El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-11-19
COAL PRICE IN
TEXi5I5FIXED.
VIII Stand as at Present;
no Retroactive Wages
to Be Added.

Juo. n. Us Fatr.a member OF the state
advisory committee to state fuel adj
ainistrator Wiley Blair, Is in receipt
Of the following orders affecting coal
operators and jobbers;
II having been called 10 the atteu-
ton OF the federal fuel administration
for Teas that some OF the coal OPP
orators and also jo5bers for coal were
sending out invoices to retail coal
dealers with notation stamped on
same that the invoice in question was
subject TO a revision in price TO take
care Of any increased retroactive
wages that Mr.. Garfield, United States
fuel administrator, might allow the
miners. an Investigation showed that
abe miners were acting under para
graph Z. publication 3, issued by Mr..
Gerfield on September 9Th, which
reads as follows:
Plans are under consideration and
viii soon be announced, whereby
production may continue without AZ
IectiuE adversely either the producer
or the purchaser pending the exam
nation OF applications for revision
q prices Until this plan IS an
uounced. 81 IS suggested that sales
and deliveries be made at the prices
fixed, with stipulation 10 the effect
gh1t II prices are rG1diua-ed set
Elements shall be made accordingly
Some OF the operators through their
agencies had advised the retail deal
ers that while they we're billing coal
out on q IN memorandum invoice @ s 80,
Vet it might cost ultimately the re-
tail dealers $3.50 per ton F. o. b. the
mines
No Retroactive Action.
With this information, il was per
fectly natural for the retail dealer,
believing his coal would cost him
$3.50 T. O. b. the mines 20 sell same
at q lair profit only above that cost
Knowing that e vas not practical for
retailers and At the same time know
ing that il was unfair 10 the con-
sumer for this condition TO exist, the
following telegram was sent on No
Tember 10Th TO Mr.. Garfield:
would earnestly suggest you not
allow mine operators On account any
wage increase under penalty Contrac-
20 make their prices retroactive on
any coal already shipped Some oper-
ators sending out memorandum in
voices al -FOUR ninety per ton screened
lump and advising retail dealers that
20 be SAFE they should figure this
coal viii ultimately cost five ninety
fob. mine. This very disturbing TO
-he trade and has caused local deal
cts raise their prices accordingly
which Is IN injustice 20 consume
At my Request retailers have reduced i
u-icc and are now selling on cost
basis At four ninety plus reasonable
stand additional cost account retro I
active wages TO miners
Fuel administrator Of Texas D
To the above telegram Nj. Garfield F.
replied promptly as follows
-Biair, Fuel Adm, Dallas, Tex
-Cousignments OF coal shall be .
made on the basis OF 4 fixed price
not subject TO revision on account Of .
subsequent regulation Of price by the .
United States fuel administration F.
This ruling supersedes paragraph .
four. publication five"
Price Must Be Fixed Now.
The above kilograms are eNplan2-
cory, and retain coal dealers in Texas .
viii understand that the price on
coal they have received or now have
Era transit should be billed to them
only at the price fixed by the L s.
tuel administrator and IN effect the
DAY the coal is shipped.
In consequence Of the above ruling
by Mr.. Garfield the retail dealers OF
Texas will know exactly what the
coal costs them delivered at their rail-
road station. and in selling 20 the
consumers should add only fair and
reasonable profit 10 their cost to ar
rive at their selling price
On account Of the scarcity OF
cars in which 20 ship coal, re-
tail dealers are earnestly request
20 distribute same in an equitable
manner TO all customers Retail deal
RS should, under no circumstances,
sell coal in large amounts 10 any
customer, but should spread same
out. so that the stocks on hand viii
20 as far and reach as many Gus
toners as possible.