Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-07-06

~ uoVeWOItny llluStIatlOn OF tariff
hoggishness which has been previously
referred to by THE GAZETTE, was the
legislation secured by the carbonate of
lead ores ring, imposing duty of II
cents per pound on all the lead con-
tanned in the argentiferous lead ores inn
ported from Mexico to be used as flux
in smelling domestic dry ores. Such
ores had been previously admitted free
when the value of the silver contained
in them exceeded tho value of the lead.
The carbonate ring had, however, fried
out some fat towards the election of
Republican administration, and was en-
titled to the legislation 1t had bought
aud paid for, according to Reed
Mckinley ethics. The immediate re.
suit of this legislation was reported in
Tile Engineering and Mining Journal Of
January 31st, 1891, as follows:
The high treatment charges remained
unchanged on silicions ores and those
carrying but small amount of lead and
in consequence there are frequent reports
from Colorado Utah, New Mexico and
other places, OF mines which are stacking
ore, restricting production, or closing down
until there shall be a favorable change in
the ore market. AT the present time, after
the law has been in operation for less than
four months, there are fewer mines in
operation and the lead product is less than
before its passage. The price of lead has
been increased, 1t is true, but the value of
the lead product Of the mines OF the argen-
titerous lead ore producing States has
fallen Off from 81, 26l 600 to Sll, 55s, 400
There never was Il pernicious law which
showed its injurious effects more quickly
or plainly than this. IL has hurt the i'll
terests of the miners Of the silver-lcad and
dry ores; it has hurt the interests of
American capital invested i'll mines and
railways in Mexico, and it has hurt the
smelling interests of this country. Whom
has IL benefited? Only the mining in
terests of MeXiCo-whither 1t has driven
capital for investment in smelling works
the bankers and smelters Of Europe
and the comparatively small number of
American producers of high grade lead
ores, particularly lead carbonate, who
have been enabled to exact abnormally
high prices for their ores, which increase
of course comes directly from the pockets
of the producers of the silicious and re-
fractory grades,
II will be seen that this legislation
was characterized by the principle
which runs through the whole system
of Mckinley protectionism-the taxa
tion of the many for the aggrandize-
ment OF the few. Very probably these
carbonate of lead men put forward the
same old specious plea that so long
fooled many worthy people--that they
We're asking this protection" against
the pauper ores of Mexico in the name
of American labor. But it would be
safe to bet that they did not raise the
wages of their employees when they got
it. They did succeed, however, in
knocking great many other working
men out of job and in driving to
Mexico the smelters on which they had
been employed. The trade authority
which we have quoted shows that this
had already begun within four months
after the going into operation of this
law.
In the May number of the United
States Consular Reports we find some
recent information on this point fur
nished by Warner p. Sutton, consul
general at Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Mr..
Sutton writes that three shelters have
been erected at Monterey, one at San
Luis Potosi-perhaps the largest and
most complete of Its kind in the world
besides several other plants in differ
emit portions of Mexico. The cost OF
these plants and the money directly in
vested in ores and in handling the bust.
ness may be safely stated in round
numbers at 0,ooo,o 900 in United States
money. "Not only" says Consul.
General Sutton, "has our country LOST
this much capital by investment abroad
and Mexico gained that much, but with
this money have come many prominent
and enterprising citizens and large mum,
bers of employees. They have built uT
Monterey, San Luis Potosi and othei
towns. The railways in Mexico which
had formerly carried low-grade ores tc
the United States, getting a long haul
are now obliged to haul these ore;
l shorter distances to the Mexican smelters
AS Monterey is large mining centre
Il 10 mileage on ores to the smelteri
To- Gated there is comparatively short ant
bht' NuihAiSo VI tLO AGll ways uluCn IL
dut'ed in consequence. To be sure, they
hau, the carriage of the silver-leat
bullion after smelling, but that is I
minor affair compared with the haulin.
Of thAs original raw material. Within
sight aof my office is concentrating
plant in Laredo, Texas, costing
perhaps $250,oO0, which was finished
just before this law went into opera
ton. 1t has never been used
Had the duty not been imposed
the crudelores could have been brough
from the nearby Mexican mines, con
centrated there, and the concentrate
carried forward to Kansas City ant
other points for smelling. The sam
thing occurred at Ell Paso, Texas, il
about the same degree and for tho sam
reasons. At that time there were mani
other enterprises of similar sort ii
contemplation, and but for the imposi
ton of the duty on this lead ore, Their
would have been from 100000 +
$3,000,000 worth of such plants on ou
side of the border ere this. The result
has been that Mexico has gained from
$1o,00O,0o0 to $15,oOo,00o of American
capital, as we'll as hundreds Of our en-
ergetic and enterprising citizens, wht
are rapidly building up and developing
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