The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1909-04-12

continuance of such frauds against
1.-THE revenues OF the government and
the discrimination against American
mines was to provide the same rates
of duty on all grades Of coal. Par
ticularly was this true he insisted
when the culm. for which the fact3r-
les Of New England ciamor, is high
grade stun and win contin6e 10
come in as calm. although in reality
lit is the Sest grade OF Canadian
coal.
From. England as Ballast.
Mr. Elkins also pointed out that
If the duty on coal Is removed
through reciprocal arrangement,
large quantities of 1T would come
from England as ballast, especially
at times when water rates were low.
He produced figures to show that
during the eight months OF the recent
coal famine, due to the strike and
shutting down the mines. in which
period coal by special act was admit
ted free. there was imported g.
900. 900 tons from England. Then.
too, he said. that If Nova Scotia
could send 100000 tons of culm in
to New England ports at a Is cent
duty, with coal free. 1t would send
in from five to ten times that amount
and as the imports increased under
this discriminating practice, Ameri-
can workmen would continue 10 l.,
thrown out of work or mines shut
down. II, he said, the high grade
coal imported as slack had been
compelled 10 pay CO cents duty the
government would have received
s1,20O,OOO in additional duty. and
to that extent the present law has
aided in this fraud on revenues.
There was no contention on the
part OF Mr.. Elkins that the products
Of the West Virginia mines should
be protected at the expense OF other
sections of the country. He said he
wanted to see the peaks in tariff leg
islation cut down and a more equita-
Bile adjustment agreed upon that
would deal justly with every section
Of the country and raise sufficient
revenue to maintain the govern
ment. He declared III there was a
general reduction on all products
and not on a few and those few at
the expense OF certain sections Of
the country-h would be willing to
see coal bear its share Of the general
reduction: ~ "a.
Close Door to Frauds.
Under sirch general and equita-
ole reduction, coal. he said. might
be placed at so cents ton. As to
slack. Mr.. Elkins expressed the b..
lief that there should not be so wide
a difference between the rate it car
ried and that on coal itself. II ne
rate on coal is reduced to 80 cents.
then slack, he continued, should nc
fxed at 80 cents. This would close
the door to the frauds that are nov
pfaettced. But these reductions. Mr..
Elkins said, the coal men would
agree TO only inthe event
there is a genuine and eqn-
table reduction all along the line OF
natural products.
Considerable of Mr.. Eikins's az
gument was based nnoa the cost of
transportation as controlling fac;or
In the expense OF getting coal to the
market. The value of the coal pro-
dnced last year in this country he
placed at 419.00u.0OO tons, valued
at the mine at about 10000, 900.
The average cost OF transportation
was $500 a ton. The coal, and It's
transportation. therefore, represent
ed an investment of $1,000, 900. 900
annual. OF this. West Virginia con-
trihuted 10000, 900 tons and paid for
transportation $4,000, 900, making
a net profit of only Ia cents ton.
In the state there are 10000 miners
on whose labor 100000 people de-
pend. The average through rate on
this coal Is about sat- ton. Mr..
Elklns showed that the cost Of coal.
all charges carefully considered, de-
livered in Boston, was from $3.3O 10
$3.50 ton. while coal from Nova
Scotia was delivered there at from
$500 to $3.50 a ton.
He discussed the differences in
the labor cost and concluded with ii.
prediction that II Canada could ex.
port to the United States 1,40O, OOO
tons annually ON a duty Of ca cents
a ton. then. If the reciprocal ar
rangements were made the imports
from that country would son jun
to 5000. 900 tons, while every ton
OF Canadian coal imported meant
that mnch loss Of labor to the Amer
lean miners. that many additional