The Washington times., 1903-01-16
OF DUTY
GIVES LITTLE HOPE
Fear Expressed That Coal
Retailers VIII Get Imports
and Keep Prices at Pres
ent High Figure.
West Virginia Operator Says
Price at His Mines Is
S1.25 Per Ton-Entire
Output Contracted For.

Following the passage Of the law pro-
yiding for the removal of the duty on
coal by Congress and its immediate ap-
proval by the President. the Secretary Of
the Treasury this morning sent tele-
j graphic Instructions to collectors Of Gus
toms at all seaports as well as ports
I of entry along the Canadian coast to ad-
nit foreign coal free Of duty in compIi-
ance with the law enacted. Copies Of
the law viii be Forwarded them by mail.
There seems to be much doubt Is 10
the effect. OF The law on the retail price
OF coal It is feared the moment an
/ importer purchases a quantity OF fer
/ eign coal, he local dealers viii buy II
I up and the price Will be retained al
/ figure near that now asked. Those IA
miliar with the coal business say. there
VIII be no great reduction this winter
/ and net until the sumner season viii
/ the price be materially reduced.
Charles 2. Teter of Phflippi. " Va.
coal operator OF that State, said this
Z -----o ~ a titH AEA LNG AE LINES
Eastern cities can expect but little
relief this winter in the coal situation.
West Virginia operators wish they could
/ enter the open market with their coal.
/ for they are now selling it at 81 and
S1-25 ton. Freight rates have not been.
/ increased, and soft coal can be deIiv-
I cred IN Washington fer S275 or $3.50
ton The soft coal operators have
/ their hands tied, however, by contracts
for their production which have been
/ in force lz1ce last april and which run
until next April. a great many run for
Two years. and some are in effect as
+ loB- as I've
I Ninety per cent Of the coal mined n
West Virginia is under contract TO rail-
! roads. manufactures and large whole
sale dealers. The remaining 10 per
cent is sent to the open 1aartrsss as
rapidly as possible. bat the movemeHa
IS slow on account Of a lack Of coal
cars. Most Of the coal not shipped
under contract is used IN the State. II
looks like the consumer viii have To
pay high prices the rest Of the winter
/ Commissioner h B. r. MacfarIand was
before Senator Stewart and the mem
bers of his coal committee yesterday
/ afternoon TO reeite the difficulties that
had been encountered by his board in
I keeping the bUIIdinSs controlled by the
/ District Government supplied with coal.
/ He told OF the purchases to date. in
Guiding small quantities bought in the
open market, for which was paid from
/ IS to 81 a ton. and said that it would
| be necessary for additional money to
be provided for furnishing coal to the
/ District government for the remainder
OF the year. 8ir. MaefarIand further in
] formed the committee that he had en-
! deavored to obtain coaI in quantities.
and that William J. Zeh was the only
/ dealer who would undertake to furnish
a supply A contract was accordingly
/ entered into with him for supplying
I LOCO tons OF bituminous coal at an av-
erage price Of 1925. delivered. and Geo
/ tons of coke at an average price Of SIS.
| delivered OF the coal $50 tons had
already been delivered and $50 tons
! OF the coke. Provision has been made
for the District needs until the early
I part OF February. and the Commission
ers are already looking about for a fur
! ther supply
Senator Stewart suggested that It
might be Wen to authorize the District
government to buy 2,0e0 OF more tons
of coal during the summer to store
away Ter tae use of the poor during
such contingencies as the present. Nr.
Macfarland said that he was not pre-
pared to sanction such proposition.
although he thought, it might be well
for the public Institutions 20 be so
cared for.
letter was introduced from Presi-
dent L. Z. Loree, OF the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, in which he informed the
committee that the terminal agent OF
the line, Mr.. Legge. would give the com
mittee such information as it might
wish. Mr. Loree told OF the general
conditions existing along bis line, ana
said that his road was not interested Ia
the production of coal. being only Ia
the transportation business.
A. B. Wells. who had previously writ
ten Senator Stewart in regard TO the
refusal of the agents Of the BaItimoTs
and Ohio TO furnish him with a rate fer
shipping coal from one OF the towns
along the line of that road IN West vir-
ginia, was present 10 testify. but said
that his letter fully covered the subject.
Sir. Legge viii be summoned TO explafH
Why a rate was refused in this instance
Mr. Wells presented facts TO substanti-
ate claim that there appeared 10 be
a coIlusion between the road and the
operators to discriminate against Wash
ington in the supply OF coal
Mai W C. Haskell, SealeT of Weights
and Measures Of the District OF CoIlun-
bia. presented some interesting figures
regarding the weights Of a bushei OF
coal. He said that the legal weight OF =