Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-01-27

ana how we work. We drive our rooms 9
by 10 feet. Miners are paid 30 cents per box.
In drawing of pillars they get % cents per
box. Our gangways are 10 by feet, for
which the men are paid So 50 per running
yard. Our back balances are 10x9 feet price
IS per running yard. Our mine is very deep
and the pillars are getting hard to take out,
the weight is coming so heavy on them. The
mine is very free from gas. We use all safety
lamps. We use no powder-al maui and
wedge work. We are working every day.
A Pilgrimage.
Messrs. H. A. McMullen, of Mt.
Savage; John Abbott and Patrick
Hogan, of Homecoming; Michael Nc
Cabe, of Pekin Charles Henry, of
Vale Summit, and John Chambers and
the JOURNAL visited Washing ton last
Mon lay to lay before Maryland Con-
gressmen particularly the huge men,
orial in favor of retaining the current
duty on coal to which the people of
this region had subscribed en- masse.
Hon. Barnes Compton had told Mr..
Mckaig that he would vote with him
for retaining the duty, so that in his
case well enough" was ''let alone"
Messrs. Rayner and Talbot, the only
other representatives present, were
cornered in one of the corridors. The
former was found to be loaded with q
lot of misinformation and, of course,
committed. Mr.. Talbot, with less al
legged knowledge of the subject, was
predisposed to go with the Ways and
Means committee still he was open
to conviction.
Next day-Tuesday, about o'clock,
the battle royal began in the House,
McKaig leading off. He was quickly
beset by number of republicans
eager to hear a democrat preach pro-
tectionism. But FIVE minutes is Just
about long enough to lay down the
premises for proving that coal is
already ariff-for-revenue com
modify, and that the little protection
it enjoys is incidental and not special.
The five minutes fled away from him,
however, before he got started, Mr..
Dalzell twittlng HIM about his vote for
free steel rails. He told Mr.. Dalzell
that Mr.. johnson had conclusively
shown that the foreign article could
not compete with the home product,
etc. The chairman's gavel came
down; somebody moved to extend
McKaig's time. 1t was done. He
sailed in again; Interruptions followed
and something was said about Mr..
Frye, of Maine, a representative New
Highlander, beng once a free trader
in coal. To this Mr.. Reed retorted-
so, well, we have tariff-reformed since
then" By this time McKaig's lease
WAS out again, and he sat down with a
cloud of disgust on his face that made
Charlie Henry look weary.
Then Mr.. Rayner, appearing to want
to ape the Billy Wilson role of beginn-
ing charity away from home, arose,
took breath, posed, loosed his tongue,
turned on the dynamo and let nature
caper. He had not before said word
on the tariff had waited until lead
ing industry of his State was assailed
and then, effusively protesting his de-
mocracy, gave the House and country
the party's latest version of States
rights-that the way to preserve those
rights is to first destroy the States ma
teIial interests. The scheme to hand
over to Nova Scotia the coal market of
New England was masked under much
stilted rhetoric and punctuated by
agonizing gestlculation, and when
through he sat down in perspiration
of exuberant dissatisfaction.
Several other speeches followed,
those of Messrs. Oates, of Alabama !;
Anderson, of West Virginia Wise, of
Virginia-all good and favoring the
retention of some duty.
At last the votes We're taken, Nc
Kaig's amendment to retain the cur
rent duty coming last and polling the
highest number.
All the members of the visiting COM
mittee did good work and were treat
cd with courtesy. Mr.. McMullen-a
bright and fluent talker, held his own
admirably in the interview with Mr..
Rayner.
Mr.. German, who was also seen,