As
cents to each OF the prices sd pre-.
serlbed or so adjusted and suhdtfted,
subject however. TO the Following .sxs.,
press exceptions: F'ss', tsS,s,s
Penalty Provisions Included, /
''i---This increase IN priee shalt NOT
apply to any coal sold atsthe mine .un-
der an existing contract containing, q
provision for an increasegin the price
If coal Hereunder. ihgcase OF an ip-
crease In wages paid to miners.
"2-This increase IN price. shall not
apply in any district in which tho
operators and miners fail to, agree
upon penalty provision satisfactory
to the fuel administrator for the auto,
matte collection OF fines in the spirit
Of the agreement entered into between
the operators and miners at Washing.
ton. october Q. 1917. E
The order shall become effective
az a. m, on october 20. l9i7."f
In his letter ito the president rsc-
ommending the price increases. Drs.
Garfield said that the wage increases
aegregatins SO per cent to n1fuers aud
rs per cent to the best ,laborers over
the wages Of April /, 1914. we're not
disproportionate to the advahcein tho
cost Of living"
Wage scale Responsible.
His understanding, he expiatned,
was that In fixing prices for mine, coal,
1t was intended 10 allow faif profit
and that under the new wage pcaiB
existing prices would not. admit gQi
such profit.
Government reports show that 3sa,l
100000 tons Of btumipoJs coal wefN
mined in the first eight months of>
1917. or an average OF +5,437. 500 tonAt
monthly. At this rate the new price,
increase will cost consumers, ahdnts
$40, 100000 a year, or s2o,ooo,Qoo "a
month. f's stasst
In reaching his conclusion. Dr. Gar.
field wrote: <~ Ss$ H. 4.
II have been influenced particuiars
ly by the provision Of the agreement
Intended TO secure an increased ansln.l
interrupted production OF COAL
Hto oA8uty o1ss1t1ce$HIA- f ! n
DR.. Garfield referred to the ssupd-
lation In the agreement, mentioned M
tho presidents order. that nlness tall
ing to work the ptesoribed eight hours.
a day for at least tive days a week
would be penAiized,, the fines TO be
automatically deducted from l. their
wages. and said that representatives
of the miners union had assured him
that with miners working that length
of time there would be no shortasai
of coal, S
The recent wage agreement rs for
the period "of the war and not 10 en-
cced two years from April 1, isis.-
and is subject 10 ratification Of ths.
next biennial convention Of the United
Mine Workers OF America. Or, Cur.
field. declared, however. he had been,
assured the convention will approve.
The fixing Of provisional prices BY
the president In August was undct-
stood at the time to be subject 10 rss.
vision nv the flfei admiufstratfo1 ~