The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-05-07
CHEWING RAG OVER
MERCHANT MARINE
Vote Taken on Coal Tax
Resolution and Passed
After Bitter Turmoil

London, May 7.-Thcre was UNI
usual intimation and attendance In the
house Of commons today when the last
instaument OF the coal tax resolution
debate was opened by Sir Edward
Grey. liberal, who defined the measure
az harsh and oppressive.
The house adopted the coal tax by a
vote Of 1888 20 227.
Consequently the tax OF "a shilling per
ION on export coal WAS adopted hv a
majority 81 lD6. These figures upnarent-
" do not represent the feeling of TIE
members cf the house. but tho g0vern-
ment made The issue strictly O. party one
ard secured th~ record attendance Tor
thiH parliament and hy vigorous enortg
poheu within o score Of he normal MAJ
Tie galleries were pafk.d go a.-r-aar--
Ing.
The principal figures during the last
day OF the discussion OF the cont ta4
were chiefly within the liberal ranks.
Sir Edward Grey. TO- ~ AsQuith. Wiz
Ham Abraham libersD and Charles Fon-
wick an assaulted the tax e~loduentiy. the
las two speaking with no little 9athAs
and "a broad accent on behalf of the
miners, IN whose station of life they
worked hefore coming 90 Westminster
Perhaps the most Interesting feature
waA The sperch OF Hon.. Frederick Lamb
ton, brother OF the earl OF Durham. who.
Standing amid the conservative members.
denounced the government as q pack
Of riOtous hounds after am eve lamb
BY Whte. he referred 70 the coal Industry
lie declared that the chancellor OF tho
excheuuer has represented the colliers a.
liars and forgeta. and he maintained that
they were as honorable a set of men as
ever sat on the government benches. .
Sir Michael Hicks-Beach attempted 10
explain, but Mr.. Lambt0n paid little
beed. The sleepy people who had come
81 20 hear thu finai stages OF the debate
hlinked vigorously as they heard the
right OF miners 20 strike proclaimed by
an aristocfat who declared that the min
era We're 'as good as many q man who
ha8 won the Victoria cross
Another supporter or the government.
John Wileon bitterly objected 20 the tax.
ringing up the question OF American
competition ard contending that the
duty would CIV the United States q
chance.
This started the bali rolling and for
some time the house gave itself up TO
= discussion Of the relative merits Of
'PocahOntas' and 'Smokciess Welsh.
with frequent references 20 Americas
growing iicfehant marine and the adj
V~antagcs % coal
Mr. Baltour in a rambling syle SUM
nled ~ the debate hasing HIS argument
upon the proposition that such "a great
and ever Increasing industry as the eN-
port OF coal could not be seriously nf-
feCted by the imposition OF a tax of n
NNllllnH a ION ftf NlhnlAarI as nlNNIN
improbable tho theory that American
coal would ever be able TO compCte with
English.
In the division which followed there
WA much cross voting.
John Merely voted With the government
Several liberals abstlined from voting
whiie almost an tho conservatives rcp-
r~eaenting coal counties Joined the 0ppo-
gition.
During Mr.. Ralfour's summing mp one
" his own adherents remarked audi-
bly,.
~ Is a wrltched speech, but OF course
Balfour does not know what he rs talk
ing shout.
This was a verdict which seemed 70
meet with the approval OF other govern
mcut supporters nearby. Indeed, il the
most urgent whips had not been present
and II II had not been feared that the
government was likely TO be Defeated
many minlstcrialists who voted ia favor
81 the tax would either have a~bstained
from voting or would have voted against
What The miners federation win do re.
maipw 20 be seen. Judging from the
apteches 81 the labor members during
Abe last stages OF the debate, the fedora
non ~ likely 20 declare a general strike,
ANS precipitating a struggle between or
Fanlzed labor me parliament Such n col.
nsion, as was frequently said during
this discussion, might prove fuinous 10
the coai Industry and highly injurious
40 the country