The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-03-19
GreGttettiQeneer
RATES OF sUBscRIPTIoN.
TIE. action of the House of Repre-

THE action of the House of Repre-
sentatives in defeating the bill for the
regulation of trade with the British
provinces, which was intended to sup
ply the place of the reciprocity treaty,
so far accords with the unanimous ac-
ton of the Legislature of our State.
The latter body at its late sessions adop-
ted a Joint resolution offered in the Sen
ate by Mr.. Burley, opposing renewal
of the reciprocity treaty, asking the
imposition of aduty; of two dollars per
ton on all imported coal and request
ing the influence of our members OF
Congress to secure those objects. The
defeat of the bill leaves the duty on
coal imported from Canada Mt one dol
lar and quarter per ton as fixed by
the general tariff law. In the Globe re-
port of the debate on the bill in the
Committee of the Whole, members be-
ing limited to five minute speeches, we
find the following remarks of Mr.. Hub
bard:
Mr.. Hubbard, of West Virginia.
Mr.. Chairman, we ask for the coal in
tarest only what has been granted to
the wool interest, that is that it may be
left out. of this bill. Wool which came
in free under the reciprocity treaty has
been left out, and takes its place under
the general law. We eask that coal may
be placed on the same footing. or il in
cluied that the duty shall be as high or
higher than under the tariff of 1864.
In. reference to the replarks OF the
gentleman from Ohio, Mr.. Garfield, l
will say this only affects the coal which
INn hnTnnr
It is not the coal interests of the whole
country, but only that which finds its
market on the Atlantic border, or 9TH
erwise is without n market.
a. In regard to. the proposed reduetlon
on coal, wish to say n few words why
this should not be done. l quote from
the opening remarks of the gentleman
from Vermont, fNIr. Morrill, j chairman
of the COMMITTEES of Ways and Means:
at is proposed to admit bituninous coal
from the British Provinces, in consideration
OF certain privileges to be eItended 10 the
United States, at nifty Genus toh. s-rF 20 .
This is the consideration, that the coal
interest of Canada may be specially
protected and taken care of without
regard to home interests, that capital
NAV be induced to go from this country
into Canada, as it has already largely
gone, thereby escaping taxation ana It's
share of the public burdens here, then
to come back in the shnpe OF coal ut II
reduced price, to the injury q our home
product. If we cannot tax that cepltal
here. I'VE should catch it on its return.
It is said the article of coal stands ut
the same level with tlreWood. NOW,
bituminous coal forms no purt of the
ordinary fuel of New England. 1t Is
used solely for gas and steam purposes,
and to some extent in manufacturing,
and occasionally to make n sea-coal fire
in the parlor of the wealthy. 1t does
not form any part of the fuel for the
poor =g..s-,-s.s 1,,....s -.
and purchase the manufactures OF New
England, and we are glad to do so; but
we want to pay to some extent with
coal in return. They say we can get
coal cheaper from the Provinces. Is
not the same eargumentg good in our case?
We may say we can get manufactured
goods cheaper from old England. II
thev want us to purchase their manu-
factures in New England let there be a
little reciprocity in this respect.
agree with the gentleman from MIS-
souri,, LNTr. Hogan, that we should pro-
tect the luborer. know no better way
TO protect the labor of this country than
when we make a market for ITS pro-
duets, and thus increase the demand.
This is the only way in which we can
lerislate for the protection of labor
And this kind of labor lies at the very
foundation of the welfare of the coun-
trSt, for out oftIIe ground, by the tools
OF the miner and the implements OF the
farmer. must come-the wealth which Is
to pay the debt of our Government;-
And our revenue system should be
adapted to the important end OF crea-
ting national wealth.