The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-02
DUTY ON ZINC.
Congressman Campbell Making
Fight in House.
Has Lively Controversy With
Chairman Payne.
MORE TAX ON BEER.
LORE TAX ON BEER.
Plan of Kansas Delegation to
Increase Revenue.
Would Keep the Duty Off Tea
and Coffee.

Washington, April 2.-Zinc in ore.
That is the burning subject to some
members Of the house and people in
some localities of the country, particu
larly to Congressman Phil Pitt Camp
bell and the Third district of Kansas.
Zinc ore was never on the dutiable
list until placed in the proposed tariff
bill. There was never any necessity
for it until within the last three or
four years. None came in to interfere
with the zinc miners of the United
States. But three or four years ago
the people of eastern Kansas, the dis
trict of Joplin and down in Oklahoma
found out that calamite was coming
into the United States from Mexico and
interfering with their industry. They
posted hotfoot to the treasury depart
fnent. Calamite was on the free list,
Sbut under the general clause relating
to ores there was a duty of 20 per cent
on zinc ore. They never had occasion
to study it up before. The treasury
officials decided that inasmuch as
calamite was more or less rich in zinc
1t should come in under a duty of 20
per cent, and they imposed it. Suits
We're commenced in several parts of
the United States-in New York. in
New Orleans and elSewhere-tO recov-
er back the 20 per cent paid under
protest. claiming that it should come
in free.
"As these suits came to trial, one by
one" said Chairman Payne on the
floor of the house, 'the United States
was beaten. and the courts decided
that it should come in free. Still the
government continued to collect the
duty, hoping for a reversal in the
higher courts, perhaps ultimately in
the supreme court of the United
States
The difference in price between
New York and London has averaged
about one-fifth of a cent a pound dur
ing the last ten or twelve years
THE truth is that over there they
have cheaper labor, and here the
smelters being located in the Kansas
district. where there is natural gas. we
have the cheaper fuel, and one about
balances the other"
TnterruptinE. Congressman Campbell
said: 1t is now claimed that the reduc-
tion made from a cent and a half to a
cent a pound on zinc spelter leaves the
zinc manufacturers open to a competi-
ton with the manufacturers of Spefter
in foreign countries that they can not
stand 1t is claimed that the Italian,
the Belgian, and the German ref1ners of
zinc spelter can import the ore from
Old Mexico, refine it in their countries,
pay $50 per ton duty, and supply it to
our markets cheaper than our own
manufacturers can make spelter here"
Payne. "let me state this one concrete
fact: Great Britain has been importing
this Old Mexico zinc ore and reducing
1t. smelling and refining it, importing
it, of course, free of duty, and we have
had duty of a cent and a half
pound here on the pig. Notwithstanding
that, stated by one of the witnesses
IN behalf of the smelter company. the
difference in price between New York
and London has been only ne-fifth of
6 cent a pound in favor of London
one-fifth of cent less during all these
years Now, he asks for an additional
DUTY. There was a quarter of a cent
because of the efficiency inherited from
the grandfather who had been a smelter
in Great Britain. as compared with the
efficiency of the smelter here.
"Of course. after this bill is publish
ed. gentlemen with those interests who
have not followed the matter before will
come to members of the house and con-
lure up some bugbear. some ghost and
transfer its existence from Great Brit
ain to Belgium or Germany"
But" stated Mr.. Campbell. "the
freight rate from Belgium is about 10
cents a hundred. and the freight rate
from the Kansas smelter is 2S15 cents
70 the seaboard markets. For this rea-
son cent pound does not afford pro-
lection to the zinc-spelter manufactur-
er in this country"
Again interfering. Mr. Campbell
declared the duty on zincc spelter un-
der the DinSley Dill was cent and a
half a pound
Yes admitted Mr.. Payne.
Under the Payne bill it is proposed
to make IT a cent a pound continued
Mr.. Campbell
Just one cent" answered Mr..
Payne.
"a reduction of $40 in theton." said
Mr.. Campbell. Nov, my contention
is that the protection that is offered
to the ore men by placing a cent
pound on the metallic contents of zinc
In the ore
IT did not yield for a speech" in
terrupted Mr. Payne.
Continuing Mr.. Campbell said: "Is
taken from them by removing the
duty of half a cent a pound on the
portations which will come in the
finished product from foreign coun-
tries will injure our mines and our
smelters alike"
Here the debate between the chair
man of the ways and means committee
and the Kansan closed.
The prohibitionists of the entire
country. led by the Kansas delegation,
are putting up a fight for an in
creased tax on beer. If the proposition
lever comes to a record vote in the
house there VIII be some embarrassing
moments for large number of worthy
statesmen. AS between a tax on tea A
tax on beer and tariff on cocoa-well.
any one can figure out for himself
where Iowa. Kansas the south and
some other states will be found.
Republicans who oppose the counter
vailing duty on coffee are putting for
ward a suggestion to increase the fed
eraI tax on liquor licenses. They claim
that additional revenue can be OBJ
tanned from this and that it will espe-
cially appeal to communities where sa-
looms are prohibited; but where drug
Rists sell LIQUOR.