The Helena independent., 1893-12-15
PROTECTION FOR LEAD.
Mining Men Urged to Fight the
Low Duty in the Wilson
Bill.
Willing to Stand Some Reduc-
tion but Arc Not for FREQ
Lead.
A Proposition to Organize = Movement
Looking to Saving Something for
the Great Mining Industry.

tho Great Mining Industry.
In accordance with call issued by Hon.
Huah N. Camp, treasurer Of the ST. Joseph
Lead company. Of Missouri there Is gate
movement Of lead producers on washing.
ton TO secure moro favorable legislation for
lead in the Wilson BILL Ex-Gov. Hauser,
who il interested in the movement, sends
the following communications to The INDIE
PENDENT:
To The independents:
l enclose herewith two letters, one from
Mr.. Camp and tho other from Mr.. Sswsll;
beth gentlemen are thoroughly posted upon
the subject they write. having had twenty
years experience In manufacturing and
manipulation of lead and lead ores.
Thsss letters, Of course. fully explain
themselves; aad, ~ l heartily endorse the
saRasstions made By thsse gentlemen. In
close them to you. and ask for their publ
cation that the matter may bs brought be-
fore the numerous readers Of your paper.
shiak that they clearly show that II the
Wilson bill, which 40 . whole endorse.
should be passed without amendment. II
would result in very serious loss to the
people of Montana. Now. IL occurs to me
that You could very coAsistently cooperate
in the move. and support the effort TO have
the Wilson bill 30 amended 80 TO retain al
least so per cent Of the present duty upon
lead and lead ores; - the free admission
you must know would be the final death
knsll of the mining industry within our
state, save and except possibly copper
mining.
can sec NO sense, or justice, In retain
ing. - the bill practically does. all the
duties on all tho interests and industries
in the east in and for their benefit and in
terest, and then removing all duty on two
of the principal industries affecting our
state. OF coulse. ws should stand our FRO
rata OF the reform and reduction Of the
tariff, but there 10 no sense. reason or JUS
tics in entirely destroying our young indus
tries and as the Same time giving tho in
dustries and manufacturers Of the east
practically the full benefit Of the duties.
cannot see nything Inconsistent in sd-
vocatinR reform and reduction OF the
tariff, and At the same time opposing sd-
mission Of lead practically free. Individu-
ally, l should certainly do what little can
TO prevent this; and would say further.
even to prevent the free admission Of wool.
I believe the duty on the latter should be
materially reduced, but not absolutely free,
unless they mako them free all a.onc the
line; in fact, Uncle Billy Morrison's "hosi-
xontal reduction" is good enough for me.
Respectfully yours. 5. i. HAUsER. .
Helena. Dec. IA. 1898.
MR.. sEwELL's LETTER.
CHICAGO, Nov. 20, 1s93.-Gov. 8. 7. Hau-
scr, Helena, Mont. Dear Governor:-sone
mine owners towards arranging to look out
for their interests ct Washington. The tar
if ON lead ore pig lead and lead dross. as
proposed by the Wilson bill. will
be most injurious to the mining
interss. I do not so much object
free. a. Mexico will undoubtedly protect
the smslters Of their country by an export
duty, and there is SO little ore coming in
from Canada that 1t cuts NO figure. but a
duty of one cent per pound on pig lead Is
too small. and in order to compete with
foreign lead the railroads must reduce their
rates and miners their wages.
Miners receive in Spain about 65 cents per
day. and lead il transported from Liver
pool to New York at 81 per ton, while our
miners In Idaho recsive $3 per day, and the
railroads $40 por ton freight to New York;
lead dross is booked for 15 per cent duty.
Now l should want nothing better than to
to my agent in New York for $l.75 per hun.
died; Is per cent duty would lay it down in
New York At about $2O3 per hundred. 1t
could then be tn red into pig lead not to
exceed II cents including loss, which would
give me pig lead at cost of 1920 per hum
dred.
This item Of lead dross il the most i'm
portant one to lead producers of this
country; it must have crept in by some
monkey work.
The same applies to lead ores. but not to
suoh an extent. Still, if the duty on pig
lead is one cent per pound. the duty on lead
ores should be three-fourths of cent per
pound for lead contents in ores.
cannot believe that the bill will become
low without many changes. especially as
1t hurts the lead manufacturers fully as
much a. the producers. Taks. for in
stance. white lead. The duty heretofore
has been three cents por pound; it is now
laid down In New York to-day as $3.50 per
hundred; adding 80 per cent brings it to
1926. while the manufacturer cannot buy
his pig lead at less than $3.1O. Under the
old bill white lead cost $3.50 per hundred;
add to this SO per hundred. this old duty,
the white lead men must fight this or shut
down their factories.
As a representative democrat l advise yor
~ aeitate this question and hive a meeting
Of producers in New York. and organize t.
protect your interests. Yours very truly.
BARTON SEWELL. President.
MR.. CAMPS LETTER.
NEW YORK, Dec. l, 1893. Gov. S. T. Hau
scr. Helena. Mont. Dear Sir:-Yon have
doubtless studied tho new tariff bill ant
know that II strikes q blow at the lead in
terests Of the country far more fatal thar
did the silver bill. fear that no combined
opposition and protest may be mad,
against this bill and l write therefore tc
you to ask whether you will join move
ment by permitting me to add your name
to the enclosed letter ana by aiding us il
sending the letter thereafter to as many
miners as possible. l shall write this lette
to all the prominent men know and esl
for their signatures and viii! gladly send i
also to any other prominent men whom
you may suggest. | hope that you viii
charge yourself with pushing the move
mert with energy.
The Eehners have no interests in comm
with US and cannot be looked to for an
assistance. My scheme is to have this let
ter signed by as many prominent men q
Iossible and then printed here in Ne,
York,-and sent in batohes to the varioa
siGners for wide personal distribution.