The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-13

SPEECH OF COLONEL JAMES H. PLATT

SPEECH OF COLONEL JAMES II. PLATT.
In the recent attempt to spring a sur
prise upon the friends of American labor
in Congress, by repeating the duty on coal
imported, we are glad to observe that our
entire Republican delegation in Congress-
Messrs. Porter, Plat and Stowell--voted
against the measure. Opportunity for de-
bate was limited TO five minutes. Colonel
Platt, of the second district, after zealously
fighting the repeal in the preliminary Skin
mishing, hits this bantling of British Free
Trade sin the white" as follows:
Mr.. Platt-I renew it. Mr.. Chairman,
am opposed to the amendment of the gentle
man from Illinois Mr.. Farnsworth1 looking to
the repeal of the duty on coal, because | am of
the earnest conviction that the benefit to be
derived from the repeal bears no relation
whatever to the great injury involved. /
speak in the interest of the State which have
the honor to represent in part on this floor;
and call on my colleagues representing that
State to Join with me in defending that inter-
est from assault to-day. What is proposed by
this amendment? 1t is proposed to repeal the
anthracite coal. The duty on coal, therefore,
had no effect whatever to produce the recent
rise in the markets of New York, and my
friend from New York Mr.. Cox] is gentle.
man of too much intelligence not to know this
fact.
Mr. Cox What is the cost of mining Gum
berland coal
Mr.. Platt.--I have not time in five minutes
to answer all of the gentleman's questions,
and Gas | always take pleasure in following
the example of the gentleman from New York,
lMr. Cox, when can do so conscientiously,)
d. ~ kt,nr hal do hakt r1lt
the example which he has set of declining to
be interrupted. l say, sir, that the repeal of
this duty will have only this effect. / ask the
attention of the members of the House to
statement / shall make, and | defy successful
contradiction to any of the facts I shall state
The only effect will be to cheaper coal in the
Northern cities to those who use the btumi-
nous COAL who are not the poor people of the
country, but the gas companies and manufac-
turing establishments and do not believe
any intelligent man on this floor will for one
moment believe that these gas companies of
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Balti-
more will sell their gas to consumers cheaper
because of the utter destruction of this branch
OF our home industry and the opportunity af-
forded to those gas companies of getting their
coal from Nova Scotia for manufacturing gas
at lower rate. Ii cannot affect anthracite
coal, which is the only coal consumed by the
people outside Of the localities where bitumi.
nous coal is produced.
desire to say a word in answer to an argu-
ment made by gentleman here short time
ago, who stated that, although living in
State where there Is large amount of capital,
invested in the production of bituminous coal,
he thoughtful interest of consumers compelled
him to vote for the repeal of the duty, in order
that consumers in that State might get their
coal cheaper than now. will say to the gen.
teman that the effect of the repeal of this duty
will be to close every mine in Pennsylvania,
Virginia, Marylan and Ohio.
Its effect will be to stop entirely the produc-
ton of bituminous coal in the United States
and TO throw out Of employment at least fifty
thousand laborers who are now employed in
the production of the article. Its effect will be
to close every coal,pit in the States
where bituminous coal is now being mined,
and place us at the mercy Of the producers OF
coal in the British provinces. who pay nothing
for keeping up our institutions, and to whom
it Is now proposed to give all the benefits of
our markets with no coinpeusatipg advantage
whatever to us.