Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-10-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Regular Correspondent

8 WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent
washington, Oct. ia violation
OF precedent and statute, paralleled
only by his own recent rulings in re-
. gard to government reserves in natl onal
banks, has just been perpetrated by
Secretary of the Treasury Shaw in his
orders to the collectors of customs
IN regard to the Importation
OF Welsh coal. Secretary Moody re-
Gently stated in Wisconsin that the
duty OF 81 cents per ton on anthracite
coal was Struggled into the Dinglev
Tariff law In sneaking and cowardIy
manner" and ought to be repealed at
The short session of Congress. Secre.
tary Shaw, however, does not seem TO
deem it necessary to await congress.
slonal action. By his own ipse dixit
ne has practically repealed the law,
He has issued orders which are inter.
preted by Collector of the port Strana.
han OF New York to mean that Welsh
coal, much of which is known to con-
tain less than 80 per cent fixed carbon.
the limit fixed by the Dingley tariff |
bill, is to be admitted free of duty. In
view OF the scarcity of coal this action
Is likely to meet with applause from
the minimizing. and to make votes, the
end for which Secretary Shaw strives.
but to those familiar with the situation
the Secretary's action seems WORTHY
OF the severest condemnation. The
ceai strike has emphasized the fact
that there is practically duty on an
thracite coal, a fact unknown to the
President when be made his recent q
western trip. There is a general de-
mand for the repeal of that duty but,
Secretary Shaw, acting probably at the
oehest OF the anthracite mine operators. q
has without the slightest authority,
determined to suspend the duty. This
Will result In the public's forgetting p
is existence and when the strike ia
nded the enforcement of the duty 0
will be restored and the consumer will
ave to pay nearly dollar more per C,
on, including the dealers profits on the P
uty, than he would it the duty were
emoved. The precedent established
y the Secretary's action is fraught
nth incalculable danger. II secre. ~,
Try of the treasury can suspend a -,
ariff law he can institute one and in 1o
le hands OF a dishonest man there is =.
predicting what end the abuse might -,
ad. i"'
Mr.. Frank Campbell. chairman of ~
10 New York democr attic committee -.
70 made public statement in which NJ,
says that the coal strike will insure !
victory in his state in the n,e
ming election. He says the people tiv
IL hold the republican party RESPONSE {.
3 for the scarcity of coal. Governor r.,
one first abstained from sending the ~.
litla in sufficient strength to pre-. CON
ut disorder and then when the Pres vol,
mt had made proposition to the I'll,
ion which would in all probability ~.
We been accepted, Gov. Stone sent :. =
whole military strength of the state 90 -
the scene 30 that the strikers could ouc
accept the president g proposition 81
hout appearing to yield to the show sobe
Military strength. He further says con,
t Governor Odell has it in his power ~.
lsrupt the coal tru In New York mon
e by process Of law. the trust clear
iolatlng the Sherman law. The 4
rts Of Governor Odell, and Senators
It, Quay and Penrose to secure an Ao
of the differences between .ioni
mina-s ond III. ono.,to don't
IN o;va oolor 70 A. c.u, who
l;ot,o, glori
oropos of the coal strike, a gentle. n'uo"
at democratic headquarters has np',
d the attention of your correspond. ,"'iip
n tho action NJ p,ino drug
kle, who ordered the militia to
9 miners who were playing foot
off Of his property. ''Mr. Markle MIC
q perfect right to do it" said the lux =
leman referred to. HE was SIM week
Yercisino the nrerooat ~ 60. HUM
erty owner. Of course, it may be Anon
BILE for the mine operators and Inc
associates, under the law, to &C. pupii'
possession of all the property in De CIV
United States and then order the riiua
-, fit of
# us off the country, or even for W VI
reat capitalists to acquire posses puoiic
Of all the habitable land in the lug VI
and order the rest of us off the anu 'a
J. That is one OF the beauties of ID cen'
ng laws, but 30 long as those laws
existence the militia officer whol
ID to obey Mr.. Markle g order was 1ahe L
? in the wrong" fails tn
ewed evidence Of the demand is on Q,