Evening star., 1923-07-09

phia the price. figured on a net ton
basis. was 1898, so that the dollar
paid for 1856 pounds Of coal, with
81 cents. 16 cents. and % cents as
the respective shares of mine, rail-
roads and dealers.
I'm Washington the price figured
on ton net basis was $1420, and
the consumers dollar paid for 141
pounds and included 5S cents as
mine price. 30 cents as freight. and
% cents to the dealer. In Chicago,
at the greater distance from the
mines, the consumers dollar paid for
only 120 pounds of coal and included
4s cents as mine price. 80 cents as
freight, and 21 cents as dealers
costs and profits. In st. Louis. with
a price per ton a. cents lower than
in Chicago. the dollar contained only
15 cents for the dealer. This abstract
| to show that from Is to 32 cents of
every dollar spent for Pennsylvania
anthracite remains with the local
dealer. or possibly in part with
wholesaler from whom he obtained
the coal, and between As and 60 cents
goes to the producer.
IL Cents OF Dollar Profit.
'It is interesting to the public to
know what part Of the consumers
dollar commonly goes for profit Of
operator or retail distributor. A
buyer of domestic anthracite in Bos-
ton Mn November, 1922, paid some
thing like IL cents out of every dollar
In the form of profit to the producer
or retailer Of coal. or this about 4
cents went to his local retailer and
nearly z cents to the producer for
| his profit on mining and sale at
! wholesale.
Practically the same figures hold
for Washington, where the same
month the householder paid cents
retail coal merchant and nearly 8
cents out of every dollar as profit
to the producer and wholesale dis
tributor of coal"
Taking up the situation in the
mining fields, the report states:
Just now. when in accordance with
the agreement made between the an
thracite operators and the United
Mine Workers Of America, a new con-
tract is to be entered into in the
commission. 1t calls attention to cer-
tain facts. not to stir up controversy
about them, but in the hope that a
general amnesty may be declared In
! and negotiations had looking toward
Justice to both miner and operator
and continuous and uninterrupted
supply to the users of anthracite.
Operators UnOrganixed.
There Is no adequate provision for
the consideration Of specific disputes
at the mine nor for insuring that all
| employers handle the question the
| same way. The union participates by
It's district representatives. but the
employers have no corresponding
agent to represent them in the early
| stages sof the disputes. In this par
| ticular this industry is not abreast OF
other we'll organized industries. The
conciliation board has done valuable
work since 1t was created. In 1903.
huf "a
| lost some of it's effectiveness, and
partly through its own fault.
Il. The commission recommends that
! in the next agreement there should be
provision for a continuing umpire and
that he an assistant named by him
| should sit with the conciliation board at
all its meetings. but without vote.
| "2 In view of the delays that have
been caused by the absence of members
of the conciliation board, alternates OF
like standing in the industry should be
| selected with authority to act in the alb
sence Of the original member
"3. The operators group should APP
point a full-time representative and all
4 necessary assistants to consider Jointly
| at the mine with the district officers Of
the union each case before ii Is appealed
| to the conciliation board, in the hope or
securing a local agreement arriving at
| a better understanding by each side of
the difficulties and problems of the
other. and thus producing a mutual
| feeling of respect for the others opin-
| ions and each obtaining the outlook of
the other upon the problems.
"a. So many changes have taken place
since 1903 that the agreement should
provide for a joint committee to work
out a restatement of the whole agree
ment in the terms of today. and this
| agreement should be specific enough to
/ be the code by which all persons hav-
| ing anything to do with the settle
ment of grievances shall be bound.
should Name Examiner.
"5. II the board Of conciliation does
not clearly understand the facts in
volved in any case, 1t should appoint
an examiner from each side Immediate
| ly to investigate and furnish 1t with all
! the facts.
80 The agreement should provide
for penalties for the breach thereof