The evening times., 1897-06-07
COAL TARIFF HIGH ENOUGH
Maryland Miners Regard Sixty
Cents Per Ton Sufficient.
THE SENATE BILL APPROVED
senator wellington Declines to Join
IN Requests From Virginia and
Amended Measure the Provision
for Reciprocity With Canada.

Senator wellington will not join in the
request OF the coal men of Virginia and
West Virginia to have stricken fIOm the
tariff bill tie provision for reciprocity with
Canada in the matter of coal duties He
promptly informed those who appIO'ched
him regarding the coal schedule that he
had no objection to offer to the rates
fixed by the committee.
Senator wellington Ia > shadconfereE Gees re-
Gently with those most interested in coal
mining n Maryland, and has discovered that
they are satisfied with the proposed protec-
ton of 80 cents a ton. They have not
Jared badly with the present tariff, which
in poses a duty Of but 40 cents d ton, and
they feel that an increase Of 20 cents
will give them all the protection they need.
In addition to this IL IL asserted that large
quantity OF Maryland coal is sentinto Can
ada every year, and the Maryland coal men
do not wish the Canadian government toin-
crease duties upon American coal. Senator
Wellington said:
II was pTeparedtO to oppose the amendment
to the coal schedule admitting Canadian
coal at 60 cents a ton, but find upon inVeS-
tigatlon that there is no necessity for sucn
opposition | will, however, ask that the
schedule be changed, SO as TO provide that
the duty he levied upon the basis Of the
short instead of the long-ton measurement
This is the measurement used by Canada,
and il our tariff on coal Is TO be the same
az the Canadian, there is no reason why this
change should not be made 1t viii make
the duty upon long ton about 81 cents
Il believe this change in the measurement
s about the only increase the coal men OF
Virginia and West Virginia can hope for, and
even that may not be made. For myself,
90 not care very much, as / am assured by
the coal men OF Maryland that they are sat
iSfied with he duty proposed by the amended
bill.
when everything is considered we have
every reason to feel satisfied with the du-
ties on coal. There was very strong sen
tment in the Finance Committee 10 make
DO change in the existing rates, but 20 add
a proviso that Canadian coal should be adj
mitted at the same rate of duty Imposed
by the Canadian government upon coal
shipped from this country. This would
have placed coal upon the free list, for
Canada would have promptly removed al
this reciprocal arrangement.
1T was while this proposition was I'M
der consideration that l informed the
committee il il were adopted I would not
gOte for the bill. Senator Elkins also pro
tested against his discrimination in favor
OF Canadian coal, and the committee franz
the present schedule 10 comply with orr
WISHES The railroads have reduced the
cost OF transportation, which enables those
engaged il the coal trade 20 place their
coal in the New England markets at
lower cost than ever before. This circum
stance alone gives the coal men degree Of
protection which they have not heretofore
enjoyed"
1t IS understood that Col. Lamb, OF Nor
folk, and the other representatives Of
the coal-lnining interests Of Virginia and
West Virginia will, in the event OF their fail
ure TO secure whatthey wantin the Senate,
again appeal to the House and endeavor to
have the provision for reciprocity with
Canada stricken out in conference. Their
chances Of success are, however, not CON
sideTed encouraging. As has already been
stated, the proposition TO reduce duties on
Canadian coal Is in the interest of the New
England manufacturers, ami in comparison
with them the coal men are rather weak.