Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-09-25
Anthracite Protected AN Right.

Iby Hon. William McEniry, of TINS city,
: in the course of his remarks before
the recent Mercer county democratic
convention, to the effect that if Presi-
dent Roosevelt had said to Pierpont
). when the appeal was made to the eN-
ecutive to attempt to settle the an
thracite, that unless the operators
brought the difficulty to close the
duty on anthracite would be repealed,
that would have ended the matter
right there. The position is main
tanned by those who have taken issue
with this suggestion that no tariff
exists so far as anthracite is con-
cerned. President Roosevelt recently
added emphasis to this assertion by
declaring that hard coal is free. but
here comes from Washington Il dis
patch to the Chicago Chronicle that
shows clearly that anthracite, like all
other trust products, is amply pro
tected:
president Roosevelt at Cincinnati
made the statement that anthracite
coal is on the free list, but refer
ence To the only decision ever made
by the board of general appraisers
on the subject shows that the board
regards anthracite coal as dutiable.
1t likewise takes the ground that the
intention of congress at the time the
Dingley law was passed was to place
a duty on anthracite coal. On some
of the hardest grades of coal of pre-
cisely the same grade as that found
in Pennsy lvania the belief is express
ed by treasury officials that there
would be no duty, but it is doubtful
if as good a grade of anthracite coal
can be found in foreign countries as
the best in Pennsylvania. The Ding
ley law imposes Il tax of GO cents
ton on all coal containing less than
% per cent of fixed carbon. This
taxes bituminous and softer grades
of anthracite coal. All coal contain
ing 81 per cent or more of fixed car
bon may enter free, but the chances
are decidedly slim. it is declared, to
find coal that will grade up to that.
The Welch coal that is supposed
to import from Wales does not con-
tain 90 per cent of carbon. it is stated,
and would therefore have to pay 81
cents per ton of 2S bushels of 80
pounds to the bushel. The best au-
thorities as to coal. in their analysis
of the product in different parts of
anthracite of Pennsylvania contains
"a per cent of fixed carbon, while the
soft anthracite of the same region
contains 81 per cent. The dense an
thracite of the New England country
contains so per cent and the anthra-
cite of the Rocky mountains 74.37.
The camel coal of West Virginia con
tains So per cent. At the treasury de-
partment it is stated that except in
one case there has been no test of the
Iquestion of a duty on anthracite coal
and in this case the board of general
IaHpra lsers held that there is a duty
of 81 cents. Treasury officials like
wise believe that in preparing the
coal schedule it was the full intention
of the author of the Dingley bill 10
grant protection to anthracite coal.
:. The case before the general aP
praisers was heard by the body in
January. 1898. 1t was protest by
Charles p. Coles. of San Francisco.
against the decision of the collector
of that port as to the rate ami
amount of duties chargeable on GER
tain imported coal. described in the
invoice as "A Bergrave best large
double screened anthracite coal
containing less than % per cent Of
fixed carbon. An analysis made at
San Francisco showed it to contain
1912 per cent of carbon. The pro-
testant did not dispute this, but
commended that as anthracite coal
is not specifically mentioned in para
graph AIS of the Dingley law as duti-
able customs was not to be paid on
it. Paragraph 1913. to be taken "a
conjunction with paragraph AIS, ex-
empts anthracite containing 90 per
cent or more of carbon.
In passing upon the question,
however, the board says that an in
depreciation of the provisions of the
act manifestly expresses the inten-
ton of the trainers, but that COM
parison of the corresponding provis-
ions of the previous traiff emphasizes
the view of the purpose of congress
in the coal rates of the Dingley law.
can examination of the congress
sional record shows Senator Vest at
the time the Dingley bill was under
consideration exposed the hypocrisy
of the provisions requiring the inn
position of a duty upon coal contain
ing less than % per cent of carbon.
Presumptively the duty was intended
to protect the bituminous coal opera
tors, but Senator Vest declared, and
the board of general appraisers sub
Isequently indorsed his statement, that
the real purpose was to perpetuate
the monopoly of the anthracite trust
of Pennsylvania"
Use Aliens Foot Ease.