Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-01-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
rFron, our Regular Corespondent)
Washington, Jan. 10, 1908.

Editor Press
1T is doubtful if ever except in
time Of war, the Congress Of the
United States enacted legislation
with such expedition as that dis
PLAYED in placing the coal bill ON
the statutes. The bill providing
that all duties collected on coal be
refunded to the importers Tor one
year was reported to the Ways and
Means Committee at n quarter after
twelve. Within an hour 1t had
been passed and sent up to the Sen
ate. There it was promptly con-
sidered and so amended as to place
anthracite coal perpetually on the
free list, passed and sent back to
the House, where the amendment
was accepted and the bill was ready
to send to the President by 4 p. m.
The President signed it the next
day at noon.
Little hope is expressed that the
public will be benefited by the re-
moval of the duty on coal. 1t IS
feared that the local dealers will
buy up coal as fast as it is imported
and will so maintain the price.
Local dealers in Washington are,
accordingto recent disclosures made
before the Senate Committee APP
pointed to investigate the subject,
getting their coal for from 81. 70 to
$3.50 per ton, but they are charg-
ing the consumers as high as 1913
per ton.
Political attention is now riveted
on the Cuban treaty which has be-
come almost party measure. The
committee on Foreign Relations re-
ported the convention favorably on
Thursday and Senator Cullom gave
notice that he would call it up at
the first executive session, which 1T
is understood will occur to-day as
soon as the Senate conyenes. Be
fore reporting the treaty the com
mittec so amended it as to secure
4Oper cent discount from the Cuban
duties ON American cattle and to
prevent any further concession
being made in the sugar duties
charged By the United States, the
treaty allowing Cuba 20 per cent.
discount from the Dingley rates.
The most urgent reasons are set
forth by the Administration for the
ratification OF the treaty which tits
estimated will insure to the United
States Il foreign trade or not less
than $40, ,OOO,OO0 per anuum. 1t is
showed that last year Cuba import
ed teNJilcs 10 the Mountoi s., J3S.-
529 of which amount the United
States supplied the insignificant
sum of one tenth. 1t is estimated
that the Cuban consumption Of thi,
class OF goods for the next year vii
amount to $4,000 900 and under
the terms of the pending arrange
meut the United States will supply
the entire amount. Last year Cubi
imported silk goods to the amount
OF S4OI,253, and the United State.
sold her but SlS,3G9 worth. q
linens she imported a total value o
Sl,7Sl, SOS, OF which amount thi
country supplied but SSl.905. o
wooden goods, she imported $500,
22G of which the United States sup
piled but S2O,2Nl. Under the pro
visions of the treaty this couutr,
will sell to Cuba the entire amouu
Of these and many other classes o
goods that She is capable Of con
Sumiug.
At the present time the only op
position to the treaty comes from
the democrats, with thccNccptim q
Senators Mason and Simon Whum
said TO oppose IT, However, a. /
requires 90 two-thirI- vote 10 mtjl