The times., 1897-04-09
MANY MINERS PROTESTING
Don't Relish Features of the Ding
ley Tariff Scheme.
Contention Grows Apace and Ore
Producers VIII Surely Make
Protests in Strong Tones.

lican members of the Finance Commit
tee against some OF the duties of the Ding
ley bill. And they ale coming FROM some
wholly unexpected sources. For instance,
the copper miners are protesting very
strongly against any duty whatever on
raw copper, ii product ON which the Ding
ley bill levies a tIibute of / cent EOund.
The American ooiatiou of Copper Pro
ducers, which processes to represent tie
output OF all the copper mines Ill the coun-
try, has prepared formal protest against
any protection whatever on copper. The
association says that the duty of l cent a
pound, which is proposed, can be Of no
possible benefit to copper producers in
this country. In fact, on the contrary,
it will be absolutely detrimental 10 their
interests and misleading. THE duty"
says the association, viii foster the
false belief among the public that the
copper miners are receiving benefits nom
the bin and being in some way protected"
The association asserts that tie copper
duty cannot help the industry and cannot
possibly be productive OF revenue 10 the
Government. Therefore, it is mged that
raw copper be placed on the free list
A big protest has also reached the com
mittee against Representative Pearson's $
scheme to take care of two or three
abandoned mica mines in western North
Carolina. Most of the mica used COM
mercially in the United states comes from
Canada, and is largely used in the manu-
factUre of isinglass for stoves Inc Dig
stove factories of the West have united
in an earnest protest against the proposed
mica duty. The Pearson scheme con-
templates tariff of two cents per pound
on mica having dimension OF one square
inch or less, and two cents for each adj
ditionaI inch The stove men say they
are convinced that the supply Of mica in
the United States is not 50 per cent or
the consumption, and while they are for
n tariff for revenue sufficient to meet the
requirements of the Government, they do
not believe that the Government should
tax beyond the reasonable point an ar
ticle Of this kind that is consumed by the
laboring and middle classes.
lii the second place, they say that the
rate of 2 cents governing the one square
inch of mica is of no account whatever, as
no one uses mica so small. In years gone
by the smallest mica used was TX 8
inches ''If unsatisfactOrydutyi is placed
upon this cotnulodity there is nothing that
can be substituted for it, say the pro-
testers 1T means that the laEoring and
middle classes OF the people will have to
pay for it. IL our own country was able
to produce Sufficient to meet the require
ments we would not have q word to say
in favor Of the importation OF any mica
but. under the circumstances, we think
this article should he treated with reason,
and not placed higher on the list than
necessity calls for
The lead miners and smelters are very
much divided as To what they want in the
way OF protection. Ever since the SUD
committee began the consideration OF the
Dingley bill, Senator Wolcott, who is
member of it, has received many letters and
telegrams from constituents in Colorado
relative TO the lead duty. Thus far al
| the smelters heard from, except the GHg
Cerheim smeter, are urgent for 1-cent
rate on lead ores CampiOn, of Leadville
and many other miners take the same view
| On the other hand, the Guggerheims who
! are engaged in business in Colorado anC
| OLD Mexico-are very urgent for cent AID
| a half duty. Many OF the lead miners
of Colorado have supported this view in
! W biit sf'iA't'o'f ''A-N'
/ leading citizens of the State, not Con
nected with the industry, also favor the
/ highest rate, while Gov Grant and other!
| are numbered among the advocates OF th'
| low rate.
| Among the most recent letters received
| is one from u. H Moffatt, theleadings silver
| Republican OF the State, after Teller, urg
! ing that the one and one-half cent duty be
| enforced 1t is said Mr. Moffatt thinks that
| the higher duty would raise the price
| lead in this country from $3.50 per hun
| dred. the present ruling price, to 81, thus
| enabling a larger production of lead ORES
! in this country, and also enhancing tn
value of the lead product in the mines thai
are now being operated, and permitting
! the successful operation of lead mines tha
are at the present time idle Mr.. Moffat
regards it as highly important to have th'
lead industry protected He holds the
Dingley bill provision to be etnsufficient t
| hermit the Colorado mines to be operated
at a fair profit, and that it precludes th'
opening up of properties now idle Lea'
should be protected to the utmost limit. 81
| between those who insist duties sha
| be higher and those who demand they shal
| be lower, the Finance Committee is hav
ing a very merry time with the meta
| schedule