The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-15
PRACTICAL REMOVAL.
OF COAL DUTY FOR
ALL TIME
Both Houses Rush j Through
the Bill Providing for
Rebate of Duties on Anth-
racite = Some Members
Fear Admissions of Chi
nese-Mined Ceaal.la

WASHINGTON, D. G., Jan. 14.-The
bill reported from the ways and means
committee yesterday to provide for a
rebate of the duties on coal for a pc
Rod of one year, was passed in short
order by the house today by practi-
cally unanimous Vote-2S5-5-those
voting against it being Messrs. Cush-
man and Jones (Wash.), Gaines CIV
Va.), Mondell (Wyo.) and Patterson
(Pa.), all Republicans. The bill was
considered under the operation Of the
rule which cut off opportunity to
amend. The only opposition to the
measure came from some of the mem
bers representing coal states, who ex-
pressed the fear that the admission of
Chinese-m mined coal in Canada would
injure the coal industry Of their states.
Both Mr.. Dalzell (Pa.) and Mr.. Payne
IN. ", the Republican leaders, ex-
pressed the opinion on the floor that
the bill would not relieWekthe existing
distress. They said it would satisfy
however, public demand for action,
and show the disposition of congress
to do what it could.
Democratic Contention.
The Democrats, although they all
it did not go far enough, saying that
coal should go on the free list, and
when the bill came back from the SEN
ate with a provision which virtually
placed anthracite coaa on-4the free list
they applauded vigorously.
Mr.. Dalzell said there was practical
~ no anthracite coal in the world ex-
cept that in the United States and a
little in China. The senate amendment
was adopted without division.
Rapid progress was made in the
army appropriation bill. The most i'm
portant amendments added were to in
crease the number Of officers in the
signal corps by twenty-three, namely,
one colonel, two lieutenant colonies,
four majors, eight captains and eight
first lieutenants, and another to pre-
vent the disccntinuanceF of the army
transport service without action by
cCngl esS.
In the Senate.
The senate acted promptly on the
house coal bill, and passed it unani-
mously without debate, a few minutes
after it was brought over from the
house. Mr.. Aldrich offered a committee
amendment, adding a new section to
the bill providing that the provisions
of paragraph Ais of the Dingleys act
authorize the imposition of any duty
on anthracite coal. Mr.. Aldrich asked
immediate consideration. The. bill, as
amended, rassed. ~ ~
The militia bill also was passed, with
an amendment striking out Of the bill
the section providing for a reserve
force of trained men,, thus removing
objections.
For an hour and q half Mr.. TiIlman
occupied the attention of the senate in
q characteristic speech, In which he
dcncunCe,: trusts and monopo1ies and
severely criticised the attorney gen.
erat. ggr Ys5#
McCumbereon Statehood.
The statehood bill was up for short
time, during which Mr.. McCumber
spoke in favor of the granting state
hood to Oklahoma, Arizona and New
Mexico He compared the conditions
existing in those territories with those
which prevailed in - Dakota before
North and South Dakota were admit
ted to the Union.
Mr. Hoar (Mass.) introduced q con-
current resolution calling upon the
president to inform the senate what
government is existing in the island
of Guam, and through what executive
department the powers of such gov
eminent are now executed and admin
1stered, as we'll as the number of in
hab1tants in said island, and also by
what authority Mahinji, the Guam
chief, is being detained in the Philip
pines. At Mr.. Hoar's request the res
elution went over until tomorrow.