Montana labor news., 1946-05-23
COPPER, LEAD AND
ZINC PRICES

Economic Stahilizer Chester Bowles
issued a government directive on
March %. stating that increased prem
iums would he granted 10 producers
Of lead. copper and zinc TO take care
of any recent wage advances The di-
receive stated that producers are en-
titled to average profits obtained IN
The period 1868. \ great many pro-
ducers have objected TO the use of the
1868 base period due TO the fact that
during this period. only in a few
months of 1887 We're they able to
show a normal profit on their oper-
atoms. Any producer. who has recent.
ly advanced wages and who is entitled
to come under the March 2> directive.
should Immediately apply for the high
er premium prices To the office of eco
nomic sterilization. Washington. d. c.
Hearings are being held on senate
bill 1915. introduced by Senator Me
Farland Of Arizona and nine additional
senators. including Sen. James +. Muir
ray Of Montana. This bill provides
for extending the premium price pay
ments on copper. lead and zinc to
June 80. 1884,. and raising the ceiling
prices on these metals to lac a pound
for copper. $50 cents a pound for
zinc. and SIS cents a pound for lead.
before adding the premiums. Right
now the extension of the OPA con.
trolls is very much in doubt. and pro-
ducers would like higher ceiling prices
Immediately TO warrant them carrying
on normal production. and especially
normal development work. Without
the guarantee of higher ceiling prices.
such development can not be II
ically justified. The producers also
feel that the consumers of these met
ais should pay the increased ceiling
price and thus relieve all the taxpay-
ers of the United States from paying
the premiums according to the pres
ent setup Our reports from Washing
ton indicate that OPA and OES look
favorably upon increasing the ceiling
prices. Most of the officers and mem
bers of the Mining Association of
Montana are in favor Of eliminating
all pegged prices for these metals thus
allowing a free market. If this is not
then Montana producers are in favor
of the passage of senate bill 1915.
The subcommittee on mining and
minerals industry of the United States
canata email huc;pAcr 4pv,y,ittn, hoc
published a booklet known as Sen.
ate Subcommittee Print No. s." This
booklet covers the history of the prem
ium price plan for copper, lead and
zinc and its administration, with par
ticular regard TO small and marginal
mines. AT the request of the subcom-
mittee, experts Of the War Produc.
ton board. OPA and Metals Reserve
company have prepared special tech
meal reports covering the activities of
these agencies with respect to the
operation of the plan. Most of this
material. including a report written
for Donald NJ. Nelson. is presented in
Print S for the first time. The pam
phlet should be Of great value to all
metal mine operators and may be OBJ
tanned from W. c. B~roadgate, Room
l3B, senate office building. Washing
ton, d. C.. Mr.. B~roadgate. who is tech
meal c~onsultant for the subcommittee
is mainly responsible for the compila-
ton of this excellent report.
Annual Assessment Work
There has been no change in the sit
uation covering the performing of an
nual assessment or representation
work on unpatented mining claims
since an item on that subject was pub
lished in the February number of the
News Letter. However. according to
the American Mining Congress. Julian
ID. Conover, secretary, Washington
ID. G.. Sci. +. p. Carville (D-Nev.) re
ceiyed a letter from the Department
of the Interior. stating that, under the
existing law, all holders OF impatient