Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-15

WASHINGTON; ID. c.. January a.
The bill reported from the Ways and
Means Committee yesterday to provide for
a rebate Of the duties on foreign coal for
a period Of one year, was passed in short
order by the House to-day. by practically
unanimous vote-25S to 5-those voting
against it being Messrs. Cushman and
Jones. Of Washington; Gaines. of West
Virginia: Mondell, of Wyoming. and Pat
terson, Of Pennsylvania. all Republicans.
The bill was considered under the ope-
~ation of a rule which cut of motions to
amend. The only opposition to the meas
ure came from some of the members rep
resenting the coal States, who expressed
the fear that admission of the Chinese
! mined coal in Canada would tnjure the
coal industry Of their States. Both Mr..
Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, and Mr.. Payne,
Of New York the Republican leaders, ex-
pressed the opinion on the floor that the
bill would not relieve the existing dis
tress. They said 1t would satisfy the
public demand for action, however, and
show the disposition of Congress to do
! what it could.
The Democrats, although they all sup
| ported the bill, took the view that it did
not go far enough. saying that coal should
| go on the free list and when the bill
! came back from the Senate with a provis-
| ion which virtually placed anthracite
! coal on the free list, they applauded Wig
orousy.
| Mr.. DaIzell, In the course of his re-
marks to-day, said that there was prac-
| tically no anthracite coal in, the world
| except that in the United States and a
| little in China.
The Senate amendment was adopted
without revision.
Democratic Doctrine.
During the debate Mr. Richardson said
that when the stress of emergency came
| there was perforce a recourse to Demo-
cratic doctrine.
Mr. Williams. of Mississippi, who fol-
| lowed Mr.. Richardson. contenued that the
removal of the duties must result in re-
ducing the price of coal.
I Mr.. Dalzell declared that the hypocrisy
Of the other side was apparent from the
remarks of Mr.. Richardson. The oppo-
|. sition. he said. was simply playing poi-
! tics. The Democratic "perfidy and dis
honor bill had containes a duty onscoal.
Mr.. Maddox. of Georgia. denounced the
nTOCeSul1lSa DIS plSESS
Mr.. Cochran. of Missouri. declared that
this was .late-day repentance on the
! other side. If the President and the De
partment Of Justice, he said. had done
their duty months age, when they We're
gallivanting around denouncing trusts.
.the situation would be different now.
army Bill.
Rapid progress was made with the army
appropriation bill. after the coal bill had
been passed. The most portant amend
ments adopted were to increase the num-
! Der Of officers Of the Signal Corps by g,
namely. one colonel. two lieutenant-colo-
nels. four majors. eight ca ms. and elyht
first lieutenants. and another. ffered by
s4r.s Hay. Of Virginia. Ito prevent the dis
continuance Of; the army transport SER
vice without action by Congress.
The House ADJOURNED until tomorrow.
Senate esProceedtnEs.
! The Senate to-day acted promptly on
the House bill providing for rebat fsthe
duty on coal. and passed It unan antHously.
without division. asfew nj inutes after II
wa s brought over from the House.
Mr., A ldrich offered "a comn tee amend
ment. adding new sectio to- the bill pro-
yiding that the provisions OF para graph
AIS Of the Dingley act shall not hereafter
be construed to aut thorize th imposition
OF anyhuutys upon ant thracit coa
Mr.. A.drich asked simna diates constde-
ration.