Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-17
LIFT COAL PRICE
RULINGS FEB. /
Fuel Administration Sus.
pends All Except Those
Affecting Anthracite
NO CUT IN MINE WAGES
Contracts Stand and Purchas.
ing Agents Must Not Try
to Force Down Bids
NO CUT IN MINE WAGES

Washington. Jan. l7.-Zone and price
regulations on coke and all coal. except
Pennsylvania anthracite were suspended
by the fuel administration today. effec-
tive February /.
Suspension Of the price regulations
included provisions touching purchasing
agents commission and wholesale and
retail margins. Notice is given that the
suspension is subject to reinstatement.
II price. wage, labor. production or other
conditions arise that require.
These instructions requier purchas SIM Z
agents to request bids on coal needed
before April |, and not TO make any
effort to force down these bids by lower
offers. No negotiations for coal to be
delivered after April l are TO be made
without first obtaining approval Of the
regional purchasing committee Of the
railroad administration. Existing con-
tracts are to be carried out. except in
few special cases.
For the protection of labor. the rail-
road administration will make all CON
tracts up to the end of the ccal year
April l, on the basis of the existing
wage scale.
There is sufficient bituminous coal and
coke on hand for the season, even if
a period of severe weather should fol-
low the present mild weather. Fuel Ad-
ministrator Garfield said.
IL was stated also thar in the ligh, Of
the so-ca,led washington wage agree
ment' of October, 1917, for coutinrIa-
tion of the wage scale for the period of
the war but not beyond April /, 1920,
the wages o mine workers would not be
reduced.
3 10 al J..
tration that whatever prices are asked
for bitumnous coal between now and
the signing of the peace treaty will be
based on the present wage scale.
The only fuel administration restric-
tions on the domestic consumption Of
fuel that now remain are on anthracite
and natural gas.
The maximum anthracite prices
which remain in effect, range from 81, SO
ton to S1.45 ton. Under the authra-
cite regulations this coal Is allotted to
New England, the Middle Atlantic
States, parts Of Virginia. upper lake
ports and some sections Of the West.
No anthracite is permitted to go into the
Chicago territory nor into the south
with the exception Of Virginia.
Certain pooling regulations with re-
gard to bituminous for export remain
in effect, ii was said at the fuel admin
istration.
ut is the policy Of the railroad ad-
ministration,' said Director General
Hines, Ito avoid at his time any undue
concentration Of its purchasing power
of coal and t. accomplish this purpose
by permitting each road to purchase
its own coal.
There can be no excuse therefore
Tor the making the claim that coal
operators are forced to reduce wages
by reason Of the railroad administra-
tion accepting any prices which may
hereafter be offered It for coal"
Requests for bids are TO contain the
following clause:
1T Is distinctly understood that all
bids are to be based on existing rates
OF pay for all mine labors, and the price
Will be subject 10 readjustment in event
existing rates Of pay are changed"
Since the railroads consume about one
third of the coal produced in this Couu-
try. the railroad administration policy
is expected to have considerable effect
on coal prices in the immediate future.
The existing maximum prices, 70 he
eliminated after February !, range from
s235 a ton to $l.95 a ton. Maximum
prices were ordered by presidential proc.
lamation on August %, 1917, and Fuel
4 Administrator Garfield was authorized
by the President to fix them.