Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-25
W|[[ NOT QUOTE RATES
THEY SAY ARE RU|NOuS
Big Business Interests Want More
Money Than Was Demanded
on Initial Contracts.
CLASH APPEARS IMMINENT
Copper Men, To Whom Others Look
for Leadership. Want 20 Cents for
Product From This Government
and 3S From Allies.

WASHINGTON, June ci.-Big busi-
ness has thrown down the gauntlet to
the government.
Great interests. which control most
OF the material and machinery neces-
sary to the prosecution of war, have
informed the government that while
they stand ready TO furnish their pro-
ducts AT prices far below mark ct
value, they cannot be expected to quote
rates that would be ruinous
Furthermore, they declare that they
cannot be asked to offer the allies the
same Preferential rate they are will
ing TO make TO the United States Cop
per interests. 10 which all the big in
dustries look for leadership, have de-
cidcd that they will charge this gov
crnment 70 cents IL pound for their
product. while the allies must pay IS
cents
This was decided in New York. it
was learned here to-day. at "A luncheon
held last Friday. Originally they had
quoted price of 16 2-3 cents pound
for their product. II was generally
understood here that this price was for
All the copper that would he need eCl
by the government during the war
QUOTATION WAS ONLY
FOR 45.OH0.OOO POUNDS
Now it develops that the quotation
was only supposed to be for $4,000. 900
pounds of copper This was for the
navy. Al that time il was said this
would be all that the government
would require. The offer was made
before the country was actually in
war, and now that the country is at
war. it is learned that this is less than
one-tenth the amount needed The
navy alone will require 10000. 600
pounds in addition to its first order.
while the War Department will have TO
have 125,000.OOO pounds beside
The government. say the coppcr men.
can hardly expect them to supply this
vast quantity of copper at the same
price-ihey call it sacri,icc price
that was paid for the first order
More than $4,000. 900 was saved by the
government on the first order. This
was brought about through Fern rd
NJ. Baruch, chairman of the raw ma
terialS committee of the Council of
National Defense. going out among his
PERSONAL friends and demanding This
price As the copper interests "contri-
button for the war cause" rs I'M
mediate result was that the other large
intcrests-likc steel, nickel and Icnd-
followed suit
HOLD THAT PRICE;
WOULD HE RUiAOlS
FIRST indication of hitch between
big business and :he government; came
iast week, when the steel interests re-
iuScd 10 quote price Of s65 a ton for
steel for the new merchant ships. steel
men said that this price which tbcv
mad qquoted for navy vessels. had also
been for limited output. and they
could not be asked to supply i'm addi-
ton the vast amount Of steel to take
care OF the country's war needs 1T the
same figure. They held that this woull
DC ru'nous. They expressed whiting
ness to furnish steel for merchant
ships on quick delivery for about two.
thirds the price they are charging
their biggest Gust omers. incluiins: the
allies. for quick delivery steel
Lead producers last week offered.
through the lead committee of the adj
Visory council lead at cents a mound.
This is about two thirds the market
price, and II ia understood TO cover
July lead for immediate delivery, and
1t is understood not to cover future
deliveries. which will he governed by
market conditions then prevailing. rhe
zinc and oil men, IL Is declared by a
man in close touch with the council
work. stand practically on the same
ground.