Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1909-05-13

.oTbe increase in the cost Of living is
owing almost wholly to the increase IN
the cost of agricultural products. These
noople (the farmers) are not here ask
ing for lower duties" So MIR. Aldrich
intends to throw the burden of the new
tariff with it's increase of duties onto
the backs of the western farmers.
In the course of the debate and just
before the vote, Senator La Toilette
made the following statement:
"Mr. President, desire to say just
a word before the vote is taken on the
proposed amendment.
PERSONALLY do not believe that it is
possible under existing conditions IN the
lead industry to affect materially by
any duty imposed the wages paid to
miners employed in mining lead in this
country, because believe the lead pro-
ducing properties in this country are
controlled by a combination which reg
ulates prices in every branch of that
industry. had my attention called to a
dispatch in the New York Herald of
Yesterday, from which quote the fol-
lowing:
London, Wednesday, May 5.
Seventy per cent Of the entire worlds
lead supply is to be brought under the
absolute control of one group of sep
arate corporations, working together
in harmony. The immense interests
concerned comprise the Guggenheims
and other large American producers,
the Spanish Association of Products,
the Broken Hill interests of Austral-
ia, and the German lead trust. These
interests have combined to control 70
per cent of the worlds lead supply,
and their position in the worlds mar
kets will enable them to make what
prices they please.
81 am myself placed in position
where | shall withhold my vote upon
this amendment, and for this reason:
Some years ago, when | was not in
official life, | acquired an interest in
land in Wisconsin which was believed to
be, and which was proven to be, in
part, lead-bearing property Some de-
velopment has taken place upon it, and
one portion of it is at this time produc-
ing lead ore in small quantities and zinc
ore as well. | make this statement now
as covering both these products.
IF maintaining duties or increasing
duties affects the price of these com
modities, | cannot consistently and con-
scientiously vote upon this question as
a member of this body, and therefore
on this roll call shall, for the reason
stated, withhold my vote.
with respect to a tariff upon zinc
ore, when that question comes before
this body, shall consider it my duty to
lay before the Senate certain facts bear
ing upon the cost of mining zinc in
Wisconsin and in Mexico. Three counties
in the southwestern part of the state
have zinc deposits, and a large number
of mines have been developed and oper-
ated. The owners of these mines and
the men working in them have right
to fair and full presentation of the
facts of their case, and, as represent
ing them here, shall endeavor to dis
charge that duty. In doing so, | shall
remind the Senate Of my personal inter
est in and relation to the industry
This is raising standard for legisla-
tive action which is strange to the Sem
ate and it caused a serious look to come
over some of the Senators who are no
toriously interested in certain items af-
fected by the duties provided for in the
bill. Mr.. LaFollette takes the view that
a legislator is in the same position in
regard to legislation that a Judge on
the bench holds in regard to a case
pending before him. In the case of
judges there are very few who have
had the temerity to sit in judgment in
cases where they have had personal
interest. 1t is not expected that the
large-interest Senators, such as Scott
who openly announces his great interest
in glass, Elkins in coal Smoot as a
manufacturer of wooden products, or
any of the many Senators who have
proclaimed their personal interests in
one or more Of the schedules of the
bin will follow the example of the Wis
consin Senator, but certain it is that the
banner which he raised as to the ethics
which should maintain in legislative ac-
ton where there is personal interest on
the part of legislator will direct the
thought of the country to this import
ant subject, more important now than
at any time in the country's history for
the reason that the men representing
big interests are striving nov more than
at any other time to enter the legisla-
tive halls and to direct legislation in
their own personal interest.
The will of the late Joseph W. Bah
cock, which was filed for probate here
last week, gives his Washington home