Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-03-13
Smelling Foreign Lead in Bond.

The Daily Citizen is a republican jour
nal and of the party's policies. promi-
mem of which is the protection that it
affords for the development of our re-
sources. Among the protected prod
ucts is lead ore. Yet a great deal of
foreign lead ore comes to the United
States without paying duty to the gov
eminent and thus the government is
not only deprived of a revenue, but the
ore itself enters into. for us, disastrous
competition with the home product.
The foreign shipper pays the duty to
the trust, which pockets the money,
uses the ore In its plants and then
sends the refined lead equivalent as
pig lead to Europe less 10 per cent. If
we had reciprocity with Mexico and
the free Importation of lead ore were
one of its stipulations, the United
States would at least receive a conces
sion in other matters. AS it Is, the gov
eminent gets nothing except h cost
of employees, etc., the trust pockets the
duty, and a depressed market for their
product falls to the miners. Not only
as citizens of the United States, citi-
zens of New Mexico, with plenty of
resources in the way of lead ores. but
as republicans, faithful supporters Of
the government, we protest against a
continuance of this state of affairs, and
The Citizen hereby issues a petition.
copies of which will be sent upon re-
quest to any city, town, village or min
ing camp, so that signatures can be OBJ
tanned there to compile a monster petit
ton which we shall present to the
president of the United States, In
whose sense of justice We have un'
bounded faith:
To the President of the United States
The undersigned, citizens of the
Territory of New Mexico, hereby beg
leave to submit to you u grievance
about the unjust M to our interests
disastrous circumvention of the laws
which established for the pro
lection of the lead mining industry Of
the country. The manufacturers are
protected, and the miners were to be
protected, but the smelling of lead ore
in bond depresses the market for the
product of the miners, and leaves then
at the mercy of the trust. n we neec
not add that trusts are not established
for mercy's sake. Nor do we ask FOL
mercy, only justice. So long as ne
article of reciprocity shall prevent the
importation of such ore free of duty
we not only consider such action a vic
latlOn Oh the law dS well do thC poiSJ
of protection, but claim that we are
treated with great injustice. 1t is ar
gued that if the ore is not smelted II
the United States it will be done II
Mexico and Canada, and that The
United States will reap no advantage
Where, then, is the profit that accrues
to our government and the lead pro
Queer? 1t is loss to the one as well al
tho other, The trust gets the duty an(
the lead miner not only finds the mar
ket overstocked, but frequently car
find no market at all. The trust buys
his ore when 1t wants to, n pays
what It chooses. We do not think thi.
was the intention of the trainers o.
the law and most respectfully, as wei
as earnestly, solicit your examination
of the state of affairs, and redress Of
the great wrong done us. We remain
with highest esteem, your most obedi
ent servants.