The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1911-03-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
BY George w Summers. J


ten except Representative Ham
ilton, of the fourth district, the
interim between the adjournment
OF the regular session and the
converting of the special session
pcoves rather barren of West
Virginia news. Mr.. Hamilton
has been getting his Office opened
and his secretary installed, and
has spent some time i'm getting
acquainted at the various de-
pMtments so rs to be ready for
the actual work when Congress
conyenes.
A side from Mr.. Hamilton, the
only member of the West Virgin
ia delegation in Congress who
has been here recently was Sen
ator Watson, who stopped over
on his way from New York to
Fairmont, where he is to be ban
quoted by his friends and neigh
bors this week.
Senator Watson only stopped
long enough to give out his inter-
view on the effect which re-
moval of all duty on coal impor-
ted from Canada into the United
States would have on the coal
business Of West Virginia. The
Senator showed that with the
price of West Virginia coal adj
vancing as much as two dollars a
ton in New England on account
of shipping conditions. The sale
of Nova Scotia coal in New Eng
land was not increased. This he
held to indicate that the removal
of duty of 40 cents a ton would
not increase the sale of Canadian
coal in New England. The West
Virginia coal is preferred there
because of its quality and Cana
adam coal, although offered at a
lower price does not find ready
sale on account Of its poor quail
ity.
Senator Watson also showed
from figures obtained from re-
cent hearings before the Inter
state Commerce Commission,
that the southern part of West
Virginia would profit by the re-
moval Of the Canadian duty on
coal from the United States than
the northern part of the State,
refuting the published charge of
former Congressman Hub bard
that Mr.. Watson's motives in in
Producing an amendment to the
Canadian reciprocity bill provid-
ing for free coal were selfish.
The operators from the southern
part of the State are shown to
have shipped about three times
as much coal to the lakes and
consequently about the same
proportion to Canada as the
northern part Of the State, in
which M. Watson's companies
operate exclusively.
Rate hearings held recently be-
fore the Interstate Commerce
Commission developed the fact
that the Pennsylvania coal oper-
ators have complained to the
railroads about the rates given
on West Virginia coal hauled to
the Great Lakes and that the
railroads agreed upon an in
crease in rates. This increased
rate was suspended by the Inter
state Commerce Commission un-
til September ID and in the mean
time an investigation is being
made by the Commission.
West Virginia coal operators
state that to increase The freight
rates would almost or quite ruin
the coal business in the State
and they are protesting against
the establishment OF the propo-
sed rates.
On the other hand the Penn
sylvania coal operators have
filed a complaint against the
present rates from Pennsylvania
on coal and at the hearing which
will be accorded them will under
take to show that the ra ties from
West Virginia are such as to Sc
riously interfere with their bust
ness.
1t is a straight out fight be-
tween Pennsylvania and West
Virginia coal interests and the
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