Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-01-15

Washington, Jan. 13.-It is expect
ed that congress will pass a bin re-
moving the duty of 81 cents a ton on
coal imported into this country. This
bill may take the form of a rebate or
drawback for 80 days, and also will
provide for reciprocity, adding free
duty on coal imported into this
country from countries granting the
same privileges to the United States.
This means Canada, and will permit
| Nova Scotia, to come in free, while
coal rom the Alleghenies and west
ward will go into Canada free of
duty. The ways and means commit
tee will meet today and according to
the present program will report a bill
on the above lines. 1t is expected it
will pass the house today.
| 1t will be taken up in the senate
very soon and the intention is to
| have 1t pass without much delay. It's
consideration in the senate has not
been arranged for, but efforts are
passage
out amendment and with little dis
cusS1On. A number of republicans
who heretofore have opposed chang
ing the duty on coal said they would
not oppose the bill provided it did not
open the whole tariff question. There
was some general talk yesterday
about the agreement to pass such a
| bill, without opening up the tariff
question and republican leaders ex-
pect the house bill will be passed
promptly by the senate.
A lively debate occurred in the SEN
ate yesterday between Senators Aid
rich, Vest and Carmack when the first
named endeavored to secure post
ponement of the Vest resolution re-
quiring the committee on finance to
report the bill removing the duty on
coal. Senator Aldrich announced
there were strong hopes of action
being taken elsewhere with a view to
removing the duty on coal. The pro-
position was not acceptable to Sena-
tor Vest, who expressed the opinion
that to allow the resolution ito go
into the uncertain and nebulous fu-
ture' would mean its defeat Senator
Nelson continued his remarks in OPP
position to the omnibus statehood
bill. large number of private pen
sion bills passed by unanimous con-
sent. At $40 p. m. the senate ad-
journed out of respect to the mem
DRY of the late Representative Tongue
of Oregon.
In the House.
The house after adopting resolu-
tons to authorize the merchant ma
rine and fisheries committee to in
vestigate the coal situation at once
adjourned out of respect to the mem
Dry of the late Mr.. Tongue of Oregon,
after the appointment of a committee
to attend the funeral
The resolution to investigate the
coal situation recites the fact that
resolution has been introduced to ex-
tend the privilege of carrying coal to
foreign ports in coastWise steamers
for 80 days because the present
scarcity of coal involves great suffer
ing and distress, and authorizes
committee to Investigate the facts
charges and necessities; t. inquire
into the elements and conditions in
vOlved to the coal trade the cost of
coal, the methods, facilities and cost
of transportation and distribution Of
the same and the reasons or causes of
such scarcity and distress"
The committee is directed to report
the testimony with it's conclusions
thereon to the house as soon as pos
sible 1t is given power to send for
persons and papers to administer
oaths, etc and incur such expense
as may be deemed necessary. Meet
ings are to he held in Washington
and such other places as the commit
tee may determine.