The Evening critic., 1883-02-15
BITUMlNOuS COAL
Brings About an Interesting Dis
eLssiOn TN tho Senate Yesterday.

When our Senate report closed, the follow.
Ing paragraph, being Mr.. Bayard's amend
ment to the Tariff bill, was under discussion:
books, pamphlets, bound or unbound, and
all printed matter, wholly or in part In the
English language, not specially enumerated
or provided for in this act, engravings, bound
or unbound, etchings, illustrated books,
maps and charts, fifteen per centum ad va
lorem."
After debate, IT was adopted, by vote OF 80
yeas to 81 nays.
Mr.. Morgan gave notice that when the bill
should be opened for general amendment,
he would move to admit, duty free, all books
designed for instruction In schools, and
Mr.. salisbury announced that he would
move 10 admit free all books not published In
this country.
The amendment made In Committee of the
Whole, raising the duty on bituminous coal
from fifty TO seveniy-Gve cents a ton being
reached, Mr.. Vance asked for separate vote
rise to a debate which lasted until g O'Clock,
In the course Of which Mr.. Morgan said this
Dill ought 10 be entitled a bill to tax the peo-
pie OF certain portions OF the country and ap-
propriate the money to certain other people.
IT had all the worst characteristics of the
River and Harbor bill OF last session and had
produced the same kind of combinations.
Both bills were framed and pushed forward
upon the same principle: s'You tickle me and
II tickle you" In this matter of coal, large
TO certain gentlemen, and the representatives
of those interests were in the Senate, voting
money out Of the pockets of the people of CALI
''Sir," said Mfr. Morgan, 81 have no sort of
concession 10 make TO monopolies arranged
between the different industries of the
United states through lobbies and upon this
floor. have nothing Dutw war to make upon
these, and though / shall stand alone, / viii
battle for the right upon this question. All
the other monopolies combined for mutual
protection, and why should not the Senator
from West Virginia (Mr. Davts) and his con
ireres, owners OF large coal fields, do
the same? These monopolies had their regii-
lar Congresses, and the Congress of the
United States, which used to enact laws for
the benefit Of the whole people, was now the
servant Of these great mOnopolies and their
lobbyists. 1thas been shameless work upon
this floor. Every man here knows It; every
body feels IL; and 1T viii be proclaimed from
the floor OF this Senate until the people OF the
United States shall know 1t and feel It,"
Mr. Davis w. Va.) explained that there was
no duty ON anthracite coal, the kind used for
domestic purposes. As TO the argument of the
Senator from Alabama, ho thought large
portion of 1t was unworthy OF the Senator or
Of notice.
MIR. Morgan-''when the Senator tolls me
that portion of my argument is not worthy
OF notice, wish to ask him a question" (Ad-
dressing Mr.. Davis. (Are you not large
owner of these coal-lands?"
Mr.. Davis-"Certainly ] am; and are you
Mr. Morgan-''Yes."
Mr.. Dayis-"And don't you vote to lover the
tax on it?'
Mr.. Morganv,,'No,,, not ON this coat-on tho
dA!Io Mr., Dsyis"wel, o don't care to get into
Mr.. Morgan-''When Senator arises and
Gays that my argument Is not worthy OF notice
want TO know who It is that makes that re.
mark, and 10 show that 1t Is a man who Is
voting taxes out of my people to put Into his
own pocket to enrich himself"
Mr.. Dayis-'1 want no personal controversy
with the Senator"
Mr.. Morgan-"well, keep on my feet If you
don't"
Mr.. Davis-"I believe the Senator viii think
better OF 1t hereafter. / have uniformly
treated him fairly and kindly, ana | think his
illusions We're out of place. As to my owner
ship OF coal lands, am coal MINER l was,
for many years before l knew the Senate, and
have been ever since. am one Of corpora
tion In which perhaps hundred other people
are Interested. Every Senator here has voted
upon every question that has come up, re-
gardless Of the special interests Of his people
or OF his personal interests. II would be as
reasonable 10 accuse the Senator from Texas
OF voting TO put money in his own pocket
when he voted for the duty on cattle, as to
make such charge against me on this coal
question"
Avote was finally had, and the amendment
making the duty on bituminous coal seventy
i've cents per ton was agreed to by vote OF 23
yeas 10 l 8 nays.