New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-19
THE DUTY ON IRON ORE.
SHALL 1T BE PUT ON THE GROSS WEIGHT
A CONTROVERSY WHICH THE TREASURY DEPART
MENr rs CALLED ON TO DECIDE.

A CONTROVERSY WHICH THE TREASURY DEPART
MENr rs CALLED ON TO DECIDE
Iron importers and purchasers discussing
whethcr the present specific duty of 20 cents ton
should be levied upon the gross weight Of iron ore,
manganese silica, moisture, and the other constituent
paris orupon the net weight the moisture being count
ed out. Two factions have been formed In the last
few days, and iron and their attorneys are be-
sieging the Treasury Department with arguments
and afidavits The decrease in the amount OF
revenue to the Government should the duty be levied
upon the net weight is estimated at from $4,000
~ $4,000 at the lowest an importation OF 100000
tons and would thus practically amount to con-
siderable reduction in the specific duty now collected
From 1888. when the specific duty was substituted
for the I'D valorem~essessment until last December
there was little II any complaint by any iron
chant. and the duty estimated irrespec-
tive OF the moisture. In that month Nay
Tor Co., Of No, 90 John-st., took steps
10 secure the change. They are largo I'M
norters Application was made by them TO the
Secretary of the Treasury for q ruling whereby the
duty on foreign iron ore should be levied upon the
weight of the after deducting the moisture as
determined by drying samples at 2120 Fahrenheit
Their petition Endorsed by other importer.
Alfred Ernshaw. Of Philadelphia and statement
was signed by number of iron firms tending TO show
that the meaning in business Of the phrase "a ton
of iron ore" was as Nayior & Co claimed. 1t is
asserted by the opposition that this meaning do
pended upon special contract, not general usage.
Acting secretary Fsrchid obtained opinions from
collectors of customs in New York. Philadelphia and
other ports ana referred them to the Attorney Gen
eral. From Philadelphia. where the importation Is
heavy. Charles Henry Jones, the deputy collector,
wrote that in the commercial sense Of the term "a
ton Of ore" the weight of iron. silica. man
ganese and moisture, and all other parts vas
meant. Collector Magone supported the view of the
Philadelphia office. and made argument of con-
siderable length against the NaylOr petition. though
not abiding to them by
In the face Of these reports adverse TO the dry ore
scheme, but supported by favorable report from
the appraI>ers Office and letter from Solicitor Gen
eral jerks, stating: "H iron ore In commerce
means iron ore with the moisture expelled at tenn
perature of 212' Fahrenheit then that basis tho
duty should be levied" aud accepting this decision
depending on an improved supposiuon. Assistant
Secretary FairchLd October 20 decided in favor
of allowing for moisture This victory for
NaylOr & Co., but October 80 the great iron in
teIcsts Of the Lake Superior region represented by
the Western Iron Ore Association of Cleveland telc
eTaphed TO Washington a vigorous protest and asked
a second investigation of the case. The dispatch de-
cJared that the iron OF commerce is bought
and sold dried at a temperature of 2120 Fahrenheit
that universally it is sold by the with whatever
moisture may be in it when it to market. 1t
a>O asserted that the effect Of the proposed
s,rucon Of the law would largely reduce the rate of
duty on foreign ores. and operate in1uriousy the
vast amount of American capital and the hundreds
can ole production. he association said that it
had ntInation of the application for virtually
ant Secretary Fdirchld informed the association and
pe IeS WenS ana the esos and
November 3 collectors of customs were informed Of
tho SUSPENSION oil the decision ruling the reduction.
COOuer. Hewitt & Co.. through one of the firm.
had signed the statement prepared by Nsylor d Co.
After the Weston Iron ore Association directed at
ten to the matter. Mr. Hewitt declared that the
APP al of the Nayor scheme was, given under
Who Lad signed the paper to Collector Magone to
have tie firms Endorsement withdrawn. The Col
done ihereupon Mr. Hewitt formally intorme,l
consi leraton would not have agreed to the NaJlo
pan" Cooper. Hewitt 81 Co. do not claim in
the r purchases here from importers. There were
eIai minor Joints in the original statement which
, ,hs 5 sPx ON mot ss In IN
TO e thomseve- right thew prepared their letter to
the secretary the Treasury intending that it should
correct define their position IN the m Man 70
is active with President George H. Ely, of the West
Iron Orc Association, In opposing the reduction.
This drying scheme is only the innocent beginning
Of g pan to decrease very ATse me Spefio
TO- mo sture. which Will amount TO only three and
T OILY depends upon the elasticity Of conscience that
some mi orters NAV possess before That mere para
Tel e VIII become something greater. Samplers may
be fond 70 make arHes anI arer tSa Wa
MOI Z S ~ rndcrIana ions of
ports Why, In the few days since the oblcctiona-
G decision S ts and @ ET een hs to
about eight and a quarter cents. This importa-
ton was one that arrived at Perth Amboy By
and by IL will he claimed that iron ore means,
commercially speaking, ore 'nt has len hratcd
70 coo or more degrees Fahrenheit, 20 that the
water OF combination and carbonic acid may be
burned out and the moisture claim be stretched so
far that the analysis of samples will be made TO
show that the amount of real iron In Iron ore
T. no more than there is in tincture of iron. by
that time the specific duty will be lowered 20, 80,
90 per cent. Ii Is only matter of conscience
that stands in the way"
The case with all the testimony of the iron men
and the arguments Of their npresentatlves IS now
being considered by the Treasury Department, and
il ia expected that hearing will be granted. Each
side is confident Of final decision satisfactory TO its
own interests. At any rate, the Naylor plan as
sented TO by the Fairchild decision IL considered
American interests, 1t actually reduces
the present duty the foreign material.