Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02
.,,i,ucd from Page One

-,snno with the facts, contlhueo
ysAWVvo AWorriner. Negotiations were "
Mr.. and there were possibilities, o.
posoereement, which, even IL reacheu
~ Anril 1, could have been maze
s.sroactive to that date. :,
.r,u. had absolutely nothing to dc
"a. ,he s,,spension Of work. Mr.. Lewis
Ti!n ~ q himself. Moreover, Mr.. Lewis
oroes,r stated, 4 take the responsi- :
sHPtsY s,;!ts ~ this action upon myself.
' "y. u true that the operators had
n,,ioted large stocks OF coal that
aecu. ~ he disposed Of during the sus-
wens,on at increased prices?' l asked.
"Ahsolutely not. There was not more
.ho normal stocks ahead. 1t is an
.uaIt .uaIt,tsbod rule that stocks are accumu :
Esdi ssd during the winter to be available
Tho spring business at reduced
ios s" "a is we'll known. OF the stock
lun,ulated approximately 90 per cent
sc.,stod of pea and buckwheat sizes,
eon.sSb eot."S had backed up in the storage
NnlSsa WIZ because of lack Of demand for
.s. .,zes in the late months of 1921
'n.sTD "Did YOU, rs claimed by the miners,
,.o-ease the price after the suspension
.camc opcrative2" l asked.
mo. we adhered strictly to our
.,cnlar prices as a maximum. We did
,nt advance the rate
'.Ire the anthracite operators willing
- ..ccnt n Federal commission which
Vii Investigate everything in connec-
.,a, with the anthracite business, In
s,rd,np not only wages and working
ambitions, but transportation costs,
slling agencies and corporation royal
;ea cost Of supplies to tho miners,
tc. ?" asked. ,
1--WE are" was the reply. '"Tho
,.orotors' position has been consistently
sst This: Solely to reach an agreement
NOV made a proposal to the miners Of
nnrestricted arbitration In answer to
.hs,r question at that time. We
specifically agreed to abide by the f1nd-
mos OF any commission appointed by
prssident Harding. We agreed that
Tho President himself should instruct
,bs commission as to the scope Of its
| investigations.
"Foiowing the conference with the
President at Washington he stated pub
jIcly that the anthracite operators had
accented his proposal unconditionally."
"lleaning that 1t included the SUBJ
iects have mentioned above?' I sus-
gested.
Exactly
Attitude Of Operators
"a great deal has been said and
written about the attitude of the
anthracite operators on the freight rate
csestlon that you have made no ef-
| fort to obtain reductions of the onal
traffic cost. What is your attitude on
| the excessive freight rates charged on
your product as compared with that on
other commodities?" | inquired.
II am glad you asked that question:"
~ld Mt. Warriner, 'for several rea-
s:ns." Then he went on:
"The miners have laid great stress
on that matter, claiming that the op-
orators refused to join in any request
for q reduction Of freight from the an
thraclte field. 1t is absolutely wrong
and the facts are just the reverse.
During our negotiations on April q
the miners officials presented certain
resolutions alleging that the railroads
were collecting excessive freight rates;
that wholesale and retail agencies were
also charging exorbitant prices, and
asking us to join in a petition to the
Interstate Commerce Commission and
the Federal Trade Commission that they
be invest gated.
1T was gratuitous suggestion.
They should have known that the an
thracite operators had already taken
that step. With other shippers we had
not only petitioned the Interstate Com
merce Commission, prepared briefs and
presented facts, but had gone the full
length In an endeavor to obtain reduced
freight rates." added Mr.. Warriner
with a smile.
The commission had taken cogni-
lance OF this fact and was even then,
10 the miners presented their resolution
It our wage conference, on the eve of
taking action.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
'lon subsequently reduced the rates,
which, as you know, became effective
July l last. That, think, answers
!heir assertion definitely"
What Is the mystery about the dif-
Ntence between the cost Of coal at tho
MINES and the cost to the consumer?" I
lsked. 1T Is the one thing the public
wants to know"
,,o one OF the most, II not the most,
oimcult problems associated with the
INNING and distribution Of anthracite
70 get clearly into the minds Of the
cusumers the relationship between the
cost OF production. the price at the
mine and the price that the consumer
lar" said Mr.. Warriner Al 'ne eei-
One sees In his morning paper n
statement to the effect that ont ~ Tho
$l2 or s18 per ton that his desIer
charges him the miner gets onIv 60 or
even less, and he asks himsaIf' ' ~ - tSa S
paper asks for him. Who ast. tho Az Gfe
ference1 v ' gus '"' VI"
Tim. Ah,r. c...
w.. l,Do'' 0osts
we quote the most recent Of. |
prodncttou ngnt OF costs OF anthracite
EuueGon. Eroa G It Is that of the Federal |