New Ulm review., 1922-06-07
POINTS AT ISSUE
IN COAL STRIKE

| : i Il G !
This is the last of a series Of four.
articles written by Mr.. j. A.. II.
Hopkins, Executive Chairman Of the
COMMITTEE OF 48, for the Ma
tional Bureau Of Information and
Education. These articles are
based upon personal investigations
by Mr.. Hopkins.
/ In my three preceding articles !
|endeavored to indicate the just de-
mands of the operators, the opera
tives, and the public. These de-
mands, fairly stated, must necessar-
ilys be the foundation upon which
any plan for the reorganization Of
the coal industry must be construct
ed. Briefly summarized, they may
be stated as follows:
The operators are entitled to a
fair return upon the capital actual
" invested; compensation for any
legitimate financial risks incurred;
and a fir percentage Of profit over
and above the cost price Of the
coal when delivered to the con-
|sumer.
The Operatives are entitled to liv-
ing wage; proper living conditions;
and reasonable protection against
; the dangers incidental to their oc-
|cupation.
The consuming pubkc has a right
to demand that coal shall be mined
and delivered at its doors at a
maximum Of efficiency and at the
lowest price consistent with the
rights Of those who mine and de-
liver it.
In connection with these demands
it is also necessary to recognize the
obligations and responsibilities
which they place upon the shoul-
ders Of operators, operatives, and
the public. 1t is equally necessary
to bear in mind that the facts abb
solutely essential to an intelligent
enforcement of those demands must
be ascertained and established by
those to whom these facts are
known. For instance, at the pres
ent time neither the public nor the
Government knows whether the in
dustry is fairly capitalized. They
do not know the exact cost of min
ing and delivering coal; they do
not know what percentage of profit
the coal industry is yielding.
1t is fair to assume that the OPP
orators, by opening their books, can
either answer these questions or
furnish the information from which
they may be answered, and it is of
prime Importance that they be COM
PEELED to do so. The Federal Trade
Commission started to ascertain
these facts, but the National Coal
Association (the operators) obtained
an Injunction stopping the investi-
cation upon the ground that min
ing coal was not an Interstate COM
merce". If this decision stands the
Government should Immediately
take steps to appoint a commission
specifically vested with the author
ity to compel the operators and the
operatives to furnish all the neces-
sary information and to compel
them to submit all their records to
a searching investigation. The
commission appointed for this pur-
pose should also be charged with
the duty Of utilizing the informa-
tion obtained to accomplish the fol-
lowing purposes;
|. To standardize the mines on
the basis of their productive capa-
city, and if necessary to order the
closing down Of all mines which by
reason of their natural limitations
fall below this standard;
2. To standardize the cost of
living for mine workers and the liv-
ing conditions which must be sup
piled to them in order to surround
them with reasonable comforts, re-
cognizing in so doing the psyche
logical effect of such surroundings
in their respect to their efficiency.
8. To standardize a basis Of ar
irving at the overhead costs of pro-
ducing the coal and delivering it at
the door of the consumer, recog-
nizing in this compilation that the
standardized cost of living for the
miners must be the first and ire
ducible item Of expense;
4. To translate this latter item
into a national wage scale, taking
into consideration the uncertainty
OF employment and off setting this
50 far as possible by a monthly in
stead Of daily basis Of employ
ment. &
5. To ascertain and provide.
through Federal legislation, for the
charging Of a fair percentage Of
profit (and no more) upon the ac-;
tual cost price Of the coal, includ-s
ing freight charges to destination,