The Washington times., 1922-08-27
HOUSEHOLDERS
WILL Be TAXED
FOR HIGH PRICE
Increased Cost of Light Also
May Be Passed on to
Local Consumers.
MINE OPERATORS Benefit
Increase Rates, Although No
Greater Expense Is In
CURED for Production.

The coal strike viii cost the
householders and the apartment
dwellers of Washington about
$75,000 a month-$2,500 day
from now until April I, on the
basis of increased prices and the
city's requirements, as recently
ascertained by the Public Utilities
Commission.
In addition, the strike will cost
the Potomac Electric Power Com
pany $500 a month-more than
$500 a day-as that company uses
1900 tons a month, for which it
must pay So ton additional.
Light Coal More.
The Washington Gas Light Com.
pany will have to pay at least
$4,000 a month more for the coal it
uses, or puward of 500 a day.
The Capital Traction Company will
have to pay toll to the extent of
$l,2O0 a month, or about $40 a day.
AS the residents of Washington
ultimately foot the bills Of these
utilities, they will have to pay for
the coal in the long run. All told,
the coal strike will cost the people
Of Washington nearly $4,000 a day
from now until the coming OF
spring. That is at the rate of S125
twenty'four, or more than So
minute.
The price of soft coal has risen on
the average more than 81 a ton
since April I. The strike was set.
tied on the basis OF the old wage
scale. In other words, the miners
went back to work at the same pay
for days work as they got be.
fore they struck Hence, II costs
no more to mine coal now than it
cost before the strike.
Operators Get Difference.
The SO a ton extra--or more
which the people Of Washington are
called upon to pay as their contribu-
ton to the strike cost, goes, not into
the pockets Of the men who dig the
coal, but into the pockets of the oper.
ators whose labor costs have not in.
creased, So far as the union fields are
concerned, since last winter.
The above estimate of 81 additional
cost a ton contemplates the selling
Of coal In Washington at what the
Government has fixed as a fair price
FOR the southwest Virginia field and
other non.union fields-$4.50 a ton.
That price is about So higher than
what coal could be purchased for in
that field six months ago. One of
the biggest producers in that field is
q member Of the advisory board of
operators who are assisting the Fed.
eral fuel distributor in rationing coal
throughout the nation. Presumably.
he Is sharing in the 81 extra profit
q ton.
operators In the union fields. in.
Guiding those in Maryland which sup.
ply the District. are not bound by
the Government fair price. They
may disregard It or not, as they wish.
and In many fields they have chosen
to disregard 1t. Illinois, for instance.
raised prices to Sc a ton the day the
men went back to work.
II Maryland operators want to
raise prices so that the excess profit
will be more than 50 a ton, the cost
to the District will be higher than
$4,000 month, or So 500 day Will
not be sufficient toll for the house.
holders to pay.
Anthracite coal virtually has die.
appeared from the market. None OF
1t can be had in the District today. It
is regarded as certain District house.
holders will have to substitute soft
coal for their usual anthra cite supply
next winter.
Without Federal regulation of
coal prices, householders may rea.
sonably expect to pay s25 a ton for
anthracite when the mines resume
operations.
Local coal dealers-the men who
have the coal delivered to the
householder's cellar-reCeive no part
of the $4,000 a day which the city
Is being held up for by the oper
ators. That all goes to the oper.
ator. II the dealer wants to
profiteer he will have to charge
more than the 50 ton extra tax
slipped on by the operator, and the
householder will contribute Just
that much more to the recent un.
pleaSantness in the coal industry.