Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-10-01
u. ~. Oh ER. Editor.
Is Coal in Danger i?

come involved in any controversy over
the tariff so far as any change in that
system may affect coal.
But if 1t should, it assures all corners
that it is entirely able to maintain its
views.
But there is so much arrant, out
rageous, and wilfully misleading non
sense going that we can hardly keep
still
The truth is if the farmers Of this
Congressional district were half alive
to their interests, neither Mckaig nor
Wellington would lure announce that
he will make the protection of coal IL
speciality!
But is coal at all in dangerl
The JOURNAL afirms that it is not.
That is to say-it is in no peril of
loss by way of a reduced tariff rate,
bat it is in danger of becoming Il sub
ject of ''reciprocitv," if RECIPROCITY
be undesirable.
Coal, as all know. is surplus
American product, and as 'reci-
procity" Is II scheme devised to get rid
of surplusages, il is actually Il more
radical thcorem of free trade ethics
than of the contention for "a tariff for
revenue only AS Il matter of incon-
trovertibe fact, ''reclproclty' Is an
alien principle III the may system of
"protection'' pdeaomc,a.
Hence. its appearance IN the Nc
kinney Act is in the nature of Il post
script acknowledging that i'll postuIate,
text and spirit, the whole of the fore
going is Fundamentally wrong.
The JOURNAL sees, however. that
"reciprocity," considered a good thing
for this region when some other
sections goods are to be traded, is
looked upon with great alarm when it
is contemplated as Il pike with which
cur own OK is to be gored.
The situation is this, however:
Mr.. Mckaig cannot vote for a re-
duced tariff on coal, no matter what
his party demands 1t will be easy for
him to show that the duty on coal is
already fixed at the ''tariff-for revenue
only rate, and that it is as njuSt to
put it down as it was unfriendly in
Mr.. McComas to forget it when he
helped so thoughtfully to put every
thing else up
And Mr.. Wellington cannot prevent
President Harrison from making coal
practically free, no matter what his
party demands otherwise.
The fact is, the matteris Unnecessarily
beyond Mr.. Wellington's reach The
Mckinley Act is passed, and the Nc
kinley Act has fixed the $tat"S Of coal
as at any time liable to 90 on the free
list.
But, deep,laid as is this truth, we
are only yet skimming the surface.
Is coal "protected' at all?
That is for the sake of 'protcctlon ?"
The JOURNAL ai1irms that it is not
and has not been since 1872, when, at
the demand of New England for free
raul the duty was reduced from Tl.21
to - cents per ton as Il compromise
with John Ritchie.
The price at which foreign coal can
be laid down at New York is about
- p. Add - cents and we have -
per ton as the cost, or almost exactly
the normal price of Georges Creek coal
at the same point.
Now what is - cents of IS !
just - per rent. ml ra|oreo, OF the
deM t0riH' retorm rate for all necessary
commodities
Hence. gentlemen of both parties.
the co@l tariN ran 90 M Drrer under
''taritf-for-reyenue-onIy" basis.
And under what Mr.. Cleveland calls
an impossible free trade" basis, it
has not half as far to fall as a thousand
other commodities.
1t can 90 no lower-exccpt under
TIE "reciprocty" provision of the
Mckinley Act, which Mr.. Wellington,
we are obliged to contend, is pledged
to sustain, both by his party platform
and his own solemn word
An Advance Obituary Sheet.
Through divers channels and in
sundry places, except church. the |
Journal. has heard that the Lcdgcr. |
instead OF charging the area of its |
weekly, will eIsmall it in the dimen-
slons Of a necessarily p!rayune daily |
This is bad, sad news.
The JOURNAL had hoped to enjoy !
the Le3gerS company for some time |
yet-fondIy, fooliShly hoped, but this
last venture prophesles bereavement |
much earlier than the normal condi