Show U. U S. S HOLDS COST OF COAL PRODUCTION DECREASES By Associated Press Pres I WASHINGTON March 1 13 The The I federal trade commission today notified noti not tIed fied tho tim country's leading anthracite coal producers that any failure to grant th the usual spring price reductions can cannot cannot not be Justified by claims of ot increased cost of at production Tho The commission II ard the that has ha h heard notice s says ys erA ern Intend either to withdraw or rc- rc rc-I rc duco thee the regular season discounts on the ground of or Increased mining cost costs In its inquiry Into the cost of at mining anthracite the tho report on which soon will be Issued the commission has ob obtained obtained ob- ob tamed detailed information on the costs coats of ot companies which mined in 1916 about 75 per cent of the total production production production pro pro- of ot anthracite This information Hon tion says lays the commission obtained directly from tho the records of the companies com corn pani panics s referred to to indicates no In Increase Increase increase In- In crease In average cost In the last four tour months of 1916 and further indicates an actual decrease of or cost in the case of or some Bome of ot the companies whose cost of ot production 1 is s high Judging from the tonnage produced in January 1917 1017 there Is la no reason renson to tob b believe that costs thus far In 1917 would materially change the average shown by the figures compiled from S September to December 1916 Therefore Therefore There There- fore tore it Is the opinion of ot the commission commission commis commis- sion slon that further increases in circular prices this spring by failure to grant STant t the e customary discounts could not be justified on the basis of increased cost Tho The commission makes this statement statement state state- ment mont in advance of ot its forthcoming re report report report re- re reI I port because it Is a matter of ot vital Irol In Interest Interest In- In terest to the public that no unjustifiable in I ble bla increase in price be ma made mado oThis o. o This statement docs does not refer reter to the jn increases r ases in circular prices of ot all an anthracite anthracite an- an in May 1916 nor t tp the panic p prices ces which have prevailed on part of at the tonnage this fall and winter concerning which the commission will Itle ke e a report in the near future The cot cost data already y compiled by the tho comm committee com corn m however are arc conclusive against further price increases this spring |