Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-06-05
;ELK|NS DECLARES
FOR PROTECTION
West virginian Makes Exhaustive
Speech on Tariff.
ABOLITION OF DUTIES
WOULD MEAN DESTRUCTION

Describes Growth Of Coal and Pc
trofeum Business in His State and
Contends That Radical Downward
Changes Of Schedules Would Inn
pair Interests Of the Natisn.
Declaring that to let down the pro-
tective tariff wall built about the coal
and petroleum industries would wreck
the future of West Virginia, and, in .
scarce less degree, impair the mining
interests of the whole country, Sena-
tor Elkins, of West Virginia, yesterday
in the Senate made one of the most
exhaustive speeches son those two
schedules that has been heard during
the present tariff discussion.
He spoke for protection as prime
necessity. Reduction of duties" he
explained, lis one thing, hut taking
them on certain American products is
quite different. This Is not reduction,
but destruction.
1.-THE tariff debate in the Senate and
the public press has disclosed the fact
that protection and the protective pol
icy Is growing stronger throughout the
whole country" said Senator Elkins
Senators fovoring reduction In rates.
I believe, are good protectionists, and
desire to make protection stronger by
the course they are pursuing, but
when they go so far as to ask that
certain American products termed raw
materials be put on the free list. they
are mistaken. Reduction OF duties is
one thing, but taking duties on certain
American products is quite different;
this is not reduction but destruction.
Il still believe that protection in its
broadcast and best sence would be
strengthened by placing a duty ON
every American product, competing
with foreign products in our markets,
thereby insuring some measure OF pro-
lection or ONE share in the distribu-
ton of duties on all competing Ameri-
can products, discriminating against
none. Some Senators consider what
is called raw materials are not such
products as are entitled to protection.
What is generally termed raw mate
rial in one section is the manufac-
tured products of another Whenever
money is invested in raw materials
and labor has been expended on them,
they become manufactured products
and are entitled to protection the
same as any other product and for the
same reason.
Coal Production.
1.-THE coal production OF the United
States last year was 419.00O.0e0 tons,
valued at the mouth of the mine at
about $50O.O05,000. This includes an
thracite coal.
Goal should always be considered
in connection with transportation, be-
cause before coal becomes valuable
for commercial purposes 1t must
reach the point OF distribution and
consumption. The transportation is
more valuable than the coal Coal go
ing to New England from West vir-
ginia is worth, say, 1925 to $3.50 a
ton at any of the ports in New Eng
land. OF this, 1910 Is transportation.
Transportat on of 100000 tons of
coal costs about $500, 100000 so that
the cost of mining coal and It's trans
portation is about $1,000 900, 900 year
This Is an enormous amount OF money
received each year from one industry.
"The average profit on a ton OF BIZ
luminous coal is about Is cents, per-
haps less. For two years there has
been no profit on bituminous coal
Labor is the largest factor In produc-
ing coal II constitutes about so per
cent of the cost. In the production
OF coal in the United States there are
about $4,000 persons employed. The
daily wages paid are about $1,000, 900,
or about $4o0,000.000 a year. Nearly
5000 900 people depend upon this In
dustry for living. The capital invest
ed in coal lands, mines, and improve
ments will reach into thousands Of
millions. With this vast outlay of cap
ital and the people employed. The
comes a serious thing to disturb or i'm
pair this industry in the slightest de-
gree by reducing the duty.
Coal in West Virginia.
aWest Virginia produced last year
over 10000, 900 tons of coal, valued at
the mouth of the mine at about s40,-
100000; transportation on same 10