The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-09-21
Three Cents Below Present
Quotation and 12,l Uni- :
der High Mark.
WILL BE EFFECTIVE
FOUk-M0NTH PERIOD
- L y W A.E -. a ARs ] \ 4
Action Follows Extensive In
vestigatioit Made BY
Federal Officials.

Washington. sept. 20.-Gopper pTActs
were fixed today at 2sh cents .
pound, about three cents below the
prevailing market. by agreement be-
tween the government and leading
copper producers, effective for four
months. Z att -
Sales to the government, the public
and the allies will be at this price, !.
o. b. New York, and producers agreed
not to reduce wages now paid. They
also pledged themselves to maintain
maximum production and to prevent
copper from falling into the hands OF
specnlatorA
viii Enforce Obedience.
Although the price is fixed under
voluntary agreement, 1t was an
nounced Officially that under the pres
jdents war power, the proper de-
partments of the government viii pe
asked to take over the mines and
rlants Of any producers who fail to
conform to the arrangement ana
price,"
Recent government purchases OF
copper, needed In large quantities Tor
war purposes, have been made un0er
agreement to pay the price to be de-
terminedr by the war industries board.
Early in the war when copper sold ~
about Sc cents, the government con-
tracted for 4a.00U,000 POUNDS Tor the
army and navy at l6 2-3 cents, out
future contracts will be At the new
rate.
Follows investigation.
The price agreed upon today was
ts~H-n at ieyOf
nrnduction costs by the federal trade
commission. The commissions rerort
was understood to have indicated tnat
copper could be sold profitably at
much lower price than 231s cents, put
in reaching it's decision. the war IN
dustrics board, headed by Frank \.
Scott. took into consideration that tue
price should not be pared down to the
point where production would be as
conraeed or wages reduced
Three Conditions imposed.
Three important conditions were
imposed by the board" said an an
nouncemcnt FIRST, that the pro-
dncers would not reduce the wages
now being paid; second. that tbs
operators would sell to the allies ano
10 the public Mt the same price paAC
nv the government and take the nee
essarv measures under the direction
OF the war industries board. for TN
distribution of copper, to prevent y
from falling into the hands OF specu
Iators who would increase the price T.
the public, and third, that the opera
tors pledge themselves to exert ever!
effort necessary to keep up the pro
duction of copper to the maximum
the. past. so long as the war lasts
without the wage stipulation. It wa
explained. present wages, the hignes
ever Maid in the copper industry
would be reduced by the new under
market price.
Producers Have Assistsd.
within the last year." said tn
statement, copper has sold as mig
ais 36 cents per pound and the marke
nrice would now be higher than 1t
had it not been we'll known for som
weeks that the government would u
the price.
"The principal copper producer
throughout the country have evince
nm admirable spirit and for Wees
have promptly supplied every reaue'
Of the government for copper. witho'
awaiting decision az to price an
agreeing to accept the price which u
board should ultimately fix