, 1870-01-27
FREE COAL.

TIE Committee Of Ways and Means Of
the House If Representatives consists of
nlre members OF these, Mr.. Hooper, Of
Massachusetts, is interested in mills; Mr.. Nc
Cssthy, Of New York, represents salt; Mr..
Kelley represents Pennsylvania conl and
iron; and Messts, Schenck, Maynard, and
Blair we,e prots:6oaists in the days OF
E.u1y Clsy, ard are 20 get. These si1 gen
tlcu1en constitute txo-tbirds OF the only
committee authorized by the rules Of the
House to report change in the tariff. Tho
committee hare Ind no difficulty in voting
down sny proposed reduction in the tax on
pig iron and salt Mr. Hooper voted braTeIy
With Messrs. Kelley and Mccarthy on these
prt:cles. But, upon the subject Of coal,
the manufacturers Of New England have
no community Of interest with their breth-
Ken in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania
furnaces obtain coal at the mouth Of the
Inine, while Mr. Hooper has to import his
roal from Nova Scotia, or have it
Ltvugut TO him from, Pennsylvania.
Every cent OF tax on coal is SO
mitch discrimination against Me. Hooper,
tho Massachusetts, member Of Congress, and
IN 5avor Of aIr. D. j. Aorren, the Pennsyl-
Tznia member Of Congress- The duty Of
$l.c5 per ION in gold on Nova Scotia coal is
so much added to the cost Of Mr. Hoopers
manufactures, and is SO mu:h in favor Of
Hr. Morrell's pig iron. Mr.. Hooper can
buy Pen1s5 fvapia coal, but he has to pay
icr it just what the Norn Scotia coal win
cost him II there were no duty on Nova
Scotia coal, he could purchase that con1, or
Pennsslvanin coal, from Sl.50 to S1.75 less
Per ton than At present But it is not Nj.
Hooper and the other New England MANI
fsct1lrerE Who are alone aterested in re-
pealing the coal tax; every other person in
Neg England who has 6teAm engine ind
afu.nace, or who uses col. in any foun, is
also directly Interested in having cheap
coal Every nan in New England who uses
coal is taxed to pay tribute to the coal
nonopol1sts Of Pennsylvania. It is true ali
ether CONSUMERS Of coal sre taxed in tho
ssme manner; but, as General 6chensk and
Mr. Glair sec 40 injustice IN continuing this
tn1 uror the people Of Ohio and Michigan,
and the West generally, it is fortunate, per
AHE"t e4RS NA4- AoDPG49 MAO ID Gf4A OQ'
1'icus es respects salt and iron, has keen
perception oi the iniquity Of the coal tax.
At recent meeting Of the committee, it il
as1d, a vote ~as taken on making coal free,
sAa the yeas were Hooper Brooks, Of New
}atl; Msrehall, Of Illinois; Allison, Of
Iowa uud Maynard. Of Tennessee; the nays
beirg Kelley, Of Pennsylvania; Blair, OF
Michigan; Mccarthy, OF Onondsga; and
6chenck, Of Ohio.
However much the country may lament
The blindness Of 31r. Hooper in the matter
Of tile oppressive taxes on salt and pig iron,
il will have resson to thank hiu if ho haye
the resolution and the perseverance to stand
by bis rote in favor Of free coa1. The
Am msricau people daring the Last season hsd
m expensive illustration Of tho meanf
Whereby the coal nonopolists can continue
to fix the price Of coal to consumers a,
whatever SUM they please- The powcr t.
make such q combination, md to establish
Il minimum price for coal, is given them b,
the tariff. Abolish that duty, and tho Coz
monopoly will be broken; and the price O
coal. Ike the prices Of all other articles
will BE- regulated by the laws OF trade, q
supply md demand,