, 1889-10-24
CONGRESS MUST AID US.

Secretary Window has at last decided
adversely to the interests of the owners
of mines. His decision will be far
ions of invested capital. Re prcsenta-
tions were made by the various boards
of trade in the cities throughout the
Northwest showing the necessity of
maintaining duty which would pro-
tect the lead and silver mines so abund-
ant In this section. For some years
past Mexican and British Columbia
miners have been shipping galena ores
having major percentage of lead into
the United States free of duty. In order
to evade the tariff laws of the United
States, which require duty on silver,
foreign shippers have been grading their
ores so that there would be slight per-
centagc more lead than silver. This en-
oblcs them, with the aid of cheap labor
TO develop their mines and at the same
time to supply the markets OF the United
States with lead and silver. Nearly all
of the mines of this country are located
In mountainous regions, so remote from
reduction works that the expense OF dig.
ging and transportation Of ores is equal
and in some localities greater than that
incurred by the foreign producers. This
places the labor of the miner on an equal
footing with the cheap labor of Mexico
which is an unjust discrimination
against our workngmen.
Ehiu r,,linor will ,pnrne,o tlo sbtr
ment of silver bearing ores into this
country and will have tendency to
lower metal quotations. Heretofore the
percentage of profit has been so slight it
was considered unsafe to make ship.
mcnts upon fiuctuating market Many
of our largest mines have suspended
work, as the owners were uncertain
whether the government would guaran.
tee protection to themselves and their
laborers against foreign competition.
Our government should encourage the
development of our mineral resources
if necessary by excluding foreign inter
ests. If 1t is proper to exact a tariff on
gold, copper and silver there is no justice
In discriminating against ore containing
moro lead in weight than silver,
commonly called lead orc. 1t Is
ono of the most important features of
American mining, especially when found
with q large percentage OF silver, its
mineral affinity.
In view Of the previous construction
of the act Of congress, which classities
ores subject to duty and declares load
bearing ores non-dutiable, and the
recommendations of the senate COM
mittee which favored free admission
of lead ores, it IL difficu.t
to see how the secretary could arrive
at any other conclusion. He decides
that he has not the authority to mako a
change. This leaves the matter In the
hands of congress to relieve one of tho
most important industries known with
In our borders. Our senators aud rep
rescntatives in congress will undoubt-
edly do all they can to secure the passage
of an act which Will advance and pro.
tect our mineral resources.
1t Is expected that the national con.
vention Of delegates from each state
and territory which Is to assemble At st.
Louis on the 25th Of November for the
purpose Of discussing plans for the res.
toration of bimatallic coinage, will take
this matter under discussion and make
such representations to congress by res.
olutions or otherwise as will call special
attention 10 the necessity of home pro-
lection of our mineral product.
The governor Of each state and terri
tory has been requested to appoint
twenty delegates TO this convention, and
in this connection 1t might be well for
the various boards Of trade throughout