The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-07
He Protests Recent 45 Cent
Hike in the Price.
Complaint Made Direct to Ad-
ministratOr Garfield.
LITTLE GOES TO Miners
Carey Asserts the Old Prices
Were Adequate.
Increase Is an Added Burden
to the Consumer.

Under the new fuel rates coal oper-
ators have been able TO increase prof
its and Zine their pockets, according
to a lengthy communication sent by
Governor Capper today to Harry A.
Garfield federal fuel administrator.
The governor declares the recent 40
cent advance in rates to producers IS
an added burden upon consumers ana
in his opinion the result of an eX-
parte hearing. He asks immediate in
vestig~tion of conditions.
The governor urges that prices be
reduced and that the long profits to
mine operators be trimmed. He de-
clares the advance in rates as author
| lied by the fuel administrator is not
consumed in overhead operating ex-
| penses, but is an unjust and unwar-
ranted increase in operators profits.
! The governors statement of conditions
and demand for a revision of prices is
based on a statement from Emerson
Carey of Hutchinson, state administra-
tor. While the price 10 operators has
been increased is cents a ton, Cover
nor Capper declares the prices paid
miners have been advanced from 10
to Is cents ton.
Widespread Opposition.
There is a widespread opposition
] in this state to your recent ruling
cents a ton to the coal operators, "
/ said the governor. Emerson Carey
state fuel administrator for Kansas
informs me he has lodged a COM
plant against this action on the
ground that it is not warranted by the
| facts. 1 join Mr. Carey most ear
nestly in this protest and urge this
order be withdrawn and that experts
appointed by you, be instructed tC
investigate carefully the price situa-
ton in Kansas and Colorado and re-
port to you. Most of the coal used
! in eastern Kansas comes from ths
field in the southeastern part of the
states the WESTERN part of the state
gets its supply from the Colorado
| mines.
IF this As cents increase over the
price fixed by the government severa
weeks ago is permitted to stand. il
will give the operators an unwar-
ranted high price and prove a grea
hardship to the consumer. The price
of coal in this region was a grieyouS
burden to workingmen and theii
families before the addition of this
increase. 1 do not think the fedora
government should, or knowingly
would. sanction placing a further bur
| den upon them, which will permit the
| coal operator, already enjoying &
handsome profit, further to line hi;
pockets.
Old Price Adequate.
1.-The price originally fixed with the
adjustment made later to operators in
the Usage and Leavenworth thin-veir
fields, Mr.. Carey says, was adequate to
meet the increased wages of the mines
and give the operators a fair profit
1T is true the wages of the miners
/, have been increased from 10 to Il
cents, but this does not warrant ar
/ increase of As cents a ton in the price
of the operators output. Undoubted-
ly all overhead expenses were consid-
cred when the price of coal was con
sidered several weeks ago. 1t is quite
apparent this As cent increase in tho
price can only add to the burden oi
the consumer without corresponding
benefit to the miners. This is a time
when it is demanded of every citizer
that he make some sacrifice for the
common good of the nation and the
consumer should not be compelled tC
carry more than his share of the bur.
den when we can and should heir
and protect him.
1t is Mr.. Carey's opinion this ad.
vance has been arrived at from an ex.
i parte showing and that the stress OF
duties naturally incumbent upon vot
/ during these trying times has made Il
impossible up to this time for Won tf
look into all phases of the question
! with your accustomed care and ac
curacy. 1 ask for your earnest con.
sideration and speedy action