The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-10

The TariR-The Coal Tradc.-Our Comm ercial Letter.
The signs OF the political heavens clearly demonstrate,
that an effort is to be made the next session of Con-
gress break down the bill of $780, and restore
the principles OF the tariff OF ls42. The complexion of
General Taylors cabinet indicates this fact without
doubt and the report of Mr.. Hudson, from the Commit
tee of Ways and Means, in the House OF Representa-.
ves issued the world during the last days OF the last
session. shows that the wing party desires to prepare the
public mind for the reception of the exploded doctrines of
protection There are thirty States in the confede-
rags but the only decided complaint against the present
revenue system seems to come from the coal and iron in
teress of Pennsylvania In the present state OF parties,
that voice regarded potent and commanding by
the federal leaders glance at the able and satisfactory
letter from our New York commercial correspondent,
which we publish in another column, and the facts
which it details, are sufficient to demonstrate that the
clamor from the coal district is utterly unfounded Let
be granted that the coal interest has suffered during
the past year; then should inquire into the causes
which produced that suffering The miners say, that it
was produced by the low duties on foreign coal under
the revenue law of 1885, admitting the foreign article into
competition with their own production. brief examna-
ton of the statistics of the coal trade furnished BY able
correspondent proves concusivey that this assertion and
IL Is nOlnlnS Dut I'LL sSsetohJ o"lLot oc
that SO 0l3 tons of coal were mined in 1885, the last
year of the tariff of ls42 and that the production in S4S
was 3O6s 1872 tons-an increase of 1919 tona Com
pairing the quantity of foreign coal imported in the same
years. we find that in the former year 1858 tons,
and in the latter 1867 imported the increase be-
ing only 39,39s Thus it appears that the produc
ton has greatly increased while the increase in the i'm
portation is very nconsdeabe and that the proportion
ofe imported coal to the mhole quantity under the tariff
of 1912 yas much greater than under The revenue bill Of
1916 This statement is conclusive in itself; but il is
strengthened possible by comparing the proportion be-
tween the value of the coal mined in Pennsylvania and
of the coal which was imported The value of the for
ner at tide-water 100000, and OF the latter
only Si6l lio This mere statement proves the state
ment of our correspondent, that he coal trade is as
independent of foreign supply as the cotton trade
is not mere assertion The truth s, that the clamor
against the tariff of 1916 is unounded. The coal
miners brought the distress of the last year upon them
selves by over productions fact which will fully appear
to any unparalleled mind after reading the letter OF our
CONNER ,al correspondent which recommend to the
attention of readers The friends of free trade in this
broad Union may be satisfied that they stand not only in
regard to principle, but to facts foundation of ada
mant-whilst Messrs Meredith, Clayton, and other
members of the cabinet may be equally satisfied that
their positions wrong and tina, the they press
their views the more firmly they unite together the
publican party