The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-10-02

trict to hear what he saws,
In the Harrisburg Patriot of Marcel
Goth 1871, he uses the following Ian
guage
SALT AND COAL.
During the last campaign the Dem
ocratic press Of Pennsylvania uttered
no uncertain voice concerning the in
iquities of that legislation which inn
poses heavy duties on thenecessaries
of life, and taxes the many for the
benefit Of the few. We observe now
with pleasure that the Democratic
newspapers in al! portions ofPennsyl,
yania heartily commend the course
Of these Democratic members of the
delegation in congress who voted for
q repeal of the duties on salt and coal.
The following article Is taken from
the editorial column of that able and
sound democratic Journal, the Ian
caster MteliigeRcer:
Ia the house of representatives on
Monday resolutions repeating the du-
" on salt, coal, tea and coffe were
promptly passed. The vote for re-
pealing the duty on salt was yeas
lfS, NAYS As: on coal-yeas 1870,
NAYS IS. Seven Democrats voted TO
retain the duty on salt and eleven to
-a-ain ,bo -o-;sr ~, .aal
The following is the analysis Of the
vote of Pennsylvania delegation:
For repeating the duty on salt
YEAs-Messrs. Acker, Getz Hal
demaH Meyers and StorHs-Demo-
crdts. ).
NAYs-Messrs. Greeley, Dickcy,
Foster, Griffin, Harmer, Kelley,
killinger NCieiiand NJ 'Junkin, Mey-
ers, Packer, Randall, Scofeld, Shoe
maker, Speer and Townsend-l6.
Democrats, 4; Radicals, Ii.
Absent-Messrs. Negley, Mercer
and Sherrcood-3. Democrats |, rad
icals, =.
For abolishing the tariff on coal !:
Yeas-Messrs. Acker, HdideBiGR,
Meyers, and !StOrm-4 All Demo
Gratis.
Ndys-Messrs. Greeley, Diekey,
Foster, Getz, Griffin, Harmer, Kill
linger, Kelley W Cleltand, M'Junkin,
Meyers, Packer, Randall, Shoemaker,
Scofeld, Speer, and Townsend-l7
Democrats, 8 Republicans, H.
-dbsent-Messrs Negley, Mercur
and Sher1coOd-3
The Democrats who voted TO re-
peal duties on the necessaries Of life,
are in accord with the sentiment of
their party throughout the country.
The tax was put on salt for the benefit
of few monopolists, and every Dem
ocratie newspaper in Pennsylvania
has denounced II as q gross outrage.
The people of the United States use
~, ,0O0, 900 bushels of salt Il year, and
the tax at fifteen cents u bushel
amounts to S6,00O,00O. That much
is annually taken directly from the
pockets of the people, and only 81,
1913, 600 Of it 90 into the national
treasury All the rest is transferred
to the Golfers of few men who have
a monopoly OF salt boiling. We are al
a loss to conceive how any Con-
gressman can frame q decent excuse
for having voted to retain the duty
on salt.
The tax ON coal only yielded the
sum Of $4,000 to the treasury last
year IL is useless and an unnec-
essary imposition. Our anthracite
has no rival in the world. The tax
may aid the railroad corporations
which are now engaged in an odious
to prevent the production
Of anthracite, but that l. u strong ar
gument in favor of its speedy repeal
The owners and workers of our vast
fields of bituminous coal do not need
protection. They have no reason to
fear competition from the poor article
which is produced in Nova Scotia.
The only persons in Pennsylvania who
are deeply Interested III sustaining
.he duty on bituminous coal are Ger
ain gentlemen, most of them inti-
nately connected with the Pennsvl-
7ania railroad, who have monopoly
n the business of furnishing West
coal 10 the gas companies
# different cities. So far as the tax
IN coal helps them it Injuries the COM
nunity by increasing the price both
# fuel and light Ii coal cannot be
lug from our mines and taken to
market without the help of tariff du-
les, it would be impossible to con-
Give of industry which does not
tand in need Of protection. The
dea of protecting such commodity
" means of tariff seems to be SIM
iy preposterous.
The only reason why certain Dem
cratic Congressman voted TO retain
he duties on salt and coal, is that
hey fear any break which may be
lade in the chains that monopolists
ave fastened upon the limbs OF in
nstry. lfthe existing tariff is tam
cred with it is deemed probable that
AK on iron may be materially less
ned The Democrats from Pennsyl-
ania who voted for dear salt and !
ear coal did so at the direction of
be iron-masters of the State. That
De step was an unwise one We are
lily convinced Extreme votes of
lat character must lessen the infu-
nee of the Pennsylvania delegation,
lstead of increasing it Members
ON other States who might be dis
osed 10 allow a moderate tariff on
on, will be set against it by this ac-
on of our members. The assaults
T all the Free Trade newspapers in
he country will be. directed against
he duty on iron, to preserve which a
w Democratic Congressman seemed
, deem it necessary that they
1ould cast votes which are complete
: indefensible. Unless we are great
: mistaken, the iron-masters ofPenn-
rlvania will have cause to regret
lat majority of the Congress
zen from this State voted against i
ee salt and free coal. 4