The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-13
gaonnAs AsD rHE rKEsrDEsr.

The deadlock between the senate and
house conferees over the tariff bill con-
tinues with the growing beIdef that no
agreement will be reached this session Of
congress. and that the Mckinley bill may
be allowed to revive the industries 50 ut
terly demoralized through fear of destruct-
i've legislation. The conflict has narrowed
itself doxE TO contest between Arthur
p. German of the senate and Grover Cleve-
land of the White House. each Of whom
represents conflicting interests m this big
Democratic quarrel. %
German, who before his elevation TO the
senate was for many years Democratic
boss In the councils of the Maryland
Democracy. still enjoys the undivided
allegiance Of the party in hisstate. he is
largely interested in the coal selds OF
Maryland and West Virginia. Besides,
Charles f. Meyer. president Of the BATH
more Il Ohio and the Georges Greek q
Cumberland railways. and Henry @. Davis,
president OF the West Virginia Centres &
Pittsburg railway, over which two roads
the entire output OF these two coaF fields
must find its way to tide wafer are the
forces which strengthen Shin in his pres
ent attitude toward the coal question. He
controls the senate conferees, as any
agreement By them which does not recog-
nize protection 20 Maryland and West
Virginia, coal will be defeated by him in
the senate.
German, in his insistance upon a pro-
tective tariff on coal, Is ct one with the
general sentiment OF his state. The con-
trary resolutions of the Democratic county
convention in Queen Anne county, which
is an agricultural county ana intensely
Southern in its sentiments, are not to be
taken as the sentiment of the state.
The president. true to his general dispo-
sition. Is not likely TO yield. He has made
a public avowM of his position, and he
holds the house. Besides, he is In close
touch with the English capitalists. who
are making strong fight for the Dominion
Coal Company. The president, if he needs
20 be strengthened in the position which
he has taken, will get the necessary en-
couragement from Whetney, Lamont ana
other New York capitalists. whose CON-
mandisg interests require above all things
else free coal to New England ports. The
matter Is plain. 1t. Is British against
American interest, and the president is on
the side OF the Bfifons.
The house and the president are anxious
TO pass some tariff bill. and thus fulfill in
q measure at least the pledges of their
national convention. All Concessions.
with but single exception. have thus far
been made by the house. The senate con-
ferees conceded free coal on condition of
| the reciprocal concession on the part of
Canada OF free coal from the United States.
| That proposition, however, was not sin
cere. Canada imposes duty of 81 cents
ton on coal shipped from this country,
aud her revenue from this source for
| the year 1893 was nearly a million and
a half dollars. BY relinquishing this duty
she would get the royalty on the Increased
| output at the Nova Scotia mines. BUT.
though the New England market is a
valuable one, the l2K cents ton on the
additional coal mined to supply this trade
would not indemnify her for the loss of
/ the duty. as 1t would require the very i'm
/ probable increase of q. 10000 tons. This
she would not agree to.
Senator German must insist upon a pro-
tectivs tariff on coal, aud he viii do it.
lie is not the timM mariner y no sails close
60 shore; he boldly sails ont into deep
watAr and defies the rolling sea. he holds
the key 10 the situation, as he controls at
least four senator's. He would probably
grant free iroA ore, but If the house insi.ts
| upon free GOAL it Is almost certainty that
no agreemen6ean be reached.