Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-08
THE DUTY ON COAL
Mr.. Aldrich Replies to Mr..
Vest.
DEMOCRATS IN 1894
DID NOT ABOLISH TARIFF WHEN
THEY HAD OPPORTUNITY.
The Missouri Senator Explains That
Friends of the Wilson Bill Were
"Held Up"


notable in connection with an exchange OF
personal matters between senators IN rela-
ton to the debate that occurred on Senator
Vests resolution TO put anthracite coal on
the free list. Senator Aldrch opened the
discussion with reply to the speech made
by Mr.. Vest day before yesterday. and he
was followed by Mr. Vest. Mr. Vests
speech Tuesday so exhausted him that 1t
was questionable whether he would be able
to take part in the proceedings even TO-DAY,
having remained at home yesterday in or
der to recuperate from the unusual exer-
ton to which he had been subjected. He
appeared physically quite feeble today. but
spoke with his usual vigor and accuracy OF
recollection of events in which he has taken
part during past years. It said that be-
fore Mr.. Vest came into the Senate cham
Der today he subjected himself to electrical
treatment, which. it is understood. Is fire.
quently his method OF recuperating
strength.
The debate assumed an all-round nature
and was taken part in by several senator's.
Mr.. Hoar entering upon very extended
consideration of a constitutional question
to whether the Senate has the right to
remove a duty from an article by means
of bill originating In the Senate instead
OF in the House of Representatives, which
he claimed was the only course for such
legislation.
Did Not Believe It a Remedy.
Mr.. Aldrich spoke deliberately. and when
he arose the Senate was quite we'll filled
with senators who were apparently antici-
pating proceedings of unusual interest Mr..
Aldrich stated briefly reasons why he be-
lieved that the resolution introduced by
Mr. Vest could not afford any relief to the
people who are now suffering for the want
Of anthracite coal, and that 1t could not re-
H. IL - -
lad no doubt the republican members of
the Senate sympathized deeply with the
struggle the people are making to warm
their homes and to carry on their enter
prises at this time did the democratic
senator's. He said the republicans were
willing to do anything that could be done
to relieve the suffering Of the people in
this respect.
Il call attention" said Mr.. Aldrich, Ito
the impractical character Of this resou-
ton. The senator seems to be anxious that
something be done Immediately. but he
suggests a very unusual method Of doing
1t. He goes through the formality of in
structing the committee on finance to pre-
pare a resolution to put anthracite coal on
the free list The senator could prepare
such resolution himself. In the next
place the resolution only applies to anthra-
cite coal. and to importations Of anthra-
cite, which have always been inflnitesimal
In amount. This coal Is certain to come
into the United States whether We remove
the duty not
Mr.. Aldrch referred to the contention
that bill To affect the revenue could not
constitutionally originate In the Senate SO
that the proposition of Mr.. Vest, he said,
was calculated merely to raise discussion
Il understand said Mr.. Aldrich. "the
senator's resolution is simply to furnish the
text for a political speech. or series Of
political speeches. or to precipitate q dis
cussion of the tariff
Mr.. Aldrich said the committee, of which
he was chairman, now has this matter
under COlSiuerat ton. and ha tor
from Missouri, Mr.. Vest Is a member of
that committee he believed that some
means could be devised Of .affording relief
FOR the situation by more constitutional
method
He referred to aid the national govern
ment had given various communities in
case OF calamities such that given to the
mood sufferers at Galveston Tex, to the
farmers Of the Mississippi valley when
their farms were overlooked when certain
building materials were allowed to come in
free of duty for Chicago and for PASSPORT.
Me-. when those cities were burned down.
and to other instances.
Democratic Action in 1894.
lie said that the question Of free coal was
long discussed In the Senate. and referred to
the vote on the Wilson bill in 1894 to show
that the democrats We're not consistent in
their demand for free coal
he said that the democrats during twenty
yesrs had cpntended for free coal, and Mr..
Vest during these years as an advocate of
free coal had never failed to demand free
coal except on one day when their votes
would have given the country free coal.
That day was when they voted on the coal
schedule of the Wilson bill. He said that
the House had given free coal in its bill, but
that the Senate committee on finance then
with ma tority of democrats had nlaced
40 per cent on coal. In the Senate Mr. Hill
OF New York moved to strike out this 40
per cent duty. but he was the only demo-
orat who voted for that proposition. All
the other democrats, including Mr. Vest
voted for the duty of 40 per cent on coal in
spite Of the fact that for so many years
they had talked continually Of free coal In
the Senate.
Looking toward Mr. Vest. Mr. AldrIch
addressed the senator from Missouri In
what appeared to be a personal manner
GU nave always been in favor Of free
coal when your opinion has been of no
value, but on the one day when you could
have given the country the boon of free
coal you deliberately voted the other way
suggest II comes with bad grace from
senators who have occupied this position to
criicise the act OF the senators who in
1897 made changes in the tariff bill
All. Aldrich then said that he did not
think that II the duty were taken off coal
the condition or the people would be i'm
proved He said Mr.. Vest had referred to
the high price of wood In Missouri. and he
wanted to know whether he thought that
condition would be relieved by free coal
He referred to the enormous production of
coal IN the United States, which, he said
was nearly 400.OOO.O0O OF tons annually
while the highest importation in any one
year had been 100000 tons. or 1 per cent.
Object of the Duty.
He also answered the charge of Mr.. Vest
that the duty placed on coal Of less than
s2 per cent carbon was put there In a Sc
cret manner in order to keep out anthracite
coal. though on the face OF the provision it
did not apply to anthracite coal He said
this had been done at the suggestion of
Senator Perkins in order to keep out of the
Pacific coast coal from Australia and Brit
ish Columbia, which was practically soft
coal. and that the duty was protest ed
against by the operators of the anthracite
region. the latter saying that there was no
necessity for such a duty. coal could not
he imported in competition with them.
MI Perkins affirmed this statement and
said that his democratic colleague at that
time, Mr.. White. had Joined him in asking
the finance committee to take the action in
dica ted.
Mr. Aldrich concluded his statement by
saying that Mr.. Vests resolution should go
to the committee on finance. and that he
believed that that committee could devise
some means for bringing relief TO the peo-
pie In proper and constitutional way
Mr.. Vest Replies.