Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-13
Where Relief is Expected.

Where Relief is Expected.
1t Is expected that the bill will relieve the
coal situation on the Atlantic seaboard and
in the lake cities. convenient to Canadian
railways. Canadian soft coal, upon which
there is a duty Of G7 cents a ton, will be
brought in free of duty. While 81 cents a
ton does not seem to cut much coal in
the present prices Of fuel, 1t means a great
deal to the shippers and producers when
considered in the gross and 1t Is expected
that there will be an immediate influx of
Canadian coal, which at least will add to
the visible supply. With the scarcity of
coal iessened, the price is expected to fall
in proportion. The only question is, how
Z much Canadian coal Is there in sight for
immediate shipment?>
Coal Imported From Canada.
In the year 1897, when the democratic
tariff was in effect and duty of only 40
cents was levied on coal, Canada sent 234,-
931 tons to the Atlantic seaboard and the
lake cities. British Columbia sent about
soc, 900 tons to the west coast of the United
States. None of the British Columbia coal
will come east, however and Nova Scotia
and Quebec will depend upon it to supply
this section.
Judging by the wall set UP by the bi;umi-
nous coal interests of the United States
when the Dingley tariff act was being pre-
pared against continuing so low a tariff as
40 cents, the removal Of the duty altogether
ought to result in great rush of Canadian
coal into this country Immediately.
In 1897 it was claimed that the Canadian
coal was a deadly menace to the mines of
Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland and West
Virginia, and a tariff CT 13 cents ton was
demanded to shut off Cana dian competition
Congress gave a 67-cent duty, which will
be removed now. 1t was stated before the
ways and means committee January II.
1897, by Baltimore coal man, represent
ing the Virginia, Maryland and West Vir-
ginia operators. that the Dominion Coal
Company of Canada possessed great ad-
vantages over the American mine owners,
as follows:
Cheapness Of Canadian Coal.
THAT their (referring to the Canadian
company longest haul to ti6ewater at
Louisburg thirty-five miles. That at
Louisburg, where the coal is loaded into
vessels, all provincial or British bottoms
they are the same distance from Boston as
the Virginia mines are at Norfolk and
about the same distance as the Pennsyl-
vania and Maryland mines are at Phladel-
phia and Baltimore, with this advantage in
favor of the Nova Scotia coal. that it is sent
practically the entire distance by water,
while much of coal goes half the dis
tance by rail.
THAT the Canadian company's coal cost
them $1.27 per ton less than Virginia coal
from Norfolk.
1.-THE Dominion Coal Company is a corpo-
ration organized in 1893 in Nova Scotia,
owned chiefly in New England, with it's
main office in Boston, which has leased a
large body Of coal lands In Nova Scotia"
The same person testified that coal was
then selling in Baltimore, delivered. for 81. 10
and $2.15 ton. Nova Scotia coal, subject
to duty of 40 cents a ton, was selling in
New York for $3.25 ton.
Indications, therefore. based on expert
ence. are that Boston, New York and Phil
adelphia should Immediately get shipments
of Canadian coal, and being able to pur-
chase 1t cheap and obtain 1t quickly as
the Norfolk coal, stop the demand for the
latter coal, which could then be shipped to
the inland cities.
Political economists in Congress will
watch the developments with great inter-
est Experience has taught them that theo-
ries do not always jbe with results where
tariff questions are concerned
Meeting Of Republicans.
At a meeting of the republican members
of the committee prior to the meeting Of
the full committee, representative eSMcCall,
Massachusetts, proposed that provision be
made in the bill subsequently adopted that
after the expiration of one year, during
which rebate is to be paid on all coal,
all coal coming from countries which
admit our coal free Of duty be admitted
free into this country. Representative Taw-
ney, Minnesota, favored the proposition,
but 1t was opposedzby the remainder of the
republican members on the ground that
a temporary measure was under consfdera-
ton they should not adopt any permanent
policy.
Representative Daizell from the commit
tee on rules, reported q resolution providing
for the consideration of the coal rebate bill
in the House tomorrow, limiting debate to
one hour, vote then to be taken without
fv1to inc mr.