The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-06-02
SENATOR FAULKNER
Explains His Position ON the Tariff
Question.
WAsHrseroS May Is. 1894.

Iuliy concur IN your suggeSt ton that
it is the right of any Democrat in our
state to ascertain directly from me, if he
SO desires, my position on all public
questions and the reasons which influ-
ence my actions as a public official.
After the tariff bill had passed the
House and while il was before the FL
nance Committee of the Senate, / was
| invited by that Committee to come be-
fore it, as a representative of my State,
and present any views deemed proper
in the interests OF her people, | did so,
and stated my views from the stand
point, as | conceived, of Democrat
who had fought as earnestly as any one
to accomplish the result of the election
of 1892 in our State.
1t is true l suggested to the Commit
tee, that the Wilson bill as it passed the
House reduced the duties on protected
articles about SO per cent, that a redue-
ton OF the duty on coal should be made
to the same extent, making the duty on
coal about 90 cents per ton. But after
full consultation the committee decided
that It would be proper to reduce it even
more than that, and fixed the rate at
40 cents per ton-one OF the lowest du-
ties, in the tariff schedules, being about
twelve and one-half per cent ad valorem
| believed than, as | am compelled to
believe now, that | acted in perfect har-
mony and accord with the policy and
declarations of the Democratic party,
tor the following reasons:
First-For fifty years coal has been
upon the dutiable list
Second-The Morrison revision, and
the Mills bill (the latter adopted and APP
approved by the National Democratic
Conyention1 provided for duty upon
this article.
Third-Eyery representative of the
Democratic party that l heard speak,
myself included, in discussing the plat
form of 1892 before the people of West
Virginia, declared that the success of
the Democratic party did not mean '.free
COAL" but it would have to stand its
equitable reduction with all other arti-
Giles upon the dutiable list. This re-
garded as a pledge to the people, made
in the hour OF our greatest extremity in
contest for Democratic principles, in
which we sought to lessen the burdens
of taxation, and l was unwilling to vio-
late it in the hour of victory, especially
as no criticism was made when the
! pledge was given.
Fourth-Whether coal was free or du~
table would not affect its price to any
class OF consumers in our State, or in
the Union, except those living in mar
row strip on the New England coast,
where it would come in competition with
the Nova Scotia coal, and those persons
were given, under the provisions of this
bill, what ] considered high rate of
protection upon their manufactured pro-
ducts
Fifth-0ut Of the.24 900 square miles
embraced within the boundaries of our
State, $4,000 square miles are underlaid
with bituminous coal and for q time,
land only for a time, in my judgment) a
temporary scare resulting from placing
coal on the free list, would, as it has al
ready done. affect the sale OF every acre
OF coal land owned by the farmers OF our
State.
Upon this question | do not wish to
be misunderstood. | am honestly of
the opinion that this depression in the
price of land in the State resulting from
free coal, would have been but temper
airy, and have disappeared in two or
three years, and that we could compete
with the Nova Scotia mines, even
though they had much shorter haul
and water instead of rail transportation.
judgment, have seriously affected at the
November election, the supremacy of
the Democratic party in West Virginia
and if, as | feared, such would have
been its result, it might have changed
the political complexion OF the Senate
one OF the branches of the National Leg
islature, during the term of Democrat
ic administration.
STRENGTHENING this, and conscious
that no political principle of the party
was involved, because the doctrine of
free raw materials" rests upon the
idea that if raw material is enhanced
in price by duty upon it, then the ar
ticles in the manufacture of which it is
a part must receive higher duty than
would otherwise be necessary, was not
involved, for | knew that this was not
the case with coal, as the tariff on no
manufactured article would be either
raised or lowered by placing it on the
free or dutiable list. l felt therefore
that | violated neither Democratic poll
cy nor precedent in assuming the posi-
ton did, and as proof of the correct
ness OF this view, when the Senate bill
was reported with coal on the dutiable
list, manufactured products, especially
on the wooden schedule were reduced
even below the duties provided by the
House bill.
Seyenth-The duty placed upon coal
is clearly and beyond question revenue
duty, and by far the lowest duty ever
provided on this article in a Democratic
tariff
In reference to my action on this bill,
it is so thoroughly known by my col
leagues in the Senate, that any sugges-
that l ever hindered delayed or obstruct-
ed it, or done other wise than earnestly
press it both before the Committee and
the Senate, would surprise them. / in
formed the members of the Committee
at my enterview with them, that, what
ever should be their conclusion upon this
subject they would receive my earnest
support and active cooperation in the
passage Of the measure.
On the It'll of March last, in reply to
a statement in the New York Herald, |
stated on the floor of the Senate that |
used this language at my interview with
the Finance Committee: 81 am Dem
ocrat and if, as Democratic measure
you bring that bill out even as it came
from the House of Representatives, or
in any other form, it will receive my
earnest and cordial support
Since the bill has been before the Sem
ate, no one, other than the distinguish
ed Senator from Tennessee, Mr.. Harris,
and the members of that committee
have been more earnest in pushing it to a
conclusion. Ten days ago determined
if necessary, to yield my Judgment up
on the propriety of cloture in the SEN
ate, and vote for any measure that
would bring this bill to prompt con-
clusion. The material interests of the
country demand this or any other sacri-
flee by the representatives OF the people,
that the anxieties and uncertainties
which have followed the long debate up
on this bill may be dissipated at the
earliest possible moment. | shall con-
tinue the course have followed SO far,
and assist in any movement no matter
how aggressive it may be, that shall be
determined upon by my party, with a
view TO the speedy passage of this bill.
Very truly yours,
CHAs i EArtEErR