The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1919-08-27
CLAIM COAL PRICES
LOWER THAN YEAR AGO
of National Coal As
sociation Says Combination In
possible. Denies Charges That
Any Attempt is Made to Fix
Prices of Bituminous Coal.

Washington, Aug. 26-Dcnyng
that combination among bituminous
coal operators to fix prices exists, J.
q. A. Morrow, vice president of the
National Coal Association, toll a
senate coal investigating committee
today that such combination would
be impossible if attempted. Prices
at the mines, he said, have declined
under the competition which prevails
and are lower than they were wear
ago.
There are about 5000 separate
commercial producers operating an
proximately 1000 mines, from which
bituminous coal is regularly shipped"
Mr.. Morrow said. "In addition, there
are some 1000 operators with about
5000 mines, who begin producing and
selling coal whenever the price goes
up little and offer profit to them.
Moreover, there are hundreds of thous
ands of acres Of coal lands along rail
roads on which new mines can be
readily and quickly opened by any
one so disposed. Such condition
strlctive combinations among produc
ers.
"Of the 5000 separate bituminous
coal producers in the United States,
2,294 approximately 45 per cent. hold
membership in the National Coal AS
soclatlon. They porduce about GO per
cent OF the total output of bituminous
coal in the country.
"Charges that the National Coal As
soclatlon is combination to maintain
prices are without foundation in fact.
The National Coal Association rep
resents these operators and looks. af-
ter their interests on matters of gem
eral concern, such as TRANSFORMATION
standardization of cost accounting co.
operation with governmental agencies
and similar activities. There is moth
ing secret about the business. 1t files
and records are open to the commit
tee or any other duly authorized
agency of the government at any
time"
MT. Morrow said bituminous coal
prices had declined since the armis-
tice, and in general were lower than
the prices fixed by the fuel admin
iStration.
These fuel administration prices
were intended to prevent the charp-
ing of undue prices for bituminous
coal and to limit the profits which
the mine operators might make" he
SAID. At the same time they includ-
ed profits.
THE cost Of producing bituminous
coal is higher now than It was a wear
ago, due to the fact that the mines
then were operating six days week
and IN many cases are now operating
only four days week and in some
eases only three days week. The
overhead expenses of maintaining
hilnts go on just the same whether
coal IS produced or not. When these
increased costs are considered in con-
hec1H with the general decrease in
pr'ces, it is clear that profits OF hitu-
n''hous coal operators are materially
less than year ago"
washington, Aug. 2G.-Nationaljza-
tlon or coal mines is sought by many
mIne workers and a bib to tha. end
mas been prepared, Harry N. Taylor.
president of the Nationnr Coal Asso-
c'atl9n, testified today before a sen
ate committee investigating the coal
situation.
The plan is fo rthc government to
DuS the mines and turn them over to
lhe men for operation. Mr. Taylor
sad. Already many of the miners are
demanding six hour day and five
a al l.