New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-10
THE METALS SCHEDULE UP.
MOTHER INTERESTING AND INsTRUc.
TIVE TARIFF HEARING.

MOTHER INTERESTING AND INsTRUC-
TIVE TARIFF HEARING.
-ur LEAD. PIG IRON r1NPIArE. NICKEL AND
SHEET IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRIES
AMONG THOSE THAT ASK RELIEF
FROM THE EFFECTS OF THE
WILSON I.Aw-HEARrNGs
10 CLOSE TO-
MORROW.
fsY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBvNE.l
washington. JAN "a large number Of writ
Tan and printed statements in relation to the
v.r,ous industries covered by the schedule Of
metals was received by the Committee on Ways
and Means to-day, and others are to be sub
mitted hereafter. Among the latter will be one
nv the American Iron and Steel Association
Mr. Swank said to The Tribune correspondent
to-day that It had been found impracticaoie
20 obtain from all the various industries con-
cerned the information required to make an
intelligent and complete statement at this time.
as had been hoped. The officers and members
Of the association seem to think that it will be
,r,eer 10 submit their statement in writing. and
that Is undoubtedly true in that as In nearly
avery other case Such seems. at least. to be
the opinion Of the representatives Of all the
various Industries and interests likely to be
affected by the proposed legislation. The num-
her of carefully prepared and elaborate briefs
and statements already filed with the commit
tee is unprecedented and this. as well as the
earnestness Of the men who have personally
anneared before the committee is a sufficient
indication OF the anxiety Of the business and
industrial interests Of the country in behalf OF
such legislation as is necessary to give a chance
FOR them TO recover from the stagnation and
nrostration one Of the chief causes Of which
was the hodge-podge revenue legislation of
1894.
The hearing to-day did not tack interest by
sny means, and many interesting and instruct
,,v. facts we're developed in the course of the
dav. In his search for a theory which Will
harmonic the results Of the legislation Of 1894
ond the theories on which 1t was originally
constructed, Mr.. McMillin was Joined to-day by
nudge Turner Their quest a vain and
fruitless one but as they are now hunting IN
coun,es they may have better luck on Monday
or subsequently.
THE CHIEF INDUSTRIES DISCUSSED.
The principal industries whose claims for
legislative relief were discussed to-day were
lead pig iron. tinplate. nickel and sheet iron
tative Draper. Of Massachusetts, submitted
memorial In behalf Of the machinery manufact-
urers OF New-England. which was filed to be
printed In the proceedings.
The hearing was opened by W. H. Alexander.
OF Omaha in behalf Of the ore smelling indus
try Of the Western States He represented one
Of the largest concerns Of the kind in the United
States and his statements brought before the
committee all the intricate and vexing questions
relating TO the importation Of siver-lead ores
from Mexico and British Columbia He CON-
planned bitterly Of the provisions Of the existing
law and the Treasury regulations under 1t, and
also criticised some Of the provisions Of the law
Of 1890 in relation TO lead and lead ore Under
the existing law and regulations he said A.
might import 100000 pounds of ore containing
Il per cent of lead. and B. might import at the
same time 100000 pounds containing 60 per
cent Of lead. and both importations would be re-
quired to pay the same amount Of duty, because
II would be assessed on the same amount or
weight. This seemed to him to be a ridiculous
proposition.
II was suggested by Chairman Dingley and
other members of the committee who helped to
frame the law Of 1890 that such practice was
never contemplated by the committee, and that
an appeal ought 10 be made to the Treasury De-
partment for relief Mr.. Alexander still insisted.
however that the difficl ny could be removed
only by change OF phraseology in the law
He wanted provision inserted simply requiring
the payment OF three-quarters Of cent pound
the existing rate-on the lead contents OF all
containing lead.
Mr. Alexander then raised the old question as
10 the necessity Of having the fiuxing ores OF
Mexico and British Columbia 10 mix with the
dry ores Of Colorado. Montana and other States
IN smelling He insisted that not enough f1ux-
ing ores can be obtained in the United States
for that purpose and this proposition was stout
" denied by some Of the men who spoke later
He advocated duty Of ee-quarters Of a cent
a pound on lead ore and the lead contents Of
other ores. to be ascertained by assay; duty
OF IL cents a pound on lead bullion-this being
q new item in the classifcaton-and IL. cents
a pound on lead in pigs bars etc.
BIIGHTED BY THE WILSON LAW.
John D. Davis. Of California. appeared in be-
half OF the galena lead ore industry Of Nevada
and Southern California. He declared that the
galena mines Of San Bernardno County. Cal,
alone were capable of turning out all the
fuxing ores needed TO mix with the dry sill
yer ores OF the United States. The mines
were opened under the encouragement offered
by the act of 1890. and about 100, 600 tons OF
ore had been raised and placed the dumps
before the legislation of 1894 fell like blight
the new industry and caused a suspension OF
operations.
Dwight A. Jones' Of New-York. addressed the
committee as a representative OF the Missouri
aNMWM