Evening star., 1923-09-15
FIGHT NOW LOOMS
OVER COAL PRICES
Railroads and Producers
Both Object to Bearing Bur-
den of Increase Wages.
BY J. c. RoYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. September 15.-Sman
Doubt remains today that the tenta-
tive agreement reached between the
anthracite operators and miners Will
be confirmed by the meeting of the
miners on Monday at. Scranton and
that an immediate resumption OF an
thracite production will follow. Con-
ditions now are far different than
when a similar convention met last
year TO ratify the agreement which
ended the 1922 strike. Then the Bit
ter enders were in such force that it
required the utmost efforts of Presi-
dent Lewis of the mine workers ana
other conservative leaders to reach
an agreement.
Now, however, one potent factor
has been brought into line. Last
wear Rinaldo Cappellini, the one
armed fire brand of district NO. l
of the anthracite field, bitterly OPP
posed the settlement. lie nearly
stood the miners convention on us
head at that time. This year II Is
reported Cappellint stood on ms n hTar EAU
in celebration of the gain or 10 per
cent in wages accorded under the
new agreement.
Plenty of Coal Assured.
The settlement which is believed to
be assured for Monday VIII insure an
adequate supply of coal for the COM
ing winter in the anthracite consun-
ing states, but 1t is expected that II
will result in an immediate rise In
prices, not only for that grade or
coal, but for bituminous also.
The anthracite industry must an
sorb an increase of at least SS2,5Uo,oo ,ooO
n year in wages due to the 10 per
cent increase, and to ~ estaoiisHI 90, y Il
ment of the eight-hour day Tor an
workers. Gov. Pinchot OF PennsyI-
vania has declared that this must
entail an advance of at least 90 cents
= ton In the price of coal at the mine.
Railroads and distributors whom II
vas suggested ought to absorb 80 per
cent of this increase are prepared TO
offer vigorous resistance to any such
procedure. Any freight rate reduc-
lions must necessarily be subjected TO
hearings before the Interstate Com
merce Commission. Fact finding re-
ports by the Coal Commission or other
federal bodies must also be subjected
to presentation of evidence BY the
coal operators and distributors ANY
change in rates which II IS possloIe
to impose therefore by either state or
federal authorities must be subjected
TO delay which will carry through the
present winter season.
Soft Coal Men Ready.
The bituminous coal producers We're
all ready to jump to the front Wlth
a flood of fuel in event OF a long
continued suspension of anthracite
production. AS a consequence there
are thousands of tons of coal above
ground today which are not saiable
for the moment This will entail
further curtailment OF bituminous
operations. Already many OF tne SOL
coal mines of Pennsylvania and the
middle west are on schedule which
provides three days of work week
or less.
The figures on cost of production
complied by the Federal Coal Commits
sion show that when soft coal mines
are operating at 60 per cent or
canacity, or less, the cost of produc-
tion increases nearly In equal ratio.
1t is therefore costing every soft coal
mine in the country somewhere near
dollar a ton more to produce soft
coal than would be the case if the
mines were working at capacity.
Heretofore the public has been COM
cost of coal production and there is
no reason apparent why it will not be
compelled to do so in the present
situation.
Coke Prices Lower.
Coke has fallen in price. The north
west, which suffered for fuel last
winter, has had tremendous
NOluT1e poured INTO It's coal pOCfAcIS
as result of unprecedented shipping
activity on the great lakes. Some of
the largest consumers among the
railroads. notably the Pennsylvania
system, have stored supplies of fuel.
Some householderS have taken ad-
vantage of the situation and have laid
in adequate supplies for the winter.
But those who have not done SO face
the possibility of having to pay an
increased price for their fuel before
Vtnfar although fhaFn
not ary coal shortage and will not
be any.