Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1917 — PRICE OF COPPER 231-2C [ARTICLE]

PRICE OF COPPER 231-2C

Can’t Cut Wages and United States May Seize Recalcitrant Mines. Washington, Sept. 21.—President Wilson approved an agreement entered into by the war industries board by which the United States government, its allies and the public will obtain copper at 2.3% cents a pound f. o. b. New York. The price is subject to revision after four months if conclusive evidence.is presented to show that it should either go up or down. Apparently the president is determined to enforce his edict if recalcitrant producers fail to conform to the arrangement, as a formal statement issued said that the proper departments would be asked to take over mines and plants of those who balked. Severe restrictions are placed about the agreement, as it is provided that sales shall be directed through the war industries board in order to keep the output out of th'6 hands of speculators, and that wages in the copper industry, now at a high level, shall not be lowered, and that the output shall be kept at a maximum.