The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-05-17
DUTY ON LEAD ORE
Western Representatives Present
Their Reasons for a Change in
Present Rulings.
The Matter as il Affects the Miners
Strongly Presented by Senator
Wolcott, OF Colorado.
Testimony : to the Designation OF Ores
The Decision Not Expected In
Less Than a Month.

W WASHINGTON. May 10 ne nearing IN
regard 10 the classification of lead ore was
continued before Assistant Secretary Itch
enor al the treasury department ATgu-
ments in support of the present ruling
under which lead ore mixed with silver of
greater value is admitted free, were made
by ex-Gov. McCreery, Judge j. X. Mccain
mon, Oscar Keen, of New Y York, and A. X
Reyer, of Kansas City. Arguments in IA
vor of a change in the practice, to compel
lead ore to pay duty as lead, no matter how
much silver il contained in the ore, were
made by Senator WOlcott, (Colorado), ex-
Gov. Grant fColoradol. Mr.. Sheedy, (Col-
Orado, and X. NJ. White, New Mexico. }
A large number OF afhdavits were sub
mitted TO show that ore containing lead, com
mercially known as lead ore, regardless Cf
the percentage of silver, contained in il
more lead than silver, and Prof. Gray, of
Y ale college, submitted a paper practically
sustaining this view from a scientific stand
ard. He argued that compound ores of
this kind should be described by the names
of both constituents White, OF New
Mexico. said it was not true that Mexican
ore was necessary for smelling the domestic
product
The advocates of the continuance of the
present practice OF classifying silver ores
containing lead, argued that those ores
were commercially snd technically known
As silver ores, and that congress was aware
of the fact when the present tariff WAS enact
ed. They held the question had been al
ready adjudicated and settled, and that our
smelling industries were born and grown
up under the present construction of the
law.
Judge McCammon in his argument said
the case was free from question of fact,
because the highest known official expert
authority had designated ores containing
silver greater in value than the base metal,
echnically and commercially known as
silver ores, a classification, known and
acted on, he said, when the act of 1888 be-
came a law, which did not change the
status OF the ores in respect to paying dutis 8
thereon, except as pointed out by the judi
ciary committee. j. d. Wilson and K. q.
Brewster. representing the board of trade
of Laredo, Texas, filed paper protesting
against any change In the present classih-
cation.
The advocates of protection for American
lead mining interests introduced testimony
from nearly all leading miuing operators.
smelteTs and business men of the inter
mountain country, showing that the uni
versal designation and classification of
ores was, and has been for twenty years
past, as follows: That whenever ore con-
tslned enough lead 20 be reduced and form
lead bullion, il was lead ore; that this dis
tinction existed at the time of the passage
of the tariff act and was contemplated by
that act, which was passed 10 protect the
mining OF Just such ore. They
further submitted long line of technical
authorities of high repute TO support their
definition of lead ore. They asserted that
the law was passed 10 protect the industry:
that the ruling of the secretary in 1880 was
not ON an ore of lead. but was ruling on a
special lot of iron ore containing silver and
applied to only that This did no harm to
any protected industry, they said. because
the iron was lost in the Stag in reduction.
They held this ruling was no support TO
subsequent rulings, admitting lead ore con-
tanning silver free of duty and
that the application of this rule
10 such ores was uncalled
for and the extension OF this principle of a
former ruling not warranted by the word
ing of IL. They also insisted that the Opin-
ion OF the Judiciary committee WAS found
ed on false assumption of fact, based on
untrue information as 10 the commercial
designation of such ores. and that such
Information came from secTe
retary of the treasury unfriendly To the
protection of American industries
Senator WOlcOtt SAID he appeared for no
client nor corporation, but for 80 per cent. /
of the people of Colorado, as well as the
mining states and territories of the north
west The question was simply whether
there is q law for the protection of the lead
interests OF the United States. and il so.
whether that law was being violated by the /
under which lead ore from
Mexico was admitted free of duty. He
that there is such a law, and
that IL was being violated every day. II
the law meant anything, said he, it meant
the lead interests of the United
States should be protected from for
eign competition. and not that foreign
lead should be admitted free simply
because silver of greater value was con
tanned in the ore. He gave statistics to !
show that 800 pounds Of lead were brought
free with every ton Of ore carrying sifv1 I.
In 1856 s 600 tons Of lead were brought in
free from Mexico; in 1887 the amount had
Increased to $4,000 tons, and in 1883 still
further increased 10 So 600 tons, and iDdiea-
tions were that the impOrtations in ISsq
would be even larger Continue the pres
ent practice of classifying Mexican lead, |
Of the west, representing huBdreds Of |
millions of dollars, would be ruined |
and Mexican mine owners enriched &C.
rnrdingly. There was no Interest in the /
United States, he said, that stood more iu |
need of the fostering care of the protective /
but as the case now stood American lead |
was unprotected. There ought to be no /
in regard 20 the proper |
definition of lead ore aud the law certain |
ly Intended, If ore had lead in IL. and came |
into competition with the lead produced in /
this country, that tt should pay duty at the /
rate OF one and one half cents per pound. |
provided by congress as a protection 90 /
domestic producers. Senator MOlcOtt /
closed by referring te the great interest /
Of the people of the west in this question. /
expressing the hope that the treasury de- |
parfmeut would give the law the COL
-tructiOn the lawmakers intended IL should /
have.
The hearing closed at this point with the /
ding that either side NAV file ad- /
ditional evidence bearing upon the ques-
ton Of the commercial designation Of ore. /
Assistant Secretary Ticheror says the /
question Will be thoroughly considered by |
the department, but cannot we'll be de-
aNaadm Tor . rraT. w~EaH