Evening star., 1923-06-11
TR|PART|TE MINES
CONTROL IS ASKED
Naturalization of Anthra-
cite Fields Is Recommended
by Miners Union Heads.

Naturalization Of Pennsylvania
anthracite mines, with operation
under a control equally representing
the miners. mine managers and the
public is outlined in a complete plan
laid before the United States Coal
Commission today by the United Mine
Workers Of America. With 1t was
submitted some criticism OF the COM
missions present cost-finding methods
and a request for public hearing on
the miners proposal. An alternative
plan for a general reduction Of capital
investment and capital charges in the
industry also was submitted.
Based on the opinion of the miners
that Limitation of the investors con-
stantly encroaching claims upon the
net industry is now in order" the
plan was declared to confine the
claims of investors Ito reasonable
limits" to provide for permitting
the standard of living of miners to
grow with the productive expansion
of the country" and to bring about
adjustment "of price to consumer to
these two factors" The alternative
plan proposed elimination of present
ownership of the anthracite mines,
by substitution of per cent bonds based
on sacrifice value" for present stock
and other securities, and the setting
up of sinking funds, which would pay
off the bonds in fifty years.
s4OO.OOO.OOO Value.
The sacrifice value" in the turn
over. the plan explained, would be
the original cost of the mining prop
critics, less any profits over rea-
Sonable return rate which the own
ers have obtained during develop
ment and operation. or plus any de-
hcltS under reasonable return which
they have incurred. The miners fig
ures indicated that total value of
s400. 100000 would be found on this
basis for existing anthracite deposits
and that this value could be retired
by Il charge of IS cents a ton of coal
mined. as compared with as cents,
which it was said owners took in
1918 operations, and Sl.40 per ton,
which it was estimated they took in
1922-23. The valuation plan was de-
clared to be suitable in a monopoly
like anthracite and to express the
principle that the anthracite indus
try should pay for capital what it
has to nay and no more"
The law creating your commission
provides for full investigation and
report into the causes which induce
strikes. the miners statement said.
I'VE know from bitter experience that
| ing claims of the holders of anthracite
securities For every increase in ma
| tional demand for coal. for every in
crease in technology and productivity,
| the investor demands the full incre-
ment. keeping prices at a maximum
which the traffic can bear. and wages
at the minimum upon which miners
can be made to exist. There is no
| solution of the economic problem of
anthracite until this intolerable grip
/ is relaxed: until the public service
i function of the indusary is frankly
/ recognized. and until the claims of
| investors are confined to reasonable
! limits. the standard of living of the
| miners permitted to grow with the
productive expansion of the country,
! and the price of consumers adjusted
| to these two factors"
Submitting some statements on
what present ownership charges in
| anthracite are, the statement said
that SS,9SO,0O0 in royalties had been
| taken by Stephen Girard and his es-
| tate from $50 acres of land, which in
| 1880 cost him s2,340.