Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-14
COAL TO co ON FREE LISl
Ways and Means Committee Bill Provides
for Rebate.
TO Be EQUAL TO THE PRESENT DUTY
-easure TO Go Into Eject Upon Pas
sI age of Bill and be in Eject
u for Period of One
4. Year.

q.
means comm, the house today de-
bate. equal to the duty now imposed, on all
kinds of coal coming from all countries for
q period Of one year.
This bill is a substitute for the one intro
duced by Representative Hill of Connecticut,
which provided for a rebate until June 80
next. 1t is expected the bill will be called
up in the house at once
The bill adopted provides:
That the secretary Of the treasury be and
he Is hereby authorized and required to
make full rebates OF uuIies imposed by law
ported into the United States from foreign
countries for the period of one year from
ana after the passage Of this act.
Representative Richardson CTenn.) pro-
posed an amendment striking out the words
for period of one year." which was voted
down. He then proposed an amendment
placing all Goals on the free list, which was
likewise voted down.
The final vote on the adoption OF the bill
was unanimous.
Representatives Payne, DalzeIl and Gros-
venor held a conference with the president
this morning relative to the action which
had been taken by the committee
The committee reported the bill but will
not call it UP in the house for considera-
ton today, as originally contemplated, the
decision having been reported to bring II
up under a rule tomorrow.
Purely Emergency Measure.
The report of the committee, submitted
to the house by Chairman Payne, after
recommending the passage Of the bill, says:
This is an emergency measure demanded
because OF the scarcity and high price of
coal resulting from the recent prolonged
strike in the anthracite coal mines
Precedents for such action are found in
the Chicago FIRE and the fire at Eatsport'
Me, in which cases congress gave rebates
on the duties on lumber used in rebuilding
the burned districts. Whether the legisla-
ton Will Increase the importance or reduce
the price Of coal is a question on which
the premises and will satisfy the demand
of many of our citizens. While there is a
threatened coal famine in any part OF the
country We cannot turn deaf ear to the
The committee did not consider it best to
make any changes in the tariff on coal
after the period Of one year had expired,
preferring to bring in this as a purely
emergency measure and not desiring to go
into the question Of tariff revision, even
upon this one article. If any relief can
come TO the people from such legislation It
Will be amply secured in the period pro-
vided for in the bill.
senate VIII Also Act.
After the adjournment Of the senate to-
day the republican members of the com
mittee on finance held a conference of more
than an hours duration and discussed the
various suggestions for the removal of the
| tariff on anthracite.
They had before them the text OF the
house bill granting a rebate for twelve
months and practically agreed to accept II
without alteration II the democratic com
mitteemen could be induced to allow It to
| be so reported without delay.
The opinion was unanimous that the sit
ustion called for prompt action and the
senate committee will be called together,
perhaps tomorrow. Immediately after the
house passes the bill.
! At a meeting OF the republican members
| Of the committee, prior to the meeting Of
the full committee, Mccall (Mass) pro-
posed that provision be made in the BILL
| subsequently adopted. that after the expir-
alton of a year, during which a rebate is
to be paid on all coal, that all coal com
! ing from countries which admit our coal
| free Of duty be admitted free into this
country.
Representative Tawney (Minn.) favored
the proposition, but 1t was opposed by the
remainder OF the republican members on
the ground that as a temporary measure
was under consideration they should not
duOpL any permanent pOllcy.
| Representative Dalzell, from the commit
tee on rules, reported a resolution provid-
ing for the consideration OF the coal re-
bate bill in the house tomorrow, limiting
debate to one hour. a vote then to be
taken without intervening motion.
Chicago VIII Import.
CHICAGO. Jan. 13.-Mayor Harrison,
speaking of the recommendation of the ways
and means committee to grant rebate on
coal importations. said:
| The moment that recommendation be-
comes law this city will take immediate
steps 10 bring in sufheient coal to break up
the combination.
Coal will be sold for cost plus the rail-
road tariff and in that way the people will
be able 10 get IL at fair price. Canada
will. Of course, be the only available source
OF Immediate supply, and from there we
shall expect TO get it,"
A train OF twenty-five cars containing
coal for Chicagos poor arrived here today
and will be distributed free by city wagons,
Mayor Harrison. in view of the prevail
ing distress having issued an order TO that
effect
Owing to the late arrival Of the train only
a few wagons were available this afternoon.
! They were those used TO take the coal TO
the police stations, where those in pressing
need may come and get II. Tomorrow
400 wagons, ordinarily occupied in removing
garbage. will move the fuel into needy
homes.
The train came over the Illinois Central
from the coal region OF central Illinois
and was given the right of way over all
but perishable freight.
Indiana Legislature Moves.
INDIANAPOLIS. Jan. 1s.-The legisla-
ture showed a determination today to re-
lieve the situation brought about by the
shortage OF coal. In the senate a resolu-
tion providing for the appointment OF a
special committee TO act in conjunction
with the governor to take necessary action
and report 10 the general assembly was
adopted. In the house a bill was intro
duced TO make il a misdemeanor 10 limit
the output Of coal or to tx or increase the
price.
Kansas Wants Legal Action.
TOPEKA, Kan, Jan 13.-No relief from
the present Kansas coal famine is in sight
The railroads are sending an abundance o.
cars into the coal district OF the state. bu
the output is not nearly equal to the de-
mand. Dealers are helpless and the people
are without coal. An effort will be mad
! TO have the legislature take action at once