New-York tribune., 1901-05-03
COAL TAX FIGHT ON.
CHANCELLOR DEFENDS HIS MEASURE
IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

London, May 2-There was large attendance
in the HOUSE of Commons to-day. in anticipation
OF the discussion OF the new export tax on coal
but before this stage of the days proceedings
could be reached 143 questions had to be dis
posed of.
The government has issued urgent whip
10 the Unionist members. who are largely
pledged TO vote against the tax.
The full House and galleries had to wait until
nearly o'clock for the beginning Of the coal
tax debate Sir William Vernon Harcourt Lib
eral, led with a severe. almost violent, arraign-
ment of the government He said the tax
would throw the coal trade into chaos and con-
fusion 1t recklessly disregarded existing con-
tracts. and a most unbusinesslike way of
dealing with a great trade. 1t was an extraor-
dinary and vexatous piece OF hungling. 1t
nonsense to say the foreigner would pay the
tax because he could not do without coal. The
Government of Italy had answered by taking
coal from America instead of this country. The
trade of France was equally divided between
this country. Germany and Belgium.
The Chancellor Of the Exchequer. Sir Michael
Hicks-Beach. interuptng. said
we are beating the others"
Then go on beating them said Sir William
Vernon-Harcourt; why throw a shilling into
the scale against this country?''
Sir William contended that 1t class legis-
out of the miners wages
The Chancellor Of the Exchequer admitted
that the tax, like every tax. was an obstruction
on trade. The real question was, Could the ex-
port trade in coal bear the tax? It could. Eng
lsh coal was of so good a quality there
much Of it. and it could not be got in any other
country. Thus. to a large extent. it free
from competition.
The Chancellor submitted masses Of statistics
-l,s1
600 tons were mined in 1900 on which, after
deductng f1SO00OOO in wages more than in
1897. there was left to the coal owners net
profit of f29OOO,OOO on a capital of f11O,OO0OO0.
He had some difficulty in keeping his patience
when deputations talked TO him about the un-
profitable condition of trade. He had not pro-
posed the tax for merely one year and IL would
be on those who were able TO bear It, AS TO
the competition of the United States. Sir Michael
Hicks Beach said:
Last year the price of our coal at the port of
export rose very much higher than the price of
coal in the United States, bur in spite Of that
our export coal was 30Oo0ooO tons, or 100000
tons more than the previous year. The United
States exports little over sixteen million tons
IF the United States could not compete when the
price Of our coal very high, il would be
absolutely impossible for IL to compete when
the price Of our coal was low.
John Redmond the Nationalist leader said
the coal TAX QlI not dUecI 1IeldIu, ana IN lldt
respect il was the beginning of a On
general principles however. he urged Irish
members TO do everything possible in their ef-
forts TO defeat the Budget
The debate adjourned to Monday next,
when. according 10 the arrangement. division
VIII be taken.
There was considerable excitement on the
Cardiff Coal Exchange to-day. The paucity OF
free coal indisposes selling at any price. Some
firms are suspending charges pending develop
ments.