The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-20
THE DUTY UPON COAL.
sTRoNG EFFORT 10 SECURE IT'S
RErsN1E0N IN THE BILL.
Col. wrn. Lamb. OF Norfolk, Conferrinn
with Consressmen Interested in the
Master-Bei Bigger's story.
TrMYs BtRrAU. RAPLxy BuIIDISo. I
WASHINGTON. January 10. 1894.

~ the Federal election laws. and the
narrowing contemplation OF the blood
thirsty Liioukalani. have drifted away
for several days. aud from the Senate
c0mmitiee-rooms is echoed alone sounds
Of joyous laughter. and the game goes
ON at Chamberin's just as II Monday
could never come. with these awful bur
dcns again upon these busy brains.
10 Is going TO be very difficult thing
20 defeat any Of the propositions Of the
Ways and Means Committee and the
chances are rather In favor of the pas
sage OF the bill. with only such amend
menis as the committee may offer. The
campaign OF education however IS
going bravely on. and every day thousands
OF printed documents are distributed
among the congressman and correspon-
dents, whose purpose is TO change, If
possible, the verdict OF Chairman Wilson
aud his associates on The committee.
Opposition &C. IN. Bill
The strongest opposition which the
Hll has Is found in the combined inter
ests OF the coal, iron, and sugar districts
Of the South. and until the coal schedule
IS reached no positive assurance can be
had of the result of the vote upon the
floor. Colonel William Lamb. of Norfolk.
IS in the city and is an earnest worker
for the retention Of the duty upon coal.
Yesterday he was at the capitol, and held
"A protracted conference with many Of
the congressman whose districts are
vitality interested. These gentlemen are
urging the fun retention of the present
duty Of seventy-five cents per ton upon
coal, but both Captain Wise and Mr..
oates. OF Alabama, have amendments
reducing the tariff to fifty cents per ton.
After all, though. IL is most likely that
the most material changes i'm the Wilson
bin will be made in the Senate, as many
OF the real advocates of the modification
of some Of the provisions will vote to
keep the bill intact for the simple and
only reason that they are not willing to
risk the adoption Of any one change for
fear Of a general and disastrous attack
upon the measure.
The drug-trade section OF the New York
Board OF Trade and Transportation have
sent a memorial Of half dozen printed
pages. urging certain changes, which
affect their business. They recommend
that boracic acid be put on the dutiable
list at three cents per pound. instead
Of being listed free They urge an adj
vance from thirty-five cents TO sixty
cents per pound on fannie acid. and also
that the following be made dutiable in
stead of being on the free list. Ammonia
carbonate, at one and three-fourths cents
per pound; camphor refined, at four cents
per pound, and coloring for brandy, etc,
as barks beans berries. herbs, leaves,
etc, three cents per pound. For castor
oil they want sixty cents. instead of
seventeen cents, and for cod-liver oil they
recommend a specific duty of fifteen
cents per gallon instead OF twenty per
cent. ad valOrem. They recommend for
strychnia aud all selts thereof, a duty OF
forty cents per ounce, Instead of thirty
per cent ad yalorem, aud conclude with
the general accommodation that specinc
duties be levied in preference to al
Valorem, in the drug and chemical traue.
CoIsne. Biggs - liz ~ioIy.
The adjournment Of the Virginia Legis-
lature until next Monday contributed quite
a number of visitors 10 Washington TO-
dav Senators Fairfax, Washington, Par
rish. and hatcher were here, and Messrs.
7 r. Caddall John r. Loving, and Dr.
Sanders. of Wythe county, are registered
at the hotels.
The prompt manner in which the mem
bers Of the House of Delegates voted
against their receiving any railroad passes
recalls q good story told some years ago
by the genial and splendid clerk, Col.
John Bell Bigger. The conversation turn
ed one winters night upon the alacrity
which members employed TO vote on Just
such measures as this, when most OF them
really were, after all, not 50 very much
aycrso % lasses in general or particular
eases. Col Bigger said:
MANY years ago our members used 10
receive So per diem instead of the present
sum. one day an advocate of retrench-
inent and reform offered a resolution re-
ducing the daily stipend.
"Of course. none OF the members felt ike
making amy vigorous opposition. but
there were some very black looks around |
The hail. This rs my chance, ] thought,
The Colonel continued. "and so when the |
viva Nocc vote was taken I turned half |
way round al my desk and whispered to /
the gentleman from Portsmouth who was |
IN the chair. The motion is lost He arose |
TO his feet and calmly announced to the |
house. The motion is lost Broad smiles /
fitted about the room like skimmirg |
swallows about the straw-bult shed. and !
a proud feeling welled up in my heaving |
chest. like the golden butter to the top
of a patent churn, and for a moment all
was serene, but imagine my consterna-
lion when the persistent old legislator
arose and said, MIR. Chairman. would you
please be so kind as to tell us where
The clerk lost it,? 1 FASTENED out Of the
room" laughed Col. Bigger. and in a
lew minutes the pay was reduced to the
sreat disgust Of the nervous majority
The settle Contested Case.
IL was rumored here this morning that
The report from the Committee on Privi-
cges and Elections In the contested cleo
lion case OF Williams versus Settle. from
me Fifth North Carolina district. would
be unanimous IN favor OF the sitting
member. Congressman Settle. This is
? mistake. for while IL is understood
hat majority OF the Democratic mem
'crs voted with the Republicans on the
'omniitec for a report in favor OF the
rtung member the minority reserved
neir rieht 60 bring in dissenting opin-
on. This case has been watched with
unusual interest and MIR Settle seems
p" have many friends among the Demo-
ratio members OF the House. who un-
,tsltaunsly express their approval Of
ne proposed action Of the committee
f The town OF Bristol does not get a |
'emocrauc postmaster and a virginia |
lemoerat at that. 1t will not be the
amt OF CONGRESSMAN Marshall with
lis characteristic push and enero,, no
8 leaving no means untrled n efrect !
his desire Of bis constituents This {
norning he called az the White Ttouea
nd went over the case thorouohIy u,1,,, ,
DO President, who promised that his \
equest should receive careful consiaera- o
Ion. s
lie called at the Treasury Departmen, I
ma had a janitOr appointed for the pub q
r. building az Abingdon. 1
lie also introduced Mr. Charles Finley. b
Y Abingdon. at the State Department. ,
IN. Finley wishes 10 20 to Mexico with
ne View Of opening up business in that :