The copper era and Morenci leader., 1917-09-14
HAYDEN :PROTESTS j, AGAINST@; FIXING ~
 COPPER PRICE
Congressman Hayden from Arizona Writes to Local Commercial Club Explaining His Efforts Against Possible Action.

N96IHSh Possible Action. Congressman Carl Hayden of Ari- zona. is taking every possible proven tative measure to see that the war in duStries board does not harm the cop per producing industry through the fixing of an arbitrary price for the red metal. c. W. Allen, president of the Commercial Club of Bisbee sent the Congressman a protest against such action, is in receipt of a letter from the representatives which is self-explanatory The letter follows:
 Washington, D. C.,
 August 30, 1917. MT. C. W. Allen, President Warren District Commercial Club, Bisbee, Arizona.
 My Dear MT. Allen:
 I am in receipt of your telegram relative to the arbitrary determina- z tion of the price of copper by the government and beg to advise you that I took this matter up some time ago with MT. Bernard M. Baruch, Chairman of the Committee on Minerals and Metals, of the Ma tional Council of Defense, and en- close herewith a copy of a letter that I have received from him. A reading of his reply will disclose that MT. Baruch has come to realize the mis- take that was heretofore made, in attempting to purchase copper for the government at very low price President Wilson has also decided that it is economically wrong to fol low such a practice. and has publicly announced that where price for any commodity is fixed it should be the same for both the public and the gov erpment.
 This question is now under imme- diate consideration by the War Indus tries Board, and am satisfied that after reviewing all of the facts, a fair price will be agreed upon. In order not to disturb industrial con- ditions it would be wise to fix a price which will encourage the maxi mum production of the red metal If the copper producers should make more than a reasonable profit, the excess can be taken away from them by taxation. The British govern ment, after many experiments, has , finally found that an excess Drof1t tax is the best method of regulating such conditions because bv this plan there Is no lowering of the wage scale. I am in hearty accord with the suggestions contained in your tele gram, and you can count on me to full cooperate with you in this mat ter.
 With hest wishes, I am,
 Yours very sincerely.
 CARL HAYDEN.
 The letter referred to above by Mr. Hayden from M. B. Baruch. follows:
 WaShnptOn n C
 August 21, 1917. Hon. Carl Hayden.
 House of Representatives,
 Washin gton. D. c.
 My Dear Congressman:
 Tn reply to your letter of August r I would say that in all the recent purchases of coDner by the United States Government. no prices have been named, the comuanies having delivered to the Army and Navy all Of the copper they required without reference to price, leaving the deter imitation of price to be made by the Federal Trade Commission or to be fixed by somebody on the cost of pro duction found by the Federal Trade Commission
 It IS the personal opinicn of the writer that the telegram addressed t. YOU. which Lave taken the libar, . copying, carries with it much fcod sn, thought. A further lowering of tho price of copper, may be Cause fol strikes and much labor disturbance
 Very truly yours,
 tSisned) B. M. BARUCH Gov. Campbell on Price of Copper. ln discussing the proposed govern ment regulation and in response to request that he state his views, Gov Campbell has sent the following tele gram to Arizona's congressional rep reseiltatives at Washington:
 T view governmental regulation o the price of copper. as war meas ure with concern. Due to the systen of computing wages paid labor in th copper mines, mills and smelters o Arizona. based upon the selling pric of coprer, in which industry 30 pc cent of all Arizona labor is directl employed. I would protest emphat cally against such regulation affect ing the sale price of this metal, e2 cept such regulation as is brough about by supply and demand.
 Tt is only after most thoroug consideration and study of existin conditions and a full knowledge c the baneful effect to labor, whic must surely follow the contemplate governmental actlon, thdC tdke thi position.
 Every reduction of two cents pound in selling price of copper under the present sliding scale c wages in Arizona, means a reductio of twenty-five cents a day in pay t every man employed. No compensa ing reductions in the elements goin to make up the cost of living are vii ible and serious hardship is inev table Among the reasons advance by the workmen involved in the pre-! ent strikes in Arizona copper minin camps is that the cost of living ha advanced much faster than wages.
 q fully anpreciate the necessity (