Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1893-10-11
Governor MacCOrkIe.

Governor MacCnrkle, VINO uH0 OTc" P'Se
" severely criticized for appearing before
the ways and means committee to ask that
the present tariff on coal be retained, has
issued lengthy statement in explanation
and defense Of his action, claiming that he
has been misrepreseuted. especially by the
Associated Press reports. My position,
he SAYS, "is just this. The Democratic par
" is pledged TO correct the inequalities and
undue burdens of the tariff. l. it correct
ing the inequalities Of the tariff to place
duty on the other products of the country
and place our only great product on the
free list? am y tariff reformer, absolutely
so aud when it is the theory of the party
that expenses Of the government should be
paid BY the tariff, want my State to have
her fair share Of the tariff We are willing
10 take a fair and honest reduction, As other
products are; no more, no less; aud to-day
the tariff averages so per cent on every
thing else; coal with its rebate has only
about one half that"
He argues thtt it has been the policy OF
the Democratic party to maintain duty
upon coal, and that the present duty Is low
in proportion to the average tariff rates and
mucl lower than tina. imposed by earlier
Democratic legislation. The first tariff, that
of 1889. placed duty of So cents per ton
an bituminous coal. In 1890 it was So cents.
From that time until 1912 it was never less
than 81 40 per ton, and part of that time II
was 81 so In 1912 It was 81 IS. The Walk
er tarf-the ideal Democratic measure.
which was. proieSsedly a tariff for revenue
only-uuder which the average rate of duty
WAS only 20 per cent. placed coal on the
list at 81 80 per ton while under the pres
ent tariff. with an average duty Of about %
per cent, the duty on coal is but 10 cents a
ton with rebate which makes Il real duty
of IS cents The rate levied by the Walk
er tariff continued until 1861, when it was
reduced to 81 90 to admit foreign coal in
time Of war and in 1873, when other du
tie- were reduced only 10 per cent. that on
coal WAS reduced to IS cents per ton. This
unfair reduction. SAYS the Governor, twas
made by the influence of New England"
He goes on 10 review the record OF the
pariy on this question since the war. The
tariff bill reported To the House in 1878 by
the WAYS aud means committee under the
Craftsmanship Of Fernando Wood, which
was recuguizrd as a Democratic measure,
provided tor duty on coal Of 70 cents. In
the Forty eighth Congress, Mr.. Morrison
reported bill placing coal on the free list.
This. the Governor thinks, helped as much
a. anything 10 bring about its rejection by
the House. The Mills bill, which was en-
dorsed bv the National Democratic Conven-
ton. and on which the campaign Of 1888
was made. left the duty on coal at 20 cents.
Governor MacCorkle claims. in view of
these facts. that he is on a solid foundation
of Democratic precedent when he advocates
the retention of the present duty, and he
protests against the criticisms of his De-
mocracy. He further says that in political
campaigns the expressions OF votes of Re
publican leaders among them Wheeler,
Blaine and Logan-in favor of free coal
have been used against them and their party
His position, he declares. is directly in
the line of tariff for revenue If. the
Walker tariff rate of $3.50 was for revenue
only, IS cents is not in excess of revenue
rate. We have made New England rich by
paying her tariffs, and it is New England
that now wants free coal to reduce the cost
of manufacturing With 10000 miners in
this safe {. would be a ruinous policy to
the party.
He says in conclusion that the whole alb
solute prosperity Of this State is founded on
coal. We have the best coal and more coal
than any State in the Union. We have
been engaged for twenty-five years in a con
fIct with Pennsylvania for coal supremacy,
and Just now, when we are seeing the light,
shall we adopt free coal platform and have
capitalists wait for another five or ten years
10 see what the effect will be before they
will invest in our mines and in our hills p
The manufacturers have two, three and fur
times "a much tariff a. We have, and we are
only asking what rightfully belongs to the
State when We ask for the piliful revenue
tariff Of 25 cents per ton on coal The
miners are getting just as little as they can
live on there is not an over rich coal cor
poration in this State they are living just
As clo-e ~ they can aud scarcely making
any dividends the railroads are transport
ing coal cheaper than was ever known be.
fore, and they are cutting down forces and
putting their laborers a. low n possible
and can they stand reduction? lie does
not saw that free coal would he absolute
ruin, but he does say that it is problemat-
ical. Free coal will not cheaper coal TO
The consumer. The anthracite coal settles
the consumers market II will allow the
bringing in Of Nova Scotia coal it viii al
low the continuance of English and Aus
tralian coal on the Pacific Coast, and with
the Nicarauguan canal built, West Virginia
should absolutely aud will absolutely dom
mate the Pacific coast with It's present tariff
aud none can compets there with the present