Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-17
A BIT OF LEAD ORE HISTORY.

"a vs. AShD oNI
The most ingenious evader of facts
that has yet appeared in the arena of de-
bate on the Mexican ore importation
question, is the Helena Journal" In
replying to an observation on the subject
in THE MINER, the journal" says:
No ruling on the subject OF Mexican lead
ores was ever made by the Treasury De.
psrtment before the Cleveland administra.
tioa came into power. The decision that
these ores could be imported free was first
rendered by Secretary Fairchild in his letter
OF January rs, 1886, to E. A. Caswell Of
New York. This fact appears in Acting Sec.
rotary T~hompson'e report OF May 81, 1889,
10 the Senate.
Two earlier letters, not decisions, upon
the subject, had been written by depart.
mental Officers. One was Secretary Fair.
chield's OF August 5, 1885, to A. Murdoch,
Esq, Of Columbus, Miss, and in this refer.
ence was made to the other, which was
written by Acting Secretary French, on
March 20, 1883, to o. F. Thornton, Of
Tombstone Arizona. Mr.. Fairchild cites
MIR. French's statement that Imported
silver ores, of which silver is the element of
chief value. are exempt from duty as a
decision" aud advises his correspondent
that it's terms are correct and in present
force.
Now, neither OF these letters was a deci-
sion. Decisions on questions of this char.
acter are formal affairs, and the decisions
actually rendered are those reported as
decisions to the Senate by Mr.. Thompson
in response to Senator Stewards resolu.
ton OF inquiry. These, as we rave stated,
were Mr.. FairchiId's order of January 25,
1886, based upon Mr.. French's order OF
January ID, 1880.
The statement above reproduced shows
that the Democrats are warranted in say
ing that the Republicans first laid down
the principle that Mexican lead ore be
imported free of duty, and the technical
point as to whether or not a formal de-
cision" had been rendered, is immaterial
and too evasiye to stand a moment. The
fact stands, as stated by the Democrats,
and as admitted by the Journal" that
the first practical decision on the subject
was by a Republican official. That which
has been iterated and reiterated by sub
sequent officials on this subject was
based on the Republican informal" de-
if that will please the journal"
better, for there can be no doubt that the
1880 letter of Mr.. French was in the
of a decision. /.
This effort of the journal" to evade
responsibility for the situationby
n%on-requitur pleading, will not do.
What the journal" is pleased to regard
rs amOre formal decision" of Secretary
Fairchild was made in 1S86,and it quotes {
t as follows |.
SIR: In reply to your letter of the 10Th :
Instant, relative to the cutiable character {
II ORES containing precious and base metals,
'ou are informed that the rule governing I
he classification ofsuch ores, as established =
y the departments d. cision of january
A, 1880 (5ynopsis 4,391), and reafirmed
y departments letter OF the 18th Instant
.unpublished), is that when silver in any y
re predominates in value it is considered J
0 be silver ore, and, as such, is exempt .
,om duty. under the special provisions in I
free list for ores OF gold and silver; =
here, however, lead predominates in ii
alue, the ore is considered as a lead ore q
nd is subjected to a duty at the rate OF Il
4 cents per pound, under the special pro. =
OF the tariff act for lead ore and :;
ad dross.M
And the decision Of Acting Secretary
reneh Of 1880, which the journal" re-
RS to as an "order' but which Mr..
airchild calls q decision" is also re-
'Oduced 10.
sB: The department is in receipt Of
w Isttsy pi tho 10Th Hltimpi In which :
u rsagesi ~iHsiPAetlans n regard Ne Pie \