Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-03-13
WHEFITNG DAILY REGISTER. TUESDAY. MARCH ls. l894

mines. This condition is reversed in
the trade; between British Columbia
Goals and the Northwestern Pacific
States. British Columbia produced in
1892, 500, 242 tons. Of which 500, 7lo tons
were sent into the United States. we
have another source from which we may
expect coal to be imported il the duty
is removed. During the year 1898 large
importations of Scotch coal were MADE
to Montreal and sold at 80. O5-a duty OF
g. Is cents beingpaid 10 the CANADIAN
Government, leaving S2.3s for the cost
OF the coal in Scotland and the trans
portation and other expenses, crossing
the Atlantic. Montreal is 500 miles up
the ST. Lawrence and importations on
the Atlantic coast could be made Tor
less than to Montreal.
Waving all I have said as to our ina
bility TO compete with Nova Scotia Goals
if admitted free, to introduce these So
called inferior Goals would deprecl-
ate our entire business as the cheaper
inferior article. though it may not al
ways find a buyer, tends to lower the
price OF the better one and fix It's mar
ket value? You quote from Messrs. d.
c. Boyce, Evan Powell and others.
long mass of figures and irrelevant mat
ter, and as my article is perhaps too
long l will not make further mention OF
what they contributed to your article
Before closing l will add that l have
been twenty years identified with the
coal interest of West Virginia, both as
owner of mines and undeveoped coal
lands, having lands in Nicholas, Green
brer, Fayette, Raleigh and other coun-
ties, and have spent much OF my time
in the last ten years endeavorIng to IN
duce investment Of capital and the de-
velopment Of the wild and in their pres
ent condition. comparatively worthless
mountain lands, l do not know any
thing that would strike such a serious
blow to the future growth aud develop
ment OF the coking and steal coal fields
of West Virginia, as to open our ports
to free coal. The present legislation has
already deprecated the value OF all coal
lands in the State, the interest in and
demand for such properties having
ceased almost entirely. II free coal
will not hurt US, how can it benefit
others, therefore, let well enough alone.
Don't paralyzs our own home interests
by giving away our advantages and
making il possible for Canadian coal to
be burned in this country TO the exclu-
sion of our own, and saddle upon our
people the royalty OF 12l5 cents which
must be paid into the Canadian treas
ury upon every ton Of Canadian coal
consumed Ia this country.
haO 70 int a rnpOFt taknn from
the Philadelphia Press, giving Senator
Faulkner's views on this question as
late as March LIST, 1894.
By telegraph from staff Correspondent
WAsHINGToN, March LIN accordance
with the agreement Of the Democratic eau
Gus, the Democratic members OF the Sen
ate Finance Committee were in session to-
day listening TO Democratic Senator'S IN
regard to details OF the tariff bill. The
committee will continue this work to-mor-
row and next day, or as long as there are
anv Senators who want 10 be heard. But
the opinion prevailed tonight that nearly
all Of those who had any representations 70
make had been heard to-day.
The first Senator to state his objections
TO the bill to-day was Mr.. Faulkner, OF
West Virginia. Mr.. Faulkner devoted
himself more particularly 10 coal, though
he advocated a duty on iron ore. The SUB
| committee, as was stated in the dispatches
TO the Press to-day, has temporarily insert
ed a rate of 80 cents ton on coal, put iron
ore is on the free list. Mr.. Faulkner
wants the present duty
OF 70 CENTS TON
retained. on bituminous coal, and he also
wants the existing rate OF IS cents ton
/ retained on iron ore. He stated TO the
| committee tt-day that the Mills bill re-
tanned that rate of duty on both coal and
! iron ore, and that 1t ought TO be re-
| tanned on the present bill Mr.. Faux
ner stated that West Virginia has coal
area of 10000 square miles Of bitumlnous
| coal The total area of the state ls24,o40
miles, hence the state is nearly all under
! laid with bituminOus coal. Mr.. Faulkner
! stated in his speech that the Democratic
party had distinctly declared that in franz
| ing a tariff bill it should be ''in spirit oil
| fairness to all interests"
He said that if the duty were reduced
| on coal no person in the interior would
| be benefited one cent, that the reduction
would be wholly in the interests OF
manufacturers on the seaboard Mr.
| Faulkner maintained that 30 per cent.
| of the cost of coal is in the labor, and
| that there is no more reason why coal
| should be put on the free list than there is
/ that rice, peanuts and many other things
retained in the bill at high rates Of duty,
| should 20 on the free list. He was not so
urgent on the subject of iron ore, but
thought that it ought to have duty.
II the Wilson bill should pass with
coal on the free list It would necessitate
the reduction in the price OF coal or the
| closing OF many mines, and this would
be a very serious matter with the labor
ing man, who to-day IS working on as
low wages as he can afford without de-
grading himself to the level OF the half
starved, poorly clothed pauper labor OF
Europe. We don't want this state OF
things In America. IL is 10 the interest
of the employer, the community and the
| state that labor should earn enough to
provide the necessary comforts OF life
and to enable man TO live in bodily
comfort and good moral condition. And
in these radical changes proposed In the
| Wilson bill we may expect men 70 lose
part OF their fortunes, causing much
/ hardship, but those who will feel the
severest blow will be the man who tolls
| with pick and shovel.
Letus call haltand reform the tariff
! by degrees, and with fairness to all and
! Injustice to none. Respectfully,
NJ. ERsKINE MILLER
| ATTCUT SOFT. HATTTTNG