The Coconino sun., 1917-09-14

Wasnlngton, U. C. Gentlemen: ;I
 Referring to the hearing which you were kind enough to give me this morning, l desire to present in writ ing summary of the arguments that l then made relative to the price of copper, which you are soon to de- termine. In carrying out the an- nounced policy or the President that the Government and the public should pay the same price for any commodi- ty, I assume that you will attempt to find a way to stableize the general market price of copper in addition to regulating the purchases made for the Army and Navy and the Allies.
 In your deliberation on this ques- tion I sincerely trust that you will give most careful consideration to the effect of a reduction in the price of copper upon the wages paid to the laborers engaged in this industry. By presenting the Miami wage scale I have demonstrated that the compensa- tion of the miners and other employ ees varies directly with the monthly fluctuation in the price of copper, and that any reduction will bear heavily upon them. To reduce the wages of these men without any corresponding reduction in the price that they must pay for the necessaries of life can re- suit in nothing but decrease in the total production of copper, because they will be compelled either to strike or to seek some better paid employ ment.
 The cost of living is higher in the copper camps of Arizona than any where else in the United States. This is primarily due to the fact that Ari- zona does not produce enough agri- cultural products to feed her own people. Prices of food stuffs in my State are determined by the deficien- cy which must be imported. An Ari- zona farmer is entitled to receive for his wheat the Kansas price plus the freight rate. The Kansas farmer re- ceives the Chicago price less the freight rate. As in all the inter- mountain country, the commodity rates from the East are higher than for the long haul to the Pacific coast. Many of the copper mines are located on branch lines so that the additional burden of local rate mus: also be borne. With all of these dis advantages a high rate of wages is inperatively necessary if the Arizona workingmen are to be permitted to maintain a decent standard of living.
 AS I view the situation, it would be the part of wisdom for you gen. tlemen to fix the price of copper at certainly not less than that for which it is selling today. If the copper companies are making an extraordi- nary profit, Congress will soon enact an excess profits tax which will take a large share of it away from them to that the Government can thus com pensate itself. The only other way that the mine laborers can be pro- tected is by abandoning the sliding scale of wages and establishing Q minimus wage based upon the present high cost of living in Arizona. If you are able to make such an arrange ment with the mine owners, very critical situation will be avoided and a maximum output of copper assured.
 In any event, comparatively high price will do more than anything else to insure an increasing production ot the red metal. By following this plan new capital can be secured for the development of unworked depos- its, and bodies of low grade ores that are now available will continue to be mined at a profit.
 I understand that the Federal Trade Commission has furnished you with data on the cost of producing copper, but beg to remind you that the cost of production is not the only factor to be considered. A mine is not like an irrigated farm which grows more valuable by proper cul- tivation. A pound of copper taken from the earth cannot be used as seed to return hundred fold at harvest time. Capital invested in mining properties is, therefore, entitled to large dividends, for until all of the costs are first repaid no additional wealth has been actually created.
 | I have presumed to submit these considerations to you because I repre- sent the State that produces more copper than any other. The mining of this metal is Arizona's basic indus 4~x, m, > ,~o,ua,;@,, of bor ,~oo,1J1 Jn