The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-14
Chairman of House Judiciary
Committee Offers Resolutions
Looking to the Government TAX
ing Possession of Coal Mines.
RAILROADS INCLUDED
And Everything Pertaining to
Mining and Marketing.
Interest in Proceedings Fills
Galleries With Spectators.
Bill Providing for Rebate of
Coal Duties Passed.

Washington, Jan. 1.-THE chairman
Of the judiciary committee of the house
today introduced the following resolu-
tior.s:
Resolved, That the committee on ju-
dietary be and is hereby directed to in
vestigate and report to this house with
all convenient speed, the opinion Of that
committee as to the power Of congress
TO declare that necessity has arisen
for taking possession of all coal, coal
beds and coal mines in the United I
States and all lines of Transportation I
agencies, instruments and vehicles OF
commerce necessary for the Transports
tion OF COAL and that if in the opinion t
Of that committee the power exists and I
a necessity for the exercise of such
power has arisen, that the committee /
forthwith report to this house a bill de- |
/ cIaring the necessity, providing fully |
and in detail the occasions, modes. con- /
ditions and agencies for said appropria-
| ton that win fully and completely ex>
4 haust the power of congress IN that re-
gard.
The attendance in the house galleries
today was an evidence of the general
interest IN the proceedings which were
to take place upon the bill providing for
the rebate of the duties on foreign coal
for q period of one year An unusually
I large number OF members We're on lht
floor, and the leaders Of both sides were
in their places. After the transaction
of some preliminary business. Mr..
Gsrosvenor (O.@. from the committee on
rules. presented a resolution supple
mental to that adopted yesterday by the
committee on merchant marine and fish
cries, to investigate the coal situation
The resolution authorized sub-commit-
tees of the committee to take testimony.
II was adopted.
Mr.. Dalzell (Pa-), from the committee
on rules, then presented the special rule
/ rebate
bill. It provided for the immediate con-
siderati0n Of the bill with provision for
one hours debate. at the end of which
time the previous question should be
3 considered as ordered without intervers
| ing motion Twenty minutes on a side
was allowed upon the rule. Mr.. Dalzen,
after reviewing the history Of the pres
ent duty on coal. said the pending bin
needed no defense 1t was designed to
relieve the existing distress. Neverthe-
lss. he said, he did not believe it would
achieve its purpose. He did not believe
it would increase the importation of q
single pound of coal. Y don't believe"
y said he, that anything now can stop
the greed and avarice of the cOrm0-
rants who are taking advantage of the
! already oppressed people, but it will
satisfy public sentiment and show the
: dis-asition Of congress to do everything
, in its power to relieve the situation
Mr. MondeH (WyO) said the bill would
injuriously affect the coal industry of
his state and the northwest generally
of the stated belief Of Mr.. DalzelI that
the bill will give no relief. he asked If
: the committee would not consider the
question of reducing the period of its
operation to six months.
! Mr. Dalzell said the proposition had
been considered, but because of the i'm
q possibility of forecasting the future of
) the coal trade 1t had not been adopted.
. Mr. Richardson (Tenn.) called atten-
tion to the fact that the rule prevented
I all possibility of amendment. and he
r,~D tod
: a crisis.
Proceeding Mr.. Richardson said when
! the stress of emergency came there
q was perforce a recourse to Democratic
doctrine.
Mr. Williams (Nfiss.) who followed
Mr.. Richardson contended that the re-
moval of the duties must result in re-
duclng the price of coal. In cOnclud-
ing the debate upon the rule Mr. Dali
zell declared that the hypocrisy of the
Z | other side was apparent from the re-
marks Of Mr.. Richardson The opposi-
ton, he said. was simply playing poll
tics The Democratic "perfidity and
dishonor" bill had contained a duty on
! coal.
q q A rising vote upon the adoption of
: the rule resulted, ayes 1856. noes no a
1 party vote with the exception of Mr..
Perkins tRep., N. W and Mr.. Gaines
CRep., w Va.) who voted with the
t A roll call was demanded. and the
= = rule was adopted. IA to 113, Messrs.
Perkins On. y and Gaines CIV. Va)
voting with the Democrats.
& Mr.. Richardson said that neither he
= nor any of his colleagues were Oc9oseG
, to the hill.
n Mr. Payne IN. " In support Of the
> measure sketched briefly the emergency
which made its passage advisable He
did not believe its enactment would re-
suit in the Importation of much coal
n or N much reduction in its price.
n Mr.. Maddox (Ga-) denounced the
e whole proceeding as d piece of humbua
n Mr.. Cochran (Mo-) declared that this
j. was late day repentance on the other
% side. If the president and department
v Of Justice, he said had done their duty
& months ago when they We're gaIlivant-
q ing around denouncing trusts. the stu
= alton would be different now"
II Mr.. Goldfogle IN. y spoke along ths
same line
In reply to a question by Mr.. Mccall
(Mass.), Mr.. Payne said that in hi.
opinion the rebate on coal would aooI4
at to coal in bond.
p The bill providing for a rebate of Goa
or duties passed the house by a vote o
& 258 to {.
III IN THE SENATE
sn Washington Jan. 14=SoOn after tn,
senate met today Mr. Hoar (A1ass.) in
troduced a concurrent resolution callin,
upon the president. to inform the senat
+ island of Guam, and through what ex
- - ecutive department the powers Of suci
- government are now executed and ad
~ rnintstered. as well as the number o
inhabitants in said islands, and also b7
what authority Nabini the FiliDin
chief, is being detained at Guam A
n Mr.. sHoar's request the resolution wen
a. over until tomorrow.
The Vest resolution regarding the re