Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1902-10-16
WAsHNaroN. Oct. ID, 1862.

WASHINGTON. Oct. l3, 1862.
A violation OF precedent and stat
ute, paralleled only by his own re-
cent rulings in regard to government
reserves in national banks, has just
been perpetrated by Secretary OF
the Treasury Shaw in his orders TO
collectors OF customs in regard TO
the importation of Welsh coal. Sec
rotary Modey recently stated in
Wisconsin that the duty of 81 cents
per ton on anthracite coal was
struggled into the Dingley Tariff
Law in sneaking and cowardly man
ner" and ought to be repealed at the
short session Of Congress. Secre-
tary Shaw, however, does not seem
TO deem it necessary to await con-
gressional action. BY his own ipse
dixit he has practicallysrepealed the
law. He has issued orders which
are interpreted by Collector of the
port Stranahan Of New York tomean
that Welsh coal. much of which is
known to contain less than 80 per
cent fixed carbon, the limit fixed by
the Dingley tariff bill, is to be ad-
mitted free Of duty. In view Of the
scarcity of coal this action is likely
TO meet with applause from the I'M
thinking, and TO make votes, the end
for which Secretary Shaw strives,
but 20 those familiar with the situa-
ton the Secretary's action seems
worthy OF the severest condemnation.
The coal strike has emphasized the
fact that there is practically duty
on anthracite coal, a fact unknown
TO the President when he made his
recent western trip. There is q
general demand for the repeal of
that duty but, Secretary Shaw, act
ing probably at the behest of the
anthracite mine operators, has with
out the slightest authority, deter
mined to suspend the duty. This
will result in the public's forgetting
its existence and when the strike is
ended the endorsements of the duty
will be restored and the consumer
will have to pay nearly a dollar
more per ton, including the dealers
profits on the duty, than he would
IL the duty were removed. The pre-
cedent established by the Secretary's
action is fraught with incalculable
danger. II q secretary of the treas
ury can suspend a tariff law he can
institute one and in the hands of
dishonest man there is no predict
ing 10 what end the abuse might
lead.
-.
Mr.. Frank Campbell, chairman of
the New York democratic commit
tee has made a public statement in
which he says that the coal strike
will insure democratic victory in
his state in the coming election.
he says the people will hold the re-
publican party responsible for the
scarcity Of coal. Governor Stone
first abstained from sending the mi
litia in sufficient strength to prevent
disorder and then when the Pres;-
dent had made proposition to the
union which would in all probabili-
ty have been accepted, Gov. Stone
sent the whole military strength of
the state TO the scene so that the
strikers could not accept the Presi-
dents proposition without appear
lag 10 yield to the saow of military
strength. He further says that Gov.
Odell has it in his power to disrupt
the coal trust in New York state by
process OF law, the trust clearly
violating the Sherman law. The Of
forts OF Governor Odell, and Sena.
tors Platt, Quay and Penrose to Sc
cure an adjustment OF the differen.
ces between tbs miners and the op-
orators would seem to give color TO
Mr.. Campbell's prediction
-.
Apropos OF the coal strike, a gen
tlcmaa at democratic headquarters