Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-11-02
PRICE TO BE
STA TON MORE IN
NATION SHORTLY
Increase of Miners Wages to
Be Borne by Public
After Elections

that il is not politics. put news Vi
vital importance to fifty mlllloh
Americans which has been ADJOURN
ed by President Wilson, at least un-
til after election day, came TO llSht
yesterday following the
( ment of the new wage increase 10
l'anthracite miners.
Boiled down to essentials, the re-
suit of this increase VIII ne a cor
| responding increase of at least ~ q
ton on anthracite or roughly S4o,-
600, 900 a wear Although all OF TINS
must be paid by consumers or DO
mestic sizes of anthracite, no Official
mention of the increase is to be made
by Washington until after election
day.
Anthracite operators who have
been in numerous conferences with
DR.. Harry A. Garfield, federal fuel
administrator, over the increase to
miners were astounded yesterday
when they read his announcement
of the wage addition and failed 10
find any mention of the correspond
ing retail price increase WithSwhich
the bill must be paid.
Negotiations between representa-
tives of the miners. the operators and
various governmental agencies, in
Guiding the fuel administration,
were concluded nearly three weeks
ago. At that time it was distinctly
understood by operators that a sim
ultaneous announcement of wage
and price increase would be made by
DR.. Garfield.
Sad News Was Concealed
Since that time, however, the
schedule of wage increases agreed
to--and prematurely announced-by
the miners has been laid before the
President for his official approval,
without which it could not go into
effect. The wage increase has been
officially announced, but not a word
has been said about the cost to the
public.
Rumors that this most important
phase of the negotiation would be
held up until after election day be-
cause of the fear hat 1t might hurt
the chances of Democratic Congress
sional candidates have been current
for some time. But it was not until
Doctor Garfield announced only one
side of the program that operators
and others interested believed the
thing would be attempted.
OF almost equal Importance as this
omission" is the story of what the
administration intends to do by way
Of explanation when it finally an
nounCes to American consumers of
anthracite that they must pay S45,-
600. 600 a year more for their coal.
When the administration finally
decides to let the public in on this
fact, it will also, in all probability,
try to camoutiage the issue by an
nouncing that the mine price of coal
to all operators has been equalized
by elimination of the lucent differ
entail in favor of ~so-called independ-
ent operators.
This differential has always been
a sore point with the large operators
and with the public. Although so
per cent. of the total anthracite pro-
duction is from the mines of the
operators who do not get the differ
entail, consumers find it almost i'm
possible to locate a retailer who sells
anything but independent" coal.
In other words, retailers have
taken advantage of the 10 cents "a
ton difference. Elimination of the
differential will save the public from
NV I"S ilANlA VI AI'L PAL llCuldl
gouge, but the saving will be in
finitesimal compared to the bill of
$40, 000, 900 a year.
These "details" which the fuel ad-
ministration intimated have not yet
been worked out" were known to
everybody in the wage conferences
weeks age one of the first points
made clear was that it will be inn
possible to put any of the increase on
steam sizes on anthracite.
The reason for this is that steam
anthracite is only about so per cent.
as efficient in producing heat as BIZ
luminous coal. 1t, therefore, never
commands more than so per cent. of
the soft coal price, which is now
$3.50 a tor at the mines. AS q gen.
eral rule the price of steam anthra-
cite is only 20 per cent. of the soft
coal price.
With bituminous production soar
ing TO a point where steam sizes of
anthracite are not as badly needed
as last year, any increase in the price
of the hard coal would virtually drive
1t off h market. 1t follows, then,
according to operators and officials
of the fuel administration, that the
wage increase must be borne by do
nestle sizes.
The increase in wages has been es-
| timated to average 81 a day for 15O,-
600 miners. Total anthracite pro-
duction averages about 230, 900 tons
a day. or this, SIS per cent. is pre-
pared sizes-pea, nut, stove and egg
and the other 35 per cent. buck
wheat and smaller sizes and for
steam purposes.
This figures out an increase of at
least 81 a ton The wage increase be-
came effective yesterday. But con-
sumers who must pay the bill are to
be spared this painful news until
they have had opportunity to cast
their ballots on election day-after
which it cannot affect the result.
Consumers here and elsewhere
who will pay the bill for the increase
granted to the miners cannot help
themselves by ordering in advance,
for the reailers must pay the $1-a-
ton increase dating from November
/. Coal mined oil and after that date
will not begin to reach this city for
from ten to fifteen days.
BY that time the election will be
over. Any formal announcement by
the administration will be more or
less unnecessary. The people who
must pay the bill will get all the in
formation from the retailers when
they inquire into prices. Nut coal,
now selling at $10.25 a ton in this
city, will cost SIPS. and correspond
ing increases will be made on all
other prepared sizes.
DAVID y. MCKEE DIES
Blain, Pa, Nov. 2.-David p. Nc