The record-union., 1897-01-10
Schedule Which Was Discussed Before
the Mays and Means Committee.
What Tariff Would Accomplish the
Best Results.
All Ores Of Which Lead is Compound
Part Should be Subjected to Duty
of One Cent Per Pound on the
Lead Contained Therein.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 9.-The hearing
before the Ways and Means Committee
to-day was devoted to iron. lead ore, etc.
W. II. Alexander of Nebraska sug~
gested the following modification of the
present paragraph in the law relating
to lead ores All ores of which lead ore
is a compound part shall be dutiable at
the rate of u of | cent per pound on the
lead contained therein. He thought this
provision would accomplish the fun pur-
pose of the revenue and be acceptable to
all concerned He did not quarrel with
the rate of duty in the present law, the
chief features of the modification being
the elimination of misleading terms,
lead ores and silver ores.
John d. Davis of California said there
were immense bodies of galena ore in
San Bernardino County, California,
awaiting development. The industry
had been started under the Mckinley
bill. but had been forced to suspend un-
der the present law. Thousands of tons
of this ore had been taken from the
mines and placed ON the dumps ready
for delivery, and if protection was given
these mines would again be worked.
He advocated a duty of l cent per pound
on lead ore.
Representative Herman of OIegon ap-
pealed for a duty of 10 cents per pound
upon nickel, in order to allow the de-
velopment of our nickel mines.
r. NJ. Thompson. nickel refiner OF
New York, said that Herman was in er-
ror regarding the prospects of the mines
of the United States. He had had ex-
perts examine the mines referred to by
Herman and found that they could not
be made to pay even with adequate pro-
lection.
Stevenson Burke, President of the Ca
NADIA Copper Company, said that the
mines he represented were developed by
capital, and owned by a corporation in
corporated under the laws of Ohio. The
people of the United States get the bene-
fit of nickel armor. The company had
sold to the Secretary of the Navy nickel
at II cents pound. He suggested that
the owners of the mines in this country
be allowed to develop them and erect
refineries.
Senator Carter of Montana required
and was given permission to prepare
and present later paper ON silver and
lead ores.
NJ. a. Ingham of Philadelphia, on be-
half of the Eastern Pig Iron ASSocia-
ton, asked for the restoration of the
Mckinley rates of duty on pig iron.
j. NJ. Sinner of Philadelphia asked for
the restoration of the Mckinley rates on
pig iron, and indorsed the statements of
Mr.. Ingham.
j. c. Thropp of Everett, Pa, thought
the present duty on pig iron was ade-
quate now, but if fair market and fair
prices should prevail. it would attract
the foreign product, and then the duty
would not be sufficient. Competition
would keep the prices here at a normal
figure and protect the consumer.
w. c. Cronemeyer of Pittsburg a rep
resentative of the tin plate industry.
asked for increases of from one-eighth
to one-half cent on various grades. and
a new clause to cover plates below No.
80 wire gauge, which were now manu-
factured here and needed protection.
After the passage of the Wilson bill it
became necessary to reduce the wages of
workmen from 10 to % per cent Tin
plate makers desired the repeal of the
drawback clause of the present law.
Eighty per cent. of all drawbacks paid
by the Treasury Department was on tin
plate, great quantities of which were
imported because of the draw back.
John Jarrett of Pittsburg, also a tin
plate maker said that one of the most
important questions to the industry was
the drawback feature.
Replying to questions, he said that
the reductions of wages together with
the decreased cost of steel billets had
alone permitted the industry to live
under the Wilson law. The workmen
had paid for the reduction of duty.
r. T. Smith of Baltimore, representing
the canned goods interest of that city,
argued against any increase of duty on
tin plates.
Thomas Hunter of New York State,
representing the sporting gun nlanufac-
turers of the United States, said the do
mestic makers were fully able to supply
the demands of the home market pro-
vided they had protection.
r. Z. Hastings of Philadelphia speak
ing for the workers of silver and gold
leaf aluminium and Dutch metal. ali
used for decorating purposes. desired a
duty to cover the difference in the cost
of labor here and abroad.
The committee adjourned until Mon
day, which viii be the last day of the
hearings. Various schedules including
sundries, and the free list will be taken
up.