The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-12-02
35 CENT RAISE
ON ANTHRACITE
President Authorizes 1t to En-
able Payment Of Higher
Wage to Miners.
TAKES EFFECT AT ONCE
Fuel Administrator Garfield
Says Customary Reduction
Will Be Made in April.
TAKES EFFECT AT ONCE

WASHINGTON. Dec. IA general in
crease OF IS cents a ton was added to
the price Of anthracite coal At the mines
to-day by President Wilson to meet
proposed wage increase for anthracite
miners. The new prices are effective
beginning to-day and will add more than
$50. 900 to the public's annual coal
bill.
The wage increase was agreed on by
operators and miners representatives
here two weeks ago. contingent on
higher coal prices to absorb the raise.
When their negotiations were ended the
operators and miners turned over to the
Fuel Administration their agreement
and estimates of what Il would add to
the cost Of production. They asked that
prices be raised at least Is cents ton.
Fuel Administrator Garfield said to-
night he gave the problem the most
careful consideration. hcsitating to de-
eide whether 1t would be worse to add
10 the burden OF those who buy coal or
permit workmen to leave the mines for
higher pay elsewhere. thus reducing the
coal output. 1t was evident. he said,
that the producers were ready to fight
the wage increases II forced to pay the
entire amount themselves.
Under the original proclamation Of
President Wilson the cost of furnace coal
20 the New York consumer was $S.05 a
ton. The price at the mine was fixed
at s4.%5 ton, and to this was added
S1Ao freight, a jobber's profit OF 20
cents. as allowed by the President, the
same amount for liGhterage. and an esti-
mated cost Of S1.75 for unloading, Screen
inK. shrinkage, carriage an retailers
overhead expense. making total OF
ss.05. IT, this price, under the new
Dr. GarAcld's tion.
The situation IN the anthracite ,ndus-
TRY and the factors influencing his deci-
sion that prices should he increased were
set forth by DIR. Garfield in a letter to
The President recommending that the In
crease he put mt ~ cents a ton. The
letter made public tonight al the White
House along with She President order
said
The labor problem in the authrac acite
mines is not different in any material re-
spect from that in the bituminous fields
Most of the comment in my letter or DC
tober &c is applicable to the anthracite
situation. I, therefore is unnecessary
to repeat Il here On November H..
after a conference Of about two weeks.
the anthracite operators and miners
reacned an agreement, copy OF which
I enclose
In response TO my request the opera-
tors association furnished statements
showing in detail the tonnage and actual
labor costs since the last wage Increase.
May. 1877. and the additional cost per
ton If the increase OF November /, is
added. These figures were based upon
an examination of over 6s, ,0OO. .n00 tons,
or 81 per cent. OF the total tonnage esti-
mated for 1917. II the proposed wage
, Increase becomes effective the increased
cost placed upon the operators will range
from &c cents per ton to 5s cents per
ton. small high cost tonnage shows
additional costs per ton as high as 20
cents. The weighted average Of the
above mentioned tonnage accurately fig-
ured Is S7.2 cents per ton. The in
creased cost to operators producing
about 100000 tons. or substantially
one-half Of this years tonnage, will b.
IS cents and upward per ton.
Reduction TO Come In April.
4, tHeTrIoTe, respectfully recommend
that the prices fixed by your proclama-
tion OF August 2. 1917, as modified with
| respect to the price of pea coal by my
order Of October ]. 1917. be uniformly
increased In the sum Of 35 cents per
ton provided, however, that these in
creases shall not apply to any coal sold
at the mine under existing contract con-
taining provision for an increase for
the price OF coal Hereunder in case Of
an increase In wages paid 20 miners
I'm this connection I desire to say that
1t is my expectation to order the reduc-
tion In anthracite prices which has been
regularly given beginning April 1. 1918.
II desire also to call attention to tho
fact that the Board Of Cancellation Great
ed by the commission appointed by Pres
ident Roosevelt in 1902 has performed
It's tasks 20 acceptably to all concerned
that there lie no occasion for the intro
duction OF an automatic penalty clause
provided in the case OF the bituminous
field. nor was the inclusion OF any such
clause provided for In the agreement Of
November II between the operators and
the mine workers"