Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-01-16
ONE YEAR OF FREE COAL.
CONGRESS VOTES UNANIMOUSLY FOR Re-
Rate OF TAX ON FOREIGN COAL

House Adopts Resolution Authorizing Com
mittee to Investigate Coal sitdation-Judi-
ciary Committee Asked to Investigate Pow
or of Congress to Seize Coal Lands.
Senator Vests resolution for PHI
TO remove the hard coal duty was de-
bated in the Senate again THURSDAY.
Senator Aldrich of Rhode Island ar
yned that it would not accomplish the
desired result and that it infringed on
tbe constitutional rights of the house
in respect to revenue bills lie SAID
that a democratic senate voted to put
n duty of 40 cents on coal in 1894, and
that 4 favored free coal except on the
dav when it could have voted free coal
;nio the tariff bill. Mr.. Vest replied
that the Accents duty was the result
of "holdup" by few Democratic sen
ators, and made an authoritative siate,
ment that Mr.. Dingley had admittea
that the Dingley rates were. placed
high in order to negotiate reci procity
treaties. The house passed the rnli-
ippine constabulary bill, providing
for chiefs and four assistants, UNIT
ed States army officers with rank,
nav and allowances of brigadier gener-
al and colonel respectively. Senator
Proctor's bill providing for retirement
of officers who served in civil war, WIN
advanced rank, was amended to apply
TO all officers below rank of maj or gen
eral and favorably reported to the SEN
ate. Chairman jenkins of the House
judiciary committee, introduced Two
hills intended to make effective the
nresident,s plans for antitrust legisla-
tion. One creates commission TO en-
force the Sherman law, the other pro-
yides s., 600 fines for rebates. Corpora
tiops refusing to obey the act are
barred from interstate commerce. Az
torney General Knox is said to have
prepared these bills which are approved
by house leaders.
The situation in the house is prom
Using for the passage Of an anti trust
hill hut there is deadlock in the Sen
ate over the omnibus statehood bin
which is consuming much time In de-
bate. The president is quoted as hav,
ing said that there will be trust Dill
if it takes all summer to get H.
The house passed 144 private pension
bills Friday. The naval affairs com
mittee decided by vote of D to not
to report the bill transferring Naval
Constructor r. p. Hobson to the re-
tired list .. -.
The senate had another lively dis
cussion Monday over the Vest coal
duty resolution and an effort to post
pone it. The omnibus statehood bill
was also considered and large num-
Der of private pensi N bills were
passed. The house adopted the reso-
tuition to authorize the merchant ma
rine and fisheries committee to inves-
tipate the coal situation and both
houses adjourned out of respect to the
memory of Representative Tongue OF
Oregon, who died in Washington Sun
day. The resolution to investigate the
coal situation provides to extend the
privilege of carrying coal to coastwlse
ports in foreign steamers for w days,
because the present scarcity OF coal IN
wolves great suffering and distress, and
authorizes the committee to investi-
gate "facts, charges and necessities
To inquire into the elements and con-
ditions involved in the coal trade, the
cost of coal, the methods, facilities
and cost of transportation and distri-
button of the same, and the reasons or
causes of such scarcity and distress. "
The committee is directed to report to
the house as soon as possible IL Is
given power to send for persons and
papers, to administer oaths, and to In
cur such expense as may be deemed
necessary. The meetings are to be
held in Washington and in such other
places as the committee may deter
mine.
More spirited speeches affecting the
reciprocity provision of the Dinghy act
were made in the Senate Tuesday, IN
connection with the consideration OF
of the Vest coal duty resolution. Mr..
Deliver of Iowa vigorously attacked
those senators responsible for holding
up reciprocity treaties in the Senate,
and defended Secretary Shaw for issu-
ing the order instructing collectors oil
customs to resolve differences regard
ing the grade of coal in favor of the
importer. 1t was true, he declared,
that Mr.. Dingley had put the tariff
rates high so that they could be re-
duced by reciprocity agreements. Mr..
Aldrich vehemently opposed this re-
mark, claiming that the intention OF
the reciprocity provision of the Ding
ley law was to secure agreements on
non competitive products. Mr.. TIL
man claimed that the blame for the
present coal situation lay at the door
of the president and attorney genel al.
The house, in considering the army
appropriation bill, was treated to a
lively political debate on the condition
of the democracy between Gen. G"os-
venor of Ohio and Mr. Clark of Mis-.
souri,. The army appropriation bill
carries S73, 875, 276. A bill has been in
troduced in the house providing that
the attorney general shall apply to the
federal courts for receiver in the
event of a strike or disagreement which
stops the operation of coal mines OF
any transportion line whose operation
is suspended. 1t also provides that the
court shall appoint receiver, who
shall operate the mines.
The Senate Wednesday passed, unan-
imously and without debate, the house
bill providing rebates of the duty on
foreign coal for one year. This bill
was reported to the house from the
WAYS and means committee Tuesday
and was passed in short order, by a
practically unanimous vote.
Chairman Jenkins Of the house jul
dietary committee introduced reso-
luton directing the committee to in
vestigate and report on the power OF
congress to seize all the coal mines
and means of coal transportation. Mr..
Jenkins, who has studied the ques-
tions presented, thinks congress has
such power in great public emer-
gency as now exists.
The honest man can have nothing
! hut cnntemnt for the rum drinker who