The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-10-19
MINING CONGRESS.
Utah Man Help Make Smeiter Situation
Interesting Discussion.

DENVER, Oct. ls-The American
Mining congress today listened 10
paper by State Senator Z. NJ De La
Nergne Of Colorado Springs on the sub
iect, Mutual Relations and Griev.
snces of the Smelling Trust and Ore
Producers - He said that the value
of the product was often difficult
matter 10 determine, but ne believed
that the producer usually receivd a fair
proportion of the savings. He noticed,
however, that the good viii OF the pro-
ducer is not considered as IN the past
and in support Of his position he read
the conditions imposed by the American
Smelling and Refining company, which,
he claimed, were unfair and arbitrary
Mr. De La Vergne suggested as one
remedy that ore should be automat!eal.
" sampled. At present the value OF
the commodity is entirely determined
by the buyer. He claimed that under
the present system of sampling the
employees are paid to cut down the
valuation of ore, AS q further remedy
he suggested State legislation, National
legislation, encouraged competition, am
lcable agreement and government opera
tion. He believed that the first four
remedies would be sufficient TO right
the wrongs which now exist But If
they were not, he believed the govern
ment could be induced 10 do the smelt-
ing Of the country. He turned to this,
however, only as a last resort.
Franklin s. Guiterman, general mana
ger Of the American Smelling and Re.
fning COMPANY, replied to Mr. De La
Vergne. He declared that the so-called
trust hsd competition on all sides in
Colora do He quoted figures to shsg
that since the combination had gone
into effect there had been a consider
able reduction IN charges. He defend
ed at length the conditions Of purchase
OF ore OF which Senator De La Vergne
sad, the smelters must exercise the
doctrine of selection, otherwise they
would be flooded with ore which could
not be handled at q profit.
Harry Joseph Of Utah inquired why
the settling price of the smelter is 81
ways materially below the quotations
OF the day, as made in New York Mr..
Guiterman said that at the solicitation
Of the chief producers Of ore it.w
agreed by common consent that the QUO
tatious should be taken from the En-
gineerlng and Mining Journal, and that
the other quotations are entirely incor-
rect W. r. Ingalls,, managerinp editor
OF the Engineering and Mining Journal,
explained how the quotations ara Sc
cured. he SAID that quotations on
metal were not made on any exchange,
but were taken from the report Of
actual transactions.
The resolutions committee made
report, which was adopted. recommend.
ing the appointment OF committee OF
three 20 cooperate with the President
IN keeping State Legislatures advised
or resolutions and memorials adopt.d
bv the Congress and instructinp the
WAYS and Means Committee 10 act win
the President in a similar capacity with
reference 70 the Congress and President
OF the United States and the Secretary
OF the Interior
The report also favored the repeal
OF the existing Federal "law of the
apex and rhe substitution therefor ~
a law giving mineral rights within vcr.
tical lines
= request that the National Conpres.
provide by law for the locstinn ana
working or mines Of the rassrv.e6 /
metals-2old, silver aud ouck.silvar-- /
on Spanish. Mexican land grants con. /
trmed by ths United States coprt ~ |
private land claims, was included in Tho |
report
New Law Recommended.
The report also recommended tbe an.
polntment OF commission 20 draft SIDE /
line laws Tor presentation 10 the Fed. !
er9l Congress. GU
Concerning the safety Of the men on.
gagged N mining, the report recon-.
mended;
That committee be appointed 20
draft a uniform law governine metal.
ifeTOns min1np and ON. -r,-;,-l- ..'-s