El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-11-27

Not all OF the enormous price OBJ
tanned abroad for coal goes to the
owners or miners. The foreign pur-
chaser must pay the extra wages OF
the miners and the strictly controlled
profits Of the owners, but most OF
the swag goes into the treasury to
help pay for the war. It is taken
by the government under the excess I
profits act
"If France and italy cannot pay us
their debt" remarked a government
official TO me, this Is the only way
we can get out Of them what they
owe" The treasury IS getting II ont
OF them at the rate OF something like
S100.000,Q00 a year.
Most Of the bitterest controversy in
the coal strike conferred about the
question Of output II is claimed by
the government and by the mine own
ers. and by the upper classes gener-
ally, that the wages Of miners have
gone up so much during and since the
war that they viii not work full
time, that the output has thus fallen
off and that the whole country suf-
fers through the laziness OF the over
paid workers.
Americans can understand the argu-
ment better II a few figures are given
showing the comparative output and
wages here and in the United States.
In England IN 1855 the cost OF
wages OF mining a ton Of coal was
Sl-20, in America Sl-52 This year the
cost per ton here, at the present rate I
Of exchange, is $500. In America /
s3.75.
Those figures should be considered
In conjunction with the annual out
put Of the average miner in the two I
countries In 1855 the American miner 4
produced 900 tons, the English 312 |
tons, which means that the relative ]
wage paid TO American and English ]
men 34 years ago for the work done /
was approximately the same. But this i
year the American miner IS bringing
up 500 tons and the English miner
only 200. In other words the Ameri-
can IS getting less money, even for I
three times as much work than the \
miner in wales, II these figures are
correct I have obtained all Of them
from the board OF trade They are
no means Of checking those given for
the United States.
Lloyd George Forced to Gait.
In the year before the war the out
put Of coal IN England was 2S7,0o0.-
900 tons. about ihree-fifths the Ameri-
can output Of 509.000.000-
The 1913 American figures the last
available here. show that American
production had increased 10 10000
900 tons, while the estimated produc-
ton in this country for 1920 Is 22s,-
100000. tons or 5S,0Oos000 tons less
than in 1913.
It Is largely upon these figures.
showing decreased output that the
government refused to give the men
the additional two shillings they
wanted. until the strike situation had
become so DESTROYS that Lloyd George
was forced TO back down
There are a million coal miners in
this country. With their families
they amount TO between four and five
million people, about one-tenth Of the
entire nation. Their case, as / have
Il in talks with their lead
srs, in that they are not responsible
Tor the decline IN output and LnaL
heir standard OF living is lower than
hat which prevailed in 1914 The in
,rease IN wages they have obtained
10 not. they claim, make up Tor the
Use in prices, and the average Of the
miners in Wales Is lower than the
minimum earned by street
weepers and dustmen in London
The miners fiercely object to Zig
Tres put out by the government com
airing their work with that OF Amerl-
an miners They declare that condi-
IONS are Altogether different and that
{ is not they but the mine owners
Who are responsible for the falling
II In output. There are several rea-
ons why the output Is less given BY
hose leaders who contend that the
men are doing as much work as they
yer did.
Fresh Capital Timid-
Owing 10 the government control
4 the mines and prices and restric-
iou Of profits, the mine owners are
aid to have no incentive TO put
resi- capital into development work
hey fear. and many OF them expect
naturalization. For the present they
ave to sell their coal at cost 10 the
ublic here, the government takes
most Of the huge profit on export
Gal. and the owner sees no benefit
o himself, guaranteed as he IS a GER
ain percentage on each ton OF coal
old from his mine, in sinking great
ums into new seams That may not
e productive before they have been
7orked q long time Accordingly,
ID seams are being worked which
re almost exhausted at very low.l
svels. and this the men say reduces
utput
Another factor making it difficult
D mine as much coal as formerly is
be lack Of pit props, the deteriora-
ION OF railway equipment. shortage
Z coal cars and the failure Of the
wners TO replace necessary equip
lent in the mines themselves Here
gain many OF the owners have re-
ised to invest new capital in their
lines for any purposes until they
an see where they stand. and the re-
1Itiug deterioration cuts down out
ut
The essentials Of the argument, so
II as i Is an economic quarrel, have
cen presented and are veery simple
he position in the coal industry is
sgarded by opponents Of government
Wnership as a striking object lesson
the evils Of 100 much government
Interference BY setting the price and
lntroling profits, the government. 10
claimed, has prevented new capital -
-om being put into the mines. This. "
turn. has restricted output, so The e
My way the industry can be con al
nued on a paying basis Is by stifl
lrther bleeding the unfortunate con- q
lmers in France and Italy. The day u
iay come when these countries win r
e unable TO pay, even though their u
Industries appear doomed without e.
nglish coal. q
But back OF economic issues IN the y
pal conflict are Important political d
mes. South Wales is a center OF Boil O
hevik activity in this country, and a
cry large proportion, If not a ma
ority. Of the 100000 miners in this 4.
rea are extremists whose aim Is TO =
elze the mines for themselves and +
old the nation to ransom There is II