The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-09
Mr. AIdrich Opens Fight on Resolution Introduced by
 Senator Vest
OINGLEYS NAME BROUGHT
 IN DEBATE FREQUENTLY
Senator Morgan Tries to Get consid- eration of Bill Providing for Re- tirement of Captain Hobson
 and Engages In coloquy.

| Washington. January S-Today the senate again discussed the Vest resolu- tion requesting the finance committee to report bill removing the duty on an- thratice coal. and MT. Aldrch replied to some of the criticisms of Mir. Vest. made last Tuesday. Mir. Aldrich insisted that the resolution would not accomplish the result sought and that it infringed on the constitutional rights of the pub lie in respect to revenue bills. MT. AL drich said that a democratic senate voted to put a duty of 40 cents an coal in 1894 and that they favored free coal except on the day when they could have voted for free coal into the tariff bill.
 MT. Vest, in reply. said that the 40 cents duty on coal was the result of a hold up'' by a few democratic senators. To confirm his assertion that MT. Ding ley had made the statement that the Dingley rates were placed high in order to negotiate reciprocity treaties, MT. Vest read letter addressed to him by the editor of the Philadelphia Bulletin, in which the writer declared that MT Ding ley made the statement to one of his Washington correspondents MT. Hale expressed his disbelief in the statement and feelingly referred to MT Dfngley s<Z services to his state and country sa n7t paid a high tribute to his character The Dingey bill. he regarded as a great, magnificent and muniflcent gift to the American people in the cause of protec- ton and prosperity. The resolution final 1y went over until the next legislative day.
 MT. Nelson continued his remarks against the omnibus bill. A number of minor bills were passed and the senate adjourned until Monday.
 MT. AIdrichs Argument.
 Tn discussing the Vest resolution Mir. Aldrich began by stating that the resolu- ton would not afford the relief sought. It infringed the rights of the house with re- spect to revenue bills. "The attempt to afford relief" said Mir Aldrich, which the senator says Is demanded through a method that would open discussion here [ as to the constitutional rights of the state f and the constitutional prerogative of the house, a discussion which in it's very na- ture would outlast the coal famine, is not a practicable method of securing re- suits"
 The resolution, he asserted, was amply to furnish a text for a political speech or a series of political speeches. He rel cited the legislation which had been en+ acted to relieve the people In time of dis- tress. and said he was hopeful that some means would be found for relief.
 MT. Aldrichs rccited the facts relating to the coal tariff saying that In 1894. when the democrats were in control of the sen ate, the house sent the Wilson bill to the senate with coal free or duty. The democratic finance committee and the democratic senate, with the exception of MT Hill of New York, voted to put a duty of 40 cents ton on coal although they had the power 10 admit coal free of duty.
 Turning to the democratic side. and speaking with considerable emphasis. Mir. Aldrich said: "You always have been in favor of free coal, when your opinions were of no value to the country On the day when you could give the country free coal you deliberately and unanimously voted the other way. It therefore comes with III grace for senators to criticise the action of the senate of 1897 in view of the action taken in 1894.
 An Electoral Paper Read.
 Mir. Vest had read an editorial from a Washington paper referring to a private conversation in which Mir Dingley was declared to have made the statement Knowing the correctness of the asser- ton.
 MT. Hale of Maine characterized the article as remarkable statement.
 Tt was never made In MT. Dngiev's lifetime" he said. Speaking of the Ding ley bill, he declared 1t was great, mag nincent and munincent gift to the Ameri- can people in the cause of protection and prosperity.
 MT. Hoar of Massachusetts declared that such resolutions as the one under discussion was idle and futile in securing the objects sought and contended that all legislation affecting revenue should originate in the public.
 MT. Vest explained his action in offering resolution instead of a bil saying he felt sure q bill. after Its reference to committee, would never be reached. His object. he said. was to call attention to tho conditions of the country and inten- tion of congress. After the President of the United States had recommended the removal of the duty on coal and a month had elapsed without action on the rec ommendation, he thought that ''even . poor democrat might make a suggestion that might hurry up action this inn portant question:" Reverting to the charge regarding the object in placing the rates high in the Dingley bill, MT. Vest read letter from the editor of the Philadelphia Bulletin saying the state ment attributed to MT. Dinglcy was made to a writer on the staff of the Bulletin in March. 1897.
 Importers Get Benefit.
 In an order, effective October 10 last, Mir. Vest said the secretary of the treas- ury had notified customs officers that fin controversies between the United States and importers of foreign coal. as to whether 1t was dutable or not all doubts should be solved in favor of the importer
 This was done" Mir Vest asserted. 'to induce the importation of foreign coal
 (contlnued on Second Paael