Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-09
FREE COAL IS OPPOSED
Senator Aldrioh Claims AbrogatiOn Of Duty
Would Not Help People,
VEST WARMLY DEFENDS HIS PROPOSITION
Resolution Goes over and Many Minor
Bills Are Passed by Unanimous
Consent Before senate Ad-
journs TIL Monday.

Consent Before senate Ad-
journs TIL Monday.
WASHINGTON, Jan. s-When the senate
met today a house bill was passed amend
ing the international revenue laws allowing
all distilled spirits now In bonded ware
houses, or which may hereafter be pro-
duced and deposited therein, the same al
lowance for loss or leakage and evaporation
which now exists on distilled spirits de-
posted prior to January L. 1899.
A bill was also passed authorizing the
secretary Of the interior TO prescribe rules
and regulations for the procurement Of
timber and stone for domestic and in
dustrial purposes in the Indian Territory.
Oppose Free Coal.
Mr.. Aldrieh CR. H. then addressed the
senate on the question Of removing the
duty on coal.
He began by stating that such a plan would
not afford the relief sought. II infringed
the rights OF the house with respect to
revenue bills.
The attempt to afford relief, said Mr..
Aldrich, through a method that would open
a discussion here as to the constitutional
rights of the senate aud the constitutional
prerogatiye Of the house that would out
last the coal famine is not a profitable
method of securing results.
Mr.. Aldrich recited the facts relating to
the coal tariff, saying that In 1894, when
the democrats we're in control Of the sem
ate, the house sent the Wilson bill to the
senate with coal free of duty. The demo-
cratic finance committee and the democratic
senate with the exception Of Mr.. Hill of
New York, voted to put a duty Of 40 cents
a ton on coal, although they had the power
to admit coal free OF duty.
Turning to the democratic side and
speaking with considerable emphasis, Mr..
Aldrich said:
You have always been in favor Of free
coal when your opinions were OF no value
give the country free coal you deliberately
and unanimously voted the other way. 1t
to ~crlticise the action of the senate In 1897
in view of the action taken in 1894.
Mr.. Aldrich said the high price OF fuel
in the country now was not due to the
present tariff.
Cleveland Urged II.
Mr.. Vest (Mo.) replying. said Mr.. Aldrich's
remarks could be read between the lines. He
simply was opposed to the resolution. He
said 1t was an open secret how the rate of
40 cents a ton was put on coal In the Will
son bill; that there were 1--WE democratic
senators opposed to the bill who we're In
position 10 ulCldl6 Wnhl huOulu Dt pldCSu
in the bill and that their votes were needed
to pass the measure.
President Cleveland, he said, had urged
free coal on congress. I'VE were held up"
said Mr.. Vest, Ito use plain vernacular,
and told II we dared to put free coal in
the bill 1t would be defeated. A COM
promise therefore was effected on the basis
OF 40 cents a ton.
I What does 1t matter how anybody voted
in 1S947' he inquired. "Is that an answer
to the poor. freezing people now who de-
mand immediate relief?' He referred to
his former statement that the rates in the
Dingley bin were made SO high as to
render possible the negotiation Of. reci-
proeity agreements and said It was based
on information he believed to be true.
In support of this allegation he read an
editorial from a Washington paper refer
ring to a private conversation in which Mr..
Dingley was declared to have made the
= statement.
Mr.. Hale CMe.) characterized the article
as a remarkable statement.
at was never made in Mr.. Dingley's life
, time," he said. And then, speaking Of the
l Dingley bill, declared It "a great, mag
. nihcent and municifent gift to the American
. people in the cause OF protection and pros
perity."
. Mr.. Hoar (Mass) declared that such
u resolutions as that under discussion were
: futile in securing the objects sought and
contended that all legislation s~ffectins
3 revenue should originate in the house.
. Mr.. Vest ex, !ained his action in offering
u a resolution instead Of a bill, saying he felt
sure a bill, after It's reference to a COM
mittee, would never be reported. His OBJ
ject was to call attention to the condition
= OF the country.
povart{nU tO HIS atafapnanf f0OnArutno
e the object Of placing the rates so high in
a the Dingley bill. he read a letter from the
e editor Of the Philadelphia Bulletin, saying
: the statement attributed to Mr.. Dingley
4 was made to a writer on the stan Of that
( paper in March,. 1897.
! Hale Defends DinEIey.
r Mr.. Hale entered into a defense Of Mr..
n D:ngley, saying the statement attributed to
e him was radically opposed to all his utter
e ances and involved the charge of insin-
certify.
The debate was cut short by Mr.. Quay
(Pa) demanding the regular ordtr and the
n resolution went over. to come up on the
IT next legislative day.
/ The statehood bill then was taken up and
Mr.. Nelson (Minn.) continued his remarks
IS begun on Monday. He had not concluded
when. at 4 o'clock, by unanimous consent
the senate considered unobiected bills OF
the calendar.
The following we're passed:
Granting additional lands adjacent to the
site OF the University OF Montana to tbs
II university; to authorize, settle and com.
promise certain litigation pending in the
circuit court for the western district o.
y North Carolina. in which the eastern band
Of Cherokee Indians are involved; to re-
n divide the district OF Alaska into three re.
cording and judicial divisions.
The bill providing for the retirement o
In Captain R. p. Hobson brought forth a pro,
$ test from Mr.. Cockrell (Mo), who though
o. congress should not be made a court Of ap
Of peals to hear applications from ofhcer
at after they had been declared At for activu
e. service.
Mr.. Morgan (Ala) characterized It is al
% exceptional case and said he did not In
ne tend that Captain Hobson's reputation o
re character should be damaged by any objec
nc tion against him.
re Bills also were passed as follows: Flo
II the relief OF certain enlisted men in tn
e. navy; to provide for the purchase OF a sit