El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-09-21

FIXED BY j. s.
Price Is 1872; Means Sharp
Reduction, but Wages
Will Not Be Cut.

Washington, D. c.. Sept 2L-Not-
withstanding the request OF Gov.
Thos Campbell Of Arizona that the
price Of copper be fixed by the gov
eminent at not less than % cents
a pound in order that miners, work
ing under a sliding scale Of wages.
might not suffer. the government
last night fixed the price at % l.
cents a pound.
However, producers have agreed
not to reduce wages and TO prevent
copper from falling into the hands
Of spectators. The price fixed will
apply to the government, the public
and the allies and viii be f. o. b.
New York.
May Take Over Mines.
Although the price is fixed under
voluntary agreement between pro-
ducers and the governments war in
dustries board. with the presidents
approval, il was announced officially
that under the executive war power,
the proper departments Of the gov
eminent will be asked to take over
the mines and plants Of any pro-
ducers who fail to conform to the ar
rangement and price"
Consideration Of Price.
Recent government purchases OF
copper for war purposes have oeen
made under agreement to pay the
price 70 be determined by the war
industries board Early in the war,
when copper sold at about So cents,
the government contracted for 40
O00, 600 pounds for the army and navy
at 16 % cents, but future contracts
viii be at the new rate
The price agreed upon was set
after extensive investigation Of pro-
duction costs by the federal trade
commission. The cOmmisslon's report
was understood to have indicated
that copper could be sold probably
at a much lower price than % II
cents but in reaching its decision the
war industries board, headed by
Frank A Scott, took into cOnsldera-
ton that the price should not be
pared down TO the point where pro-
duction would be discouraged or
wages reduced
Three Important Conditions.
Three important conditions we're
imposed by the board said an an
nOuncement First, that the pro-
ducers would not reduce the wages
atOrs would sell to the allies and to
the public at the same price paid
by the government and take the ne
cesSary measures. under the dlrec-
LlOn OF me war industries DOdEQs lOL
the distribution OF copper. to prevent
il from falling into the hands OF
Spectators who would increase the
price 10 the public; and third, that
the operators pledge themselves to
exert every effort to keep the pro-
duction Of copper at the maximum
so long as the war lasts"
Copper Has Been up TO Sc.
Without the wage stipulation, II
vas explained. present wages. the
highest ever paid in the copper in l
iustry, would be reduced by the new f.
under market price
within the last year" said the I
statement copper has sold as high .
as IS cents per pound and the market .
price would now be higher than il f.
s had it not been well known for
some weeks that the government
would fix the price.
Producers Show Fine Spirit.
1.-THE principal copper producers
throughout the country have eFinced
an admirable spirit and for weeks
nave promptly supplied every request
IF the government for copper with
put awaiting decision as 10 price, F.
agreeing to accept the price which .
the board should fix"