Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-09-20
sp.eiaE zs,.oram to the Register.


Nearly one hundred representatives OF
the bituminous coal interest OF West
Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and Penn
sylvania, crowded the room Of the ways
and means committee this afternoon.
They had gathered to urge the COM
mittee to retain the present duty OF 20
cents ton on bituminOus coal, which
they claimed was but about one-half the
average rate imposed on other articles
by the present law.
The West Virginia delegation was the
largest In attendance and was headed
by ex-senator Henry G. Davis, Gov.
MacCorkle and Mr.. Erskine Miller, OF
New River, all OF whom made ad-
dresses.
Among the other West Virginians
present were Neil Robinson, j. H. HUI
ling, P. H. Noyes, W. R. Johnson, f.
l.. Garrison, NJ. Jackson, W. S. Ed
wards, J. T. Brown, l.. NJ. Crouch, 5.
H. Montgomery, Austin Smith, I, e.
Embleton, VIM. Sharpe, j. D. Harris,
Creed White, Otto Marmett, e. f. Ste
vens, T. Kelly, John Carver, j. d. Har-
ris, T. E. Harris, G. A. Garrison and
many others.
Capt. John Sheridan, Senator Cam
den and Representative Anderson were
present during part of the hearing.
Ex-senator Davis was the first
speaker. He said the present duty OF
rs cents ton on bituminous coal was
little enough. The industry in West
Virginia and adjacent States could not
exist with less unless the wages OF labor
were reduced. Labor was the chief
or uItuhlnu15 r6ai- When it had been
transported by rail from the West Vir-
ginia mines to the sea coast was in the
neighborhood Of 95 per cent. Of the
total cost. The great market for this
coal was in New England, and without
the present duty Of Is cents a ton the
WEST VIRGINIA COAL
could not hold that market against the
Nova Scotia coal, which was dug from
mines situated Immediately on the sea
shore, so that ii had TO pay no heavy
railroad freight charges before it was
dumped into vessels for water ship
ment. The ex-senator said a syndicate
of New York and Boston gentlemen
had recently invested heavily in Nova
Scotia mining property, and the Amer
lean coal operators were apprehensive
that they would endeavOr TO secure the
removal of the duty on coal so that the
Nova Scotia article could come free into
the New England market, taking itaway
from the West Virginia and Pennsyl-
vsnia miners. The present duty on
coal was not one-half the average
duty imposed on other articles, and it
was not right it should be removed at
the demand OF New England, whose
manufacturing industries enjoyed the
highest rate of protection. If the duty
on coal were taken off, then the duty on
all the articles coal operators and min
ETC., should also be taken of. !
The ex-senator admitted the Nova SEQ !
tia miners were paid about as high |
wages as the American miners, but the |
wages Of the latter would have to be re-
duced should the duty on coal be taken |
of, owing to
THE GEOGRAPHICAL ADVANTAGE
which the Nova Scotia miners enjoyed |
As to the railroad freight rates for coal
he thought they were about as low now
as they could possibly be made. They |
we're about three mills per ton per
mile.
Gov. MacCorkle made a ringing plea
for the protection of West Virginia's
one great industry which, be said, was
now struggling into prosperity by the
help Of tariff of tweuty-hveIcents and |
should not be disturbed at the selfish |
demand OF New England whose indus
tries enjoyed the very highest. rate Of
protection. While protection was GO
ing he wanted his State TO get small |
share of II as well as other sections of |
.he country. He had no interest in
,oal mines or railroads, but all those
who had in West Virginia Of every class,
assured him that the coal industry
could not exist without the
small aid it now got from
he duty on foreign coal. The Cover
nor said he was not familiar with the
coal industry in detail nor with the In
.ricacies of the tariff. He derived his
knowledge Of the wants of the coal In.
.erests Of his State from those who
made it the business Of their lives.
Mr.. Tarsney asked the Governor II
10 had not been elected on q platform
similar in It's tariff plank
10 the Democratic National platform OF
asst year.
The Governor said he had, and he
lid not feel IN asking that the small
luty on coal, which was 10 an extent
evenue duty, he
WAS INCONSISTENT
With the declarations OF that platform.
Ex-Spesker Reed, who is a member
4 the Ways and Means Committee,
eemsd greatly elated at finding a Dem
cat like Governor MacCorkIe asking
or She retention Of a tariff duty, and
ssured the Governor that he was
ute III accord with him. He appealed
o the GoEernor TO aid him in getting
or the Industries Of New England
he same projection asked for the West
yirginia Goa Industry, and said in turn
e would do he could TO help the
Governor.
To this GofernOr MsccOrkIs replied