The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-05-01
THE R ON COAL.

Perhaps no subject Is OF more inter
ct to the people OF West Virginia
Just now than the tariff o coal and
the reciprocity arrangement with
Canada proposed by a clause in the
Payne bill. In a pamphlet by Mr..
Charles M. Barnett President Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Coal Company,
the salient points on the proposition.
are so clearly set forth that we take
pleasure in quoting the following from
the 4irst and second pages OF Mr.. Bar.
Nets interesting little book:
present DUTY (olngley Law.
"coal, bItuminous, and all Goals n
tanning less Ghan ninety-two per cen.
tim Of fixed carbon, and snale, sixty
seven cents per ton of t%wenty-eight
bushels eighty pounds to the bushel;
coal slack or :culm, such as will pass
through a half-inch screen. fifteen
cents per ton of twenty-eight bushels.
eighty pounds to the bushel."
Proposed Duty payne Billy.
Coal, bituminous, and coal slack, or
culm, and shale, sixtyseven cents per
ton OF t~wenty-elght bushels, eighty
pounds to the bushel; compositions
used for fuel in which coal or coal
dust Is the component material Of
chief value, whether IN briquettes or
other form, twenty per centum adj va
loren; coke, twenty per centum ad
yalorem; provided, that any of the
foregoing, when imported from any
country, dependency, province or col
ony which imposes no tax or duty on
like articles imported into the United
States shall be imported free Of
duty"
Parties in advocacy of Payne bill
q. e., reciprocal free coal with Can.
ada), are, directly, coal operators Of
Western Pennsylvania, coal operators
of Eastern Ohio; Indirectly, New Eng.
land.
The only claim made by the advo-
Gates Of reciprocal free trade with
Canada is that It will Increase the ton.
mage of Western Pennsylvania and
Eastern Ohio coal shippers.
Parties in advocacy of a reasonable
duty on all grades of coal are. directly.
the entire S ate Of West Virginia, coal
operators of Montana, coal operators
of Washington, coal operators of wyo.
ming; indirectly, coal operators of
Utah, coal operators OF Alaska, coal
operators OF North Dakota, practically
the entire country except the coal
operators of Western Pennsylvania
and Eastern Ohio.
The claims made by advocates of
reasonable duty on all grades OF coal
are:
/. That reciprocal free trade with
Canada will not increase coal tonnage.
and that Western Pennsylvania and
Ohio DID - i 4 this advantage.
Q. That 1t will reduce American
customs VEN without benefit to
American industries.
8. That It will paralyze the indus.
tries Of West Virginia and will hurt
other districts.
A. That 1t will ruin coal operations
Of Montana, Washington. Wyoming,
etc.
s. That West Virginia Goals cannot
successfully compete in New England
against Nova Scotia and foreign Goals
coming in duty free. Nova Scotia
Goals are not inferior.
6. That the cripplIng OF West vir-
ginia coal shipments to New England
will in turn jeopardize supplies OF
smokeless Goals for American Navy
needs.
4. That reciprocal free trade with
Canada will seriously handicap Ameri.
coastwise fleets.
s. That it will peopardize the large
investment made in and on the vir.
gilman Railway.
Q. That it will ruin investments in
vessels engaged in coastwise trade
and in piers in New England erected
and equipped to handle West Virginia
Goals,
cnnn p0APc