The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-02-03
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RAWLINs on LEAD.

The wires brought word that Dele
gate Rawlins had introduced an
amendment to the Wilson bill which
however, was rejected by the House
The particulars We're not given but we
find them in the Congressional Record.
Mr.. Rawlins failed to obtain recogni-
ton from the Chairman of the Com
mittee of the Whole during the debate,
but on motion of Mr.. Springer, he
was, by unanimous consent, granted
permission to speak for five minutes
on his amendment Mr.. Breckenridge,
of Arkansas, objected but subsequent
ly in consideration of the important
interests of Utah withdrew his objec-
ton. The amendment introduced by
Mr.. Rawlins was read as follows:
Amend by striking out all after line
F! I, en- page 25; also lines from / to 6,
inclusive. on page 26, and insert in lieu
i thereof the following:
Lead ore. lead contained in ore,
lead in any form and manufactures OF
]
The Congressional Record gives the
following report of Mr.. Rawlins re-
marks:
Mr.. Rswlins-Mr. Chairman. the
amendment which 1 propose puts a
duty OF 20 per cent. ad valorem upon
lead in all forms The bill as reported
TO the committee puts duty of IS
per centum adj valorem upon lead ore
ana lead silver ores unless the value
OF the silver predominates over the
lead. 1t puts l to IL cents a pound
upon pig lead and white lead. which.
upon an average, amounts to some
th9ng like AZ or SO per cent. ad valoren.
Mr.. Breckenridge, of Arkansas-Oh,
no
MIR. Rawlins-Yes; according to pres
ent prices
Mr. Wilson, of West virg.nia-In
this temporary slump.
Mr.. Rawlins-Now, Mr.. Chairman il
is well understood that the chief cost
in the production Of lead consists in
ands of men employed in the lead
mines where there are hundreds en-
ployed in the reduction of silver lead
ores. 1t is contended that silver lead
ores, where the silver predominates in
value. are put upon the free list in
this bill in order to cheaper the re-
duction of silver ores not CARRYING
sufilcient lead for their own reduction.
That proposition as embodied in this
bill is an absurdity on its face. be-
cause the larger amount of lead in the
ore the better is it as a flux and the
better for reducing the dry silver ores:
yet, strange to say, in this bill the
smaller percentage of lead and the
higher percentage of silver is made
the condition on which the ore is to
be- admitted free. In other words,
lead ores and silver ores, unless the sill
yer predominates in value, pay duty
of Is per cent. ad valorem. Now, it
is well known that there is trust in
this country which has two objects:
first, to plumber the producers of the
ores; and, secondly, to rob the con-
sumers.
We all know how important it is to
every man who builds house and de-
slreS to have proper sanitary arrange
ments in it to have cheap lead pipe
and cheap white lead for use in paint
ing his house. The amendment which
offer does not injure and will not
injure any industry in this country.
but it puts the lead trust, employing
comparatively few men, upon the
same level with the men who have in
vested millions. aye 5000 000. coo of cap
ital in the production of lead ores in
this country, who have furnished en-
ployment to thousands of men, who
have sustained the great transconti-
mental railroads, and have furnished
one of the best markets to the pro-
ducers of all kinds in this country. I
say it is unfair to discriminate against
us in favor of a trust, and after haV-
ing, by legislation, stricken down one
of the chief ingredients Of our prosper
ity in the West to further discriminate
against us in the arrangement of this
tariff bill.
This amendment which [ propose is
in the interest of the consumer, and it
is alike for the benefit and advantage
of the producers, whether of purely
lead ores or lead mixed and commingl-
ed with silver ores Applause on the
Democratic side)