Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-08
MINING men Of
west AGAINST
PRICE FIXING
Conference at Salt Lake
Asks Secretary of the
Treasury to Be Heard on
the Proposal.
Spirit Of Patriotism Pre-
vailed at Meeting Idaho
Leads in Attendant at the
Conference Called to Con-
slider Mining Conditions.

Frank f. Johnesse, who presided over
the recent conference Of the western
metal producers, held at Salt Lake. has
returned home. He reports that Idaho
led in the number Of mining men at
the conference and that the meeting
was one in which the spirit of patriot
ism prevailed. The consensus Of opin-
ion, and the conference so went on rec
ord, was against the government fix
ing the price Of silver without first CIV
ing the operators chance to be heard
upon the matter and to go into the cost
of production with the government Of
ficials
Representatives were present from
Idaho, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Mon
tana and Arizona and that free ex-
preston of mining conditions, costs
and amount received from productions
were gone into carefully, with the re-
suit that the mining men felt in the
interests of the industry, protect
should be made and a committee should
wait upon Mr.. McAdoo to discuss tho
price fixing with him.
TELEGRAM TO M'ADoo.
A telegram sent to Mr.. McAdoo, out
lining the metal situation, is as fol-
lows:
First, If the contemplated action of
the government is based solely on pa
triotic necessity or the needs Of our
allies in the war we are waging with
them, the silver mine owners of the
United States have no word of protest
Eau m. Slg IL
expressing the earnest hope that all
the results of the proposed action be
most carefully considered. So far as
winning this war is concerned, we are
with the government to a man and to
the finish;
Second If, however, the action pro-
posed Is based purely on economic
grounds. we respectfully call the gov
ernment's attention to these pertinent
facts: The present market value of
silver at sc cents per ounce as COM
pared to the price of 50 cents obtain
ing Immediately prior to the war, rep
resents an increase of 46 per cent, while
the increase in the costs of supplies and
abor required in silver mining has been
not less than rs per cent. The pro-
duction Of silver at present price and
cost represents a less profit than when
silver sold at SO cents an ounce.
HIGH COST OF PRODUCTION.
"The proposed action by the govern
ment will hold the price at the rela-
lively low increase of 46 per cent, while
the unregulated costs of labor and sup
plies are increasing day by day and
will no doubt mount from rs to 100
per cent and even more. Labor in the
mines. as in the trenches, must be
young labor to be efficient, but our
young men have gone to the war. All
the conditions surrounding mine oper-
atoms have become increasingly dis
tressing and discouraging, and If the
government desired to curtail the out
put of silver at the present time, no
better method could be devised than to
keep the market price at it's present fig
ures. If then the governments pro-
posed action be based on economic
grounds that it will prove vital mis-
take for the government as we'll as
for the producers, and against it, we
enter our most earnest protests on
economic grounds.
ASK FOR CONFERENCE.
"And further we ask that II the gov
eminent deems 1t necessary to fix the
price Of silver, the silver producers be
given the same opportunity before final
action Is taken to place before tho
proper officials the data showing the
present increased costs of silver pro-
duction as was afforded to the pro-
ducers of coal and copper, to the end
that a fair and reasonable price shall
be decided upon which shall not dis
courage production"