Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-13
CONGRESS INVESTIGATING COAL
Informal Conference Decides to Take
Immediate Action to Raise
Famine.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-It is expected
that congress will pass a bill removing
the duty on coal imported into this country.
The bill may take the form OF a rebate or
drawback for ninety days and provide for
reciprocity admitting coal free from coun-
tries granting the same privilege to the
United States. This would include Canada
and would permit Nova scotian, SAlbertan
and British Columbian coal to come into
this country free. So
The ways and means committee will
meet tomorrow and, according to the pres
ent program, report a bill on the above
lines. II is expected The bill will pass the
house tomorrow and be taken up In the
senate almost Immediately.
Its consideration in the senate has not
been arranged for, but arrangements are
being made to expedite it's passage with
out amendment and with little discussion.
A number Of republicans who heretofore
have been opposed TO changing the duty
on coal said they would not change the
bill providing 1t did not open the whole
tariff question, .'st..
Among the bills before the ways and
means committee affecting the duty on coal
is one introduced early in the session by
Representative Hill Comm. This bill Is
receiving the serious and favorable consid-
Grafton OF the committee. 1t provides;
THAT there shall be allowed and paid,
under such regulations as the secretary Of
the treasury shall prescribe, on all coal Of
every kind and form imported into any
port on the Atlantic coast a drawback Of
the import duties paid on the same to
and including the SOth day of June, 1903"
Another bill introduced by Representa-
tive Mccall (Mass) suspends the duty on
coal for ninety days.
Mr.. Mccall and Senator Lodge had a talk
on the house side late today:
A number Of other bills have been In
troduced in the house and referred to the
committee, which provides for the repeal
Of all duties upon coal Of al kinds i'm
ported into the United States. There is
still another bill providing for a reciprocal
trade relation between the United States
and Canada on coal, Tut 1t is not stated
whether this is to be considered tomorrow.
Senator Stewart of Nevada, who Is con-
Quoting the coal Investigation before the
committee OF the District of Columbia, to-
day introduced a resolution providing that
the committee shall be authorized to send
for persons n papers, administer oaths
and compel the attendance Of witnesses.
Owing to the expense involved the reso-
luton had to go to the committee on con-
tingent expenditures OF the senate. The
object OF the resolution Is to secure the at
tendance Of the officers OF coal roads and
coal companies and to secure testimony
from dealers in the city who have refused
to answer questions.
Senator Stewart intends to secure an
early report from the committee and TO
pass the resolution as soon as possible.
V. Baldwin Johnson was tue principal
witness today before the committee. He ad-
mitted having sold coal at $40 a ton, but
said he did not sell more than fifty tons
at that rate, and that was before the strike
was declared on.
He bought coal from Charles d. Norton &
Co, Philadelphia, on October 2s, at S4.55
a ton at the mines and on November 4 al
SETS and from Howell Brothers & Co., Bal
timore, October II, Pittsburg lump coal al
S.; on November II at 81, and on November
rs at 1926.
To each of these priees'a2 had TO be added
to show the cost In this city before hi
touched the coal.
Senator Stewart asked: How much Goa.
have you received from the Reading and
what have you o with it?'
MIR. Johnson declined to nswer thai
question.
The committee is attempting to trae,
sales OF coal, wnich should De sold undel
the agreement with the railroad companies
at SIPS per ton.
A Lounsbury. agent Of the Reading com
pany, said his company was sending 4
Washington an average Of sixty-two ears
day, of which about twelve went to tn
government departments. He agreed q
furnish the names Of the dealers II hi
principals were willing, to whom the othe
coal was sold.
A wholesale dealer said he had sold $50
tons Of Reading since the resumption o
mining 10 small local dealers at s6.15 pc
ton. but he had no agreement as to wha
they we're TO charge. All the dealers toda
said prices were from si9 a ton up for al
thraeite and all agreed that much NOR
Independent coal was coming IL than q
previous seasons.
Carnegie Gives Another Library.
EVERETT. Wash. Jan. I2-Andrey
- -H.a 30 nAn g. aukNf