The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1903-01-15
CONGRESS AND COAL
Both Houses Tackle the rIatter In q
BuSineSsliI<e Way

Both Houses Tackle tho rIatter I'm q
BusinessIiI<e Way.
a lively debate was precipitated in
| the Senate Monday participated in by
| MeSSrs. Aldrich, Vest and. .Carmack
when the former cndeavorcd to secure
a postponcment OF the Vest resolution
requiring the committee on finance TO
prepare and report bill removing tn G
duty on coal. Mr.. Aldrich announced
that there were strong hopes OF action
Being taken elsewhere with the view
70 removing the duty on coal. Tho
proposition was not acceptable to Mr..
vest VINO vigorously objected saving
that he had no assurance that anv-
thing will be done i'm any other nIaco
o''c"''Stahtial evidence" he said. is
S''ohglF against any such assumption.
NO action has been taken and no sus
blclon or any action has been seen ANY,
"herc and thereafter under existing
conditions to allow this resolution to
go into the uncertain and ncbulus fiji
'"re would be equivalent to its defeat"
Mr. vest called attention TO the ac-
llon OF the Legislature Of Rhode ISL
and. for the removal OF the duty. MIR.
vest said he did not want to cmbar
rasS the Senator from Rhode Island
VINO was amply able to defend hims elf,
but his desire was to place before the
senate proof Of the sentiment for free
coal, now existing.
MI. Vest again reverted to what he
called his "unfortunatc references to
Mr.. Olnglcy.' which had been SO Wig
orolsly resented and sent to the desk
ana had read letter from Congress-
man Fleming. Of Georgia., enclosing
one from former Representative King,
VI 'tan' detalIinG conversation with
Mr.. D1nglcy at the time the Dnolev
bill was under consideration in Con-
Sress. in which he is said to have an
prehcnded changes in the bill. which
were pcceSsary to obtain foreign mar
ketS f0r American goods and that the
trend OF Mr.. Dinglcy's mind was in
that direction.
Mr.. Carmark, Of Tennessee. charged
that reciprocity has honn stranclcd"
Dy protection. 1T has been murdered
III cold blood by protection" said he.
me Denefciarics Of the protected man
nIacturcrs and the protected trusts, he
said have appropriated to themselves
every particle Of the tariff duty pro-
Vldcd in the Dinsley act
MI. Aldrich said the remarks OF the
senator from Missouri and the Senator
from Tennessee only confirmed his for
mer statement that the resolution
was Tor no other purpose than to dis
cuss the questions outside the coal
question. The resolution went over.
Mr. Nelson continued his remarks in
opposition to the omnibus statehood
Dill and Ind not concluded at O'Clock
when the Senate took up unoDiectcd
pension bills on the calendar. a large
number Of which were passed.
House on Coal.
Inc House Monday, after adopting a
resolution to authorize the merchant
marine and fisheries committee to in
vestigatc the coal situation at once,
adjourned out of respect to the mem
ory OF the late Representative Tongue
OF Oregon, who died in this city Sun
day. The usual resolutions of regret
were adopted and a committee was APP
pointed to attend the funeral
The resolution to investigate the coal
situation, authorizes the committee to
investigate facts, charges and neceS-
sites; to inquire into the elements and
conditions involved in said coal trade
supplying said North Atlantic States
the cost OF the coal, the methods, fc-
cilltleS and cost OF t. .nsportation and
distribution Of the same. and the raaS-
onS or causes OF such scarcity and dis
treSS."
The meetings are to be held in WASH
inRton and in such other places as the
committee may determine.
Tax May Be Removed.
1t is expected that Congress will pass
bill removing the duty of 81 cents a
ton on coal imported into this country.
This bill may take the form Of a re-
bate or drawback for 90 days, and also
will provide Cor reciprocity. admitting
free OF duty coal imported into this
country from countries granting the
same privilege to the United States.
This means that Canada will allow
Nova Scotia coal to come to this coun-
try free, while coal from the Ale
ghenies and westward will go into
Canada free Of duty. The ways and
means committee will meet and pre-
pare bill on the above lines. 1t is cX-
pected that the bill will pass the House
| tomorrow
1T will be taken up in the Senate
| very soon and the intention is to have
1t pass without much delay. A num-
Der Of Republicans who have been
Deen heretofore opposed to changing
thc duty on coal said they would not
oppose the bill. providing it did not
open up the whole tariff question and
a'ord an opportunity to offer innum.
cradle amendments.