The sun., 1917-09-20
FIX STEEL AND
COPPER PRICES
L. s. Boards Data. Now in the
Presidents Hands, May Be
Given Out Tomorrow.
Special Despatch to TIE srS,

WASHINGTON, Sept 19--Steel and
copper prices are now in the hands OF
the President and will be announced
probably in the next forty-eight hours.
The matter was the subject OF long
conference to-day between the President.
the members Of the War Industries
Board and Chairman Davies Of the Fed
eral Trade Commission.
While some notifications may b
made In the figures agreed upon by the
Trade Commission and the War Indus
tries Board, It is believed that the fig-
ures now before the President will gov
ern him in coming to decision. Under
the present law the prices fixed will only
apply to Government purchases, but this
class of buying forms SO large pro-
portion Of the transactions In the pres
ent markets that such prices will have
great influence in. fixing quotations for
the entire industries affected.
1t is believed here. that the prices
fixed will meet with the general APP
proval OF producers. They will be high
enough to stimulate production to the
fullest possible extent even at present
wage rates. 1t Is thought that the
Presidents advisers, including the labor
officials. who have been taken into his
confidence, have urged the continuance
of the present wage scales.
Outside OF the ultraradical element
there is feeling even in Administration
| circles that the prices fixed for coal
were unduly low 1t Is certain that
the industry has not been stimulated
and that on the contrary production has
actually decreased since the prices were
formulated. In addition. labor leaders
have found themselves in a bad posi-
ton on the question of increased wage
| demands when the operators were able
] to point to prices which II not unprotit
able at the present wage scale are sc
nearly so as to furnish an almost un
answerabe argument against further
| increases.
Another reason for believing that tn,
prices announced will be more favorable
to the industries affected than were TIN
coal prices is the fact that the Wal
Industries Board has been consulted II
the matter
Coal prices were fixed on the basis o
data presented by the Trade Commission
alone, the coal production committee
which was the organ of the Council o
National Defence dealing with the in
dustry, being utterly ignored. The Wa
Industries Board is believed TO be .
l ! more COnSeTNdtlNt DouS tHdl 'ht iINu
Commission and all the public utter
ances of it's members have invariabl.
laid stress on the necessity for increased
production.
Bernard Baruch is the boards exper
on metals and other raw materials. ant
while he has been successful In gettinl
Government requirements covered at lov
prices, it is thought that he thorough
understands the necessity for stimulat
ing industry to the greatest possible ex
tent. He has been In daily conference
with the copper and steel people on tn
matter OF prices, thus following a diff
ferent method from that pursued wit
regard to coal.
Mr.. Baruch's influence with the Presi
dent has always been regarded as par
, ticularly strong. This does not mea
that the steel and copper industries ar
on the verge Of an era OF extraordinar
profits, but only that the Presidents ow
declaration that prices should be fai
and reasonable will be adhered to In tn
broadest possible way and that the ir
!. terests of the nation as we'll as Of tn
Industries affected will be protected.