Gilpin observer., 1912-03-14
SHELTER TRUST
INVESTIGATION


viding for an investigation OF the
smelter trust. was passed without
opposition.
Now that an investigation of this
rapacious monster that has been eat
ing into the vitals of our mining in
dustry, is to be had, it is up to our
local mine producers to set forth
their grievances.
The resolution, as adopted, recites
that the attorney general be and
he is hereby directed, if not incom-
patible with the public interests, to
inform the house If the department
of justice has in its possession any
information touching the existence OF
in violation of the Sherman law;
whether the department has any in
formation ending to establish that
the American Smelling Refining
company constitutes in itself, trust
or part of any trust, in violation
of the said act or acts amendatory
thereof; whether complaint Of the
existence of a smelter trust or COM
plant touching the operation of the
American Smelling & Refining COM
pany, as the same might be affect
ed by said acts, has reached the
department of justice, and whether
any steps have been taken to in
vestigate the existence of, or to dis
tn Smpltinp
trust"
II the local ore producer who be-
lieves that he has not had fair
deal in the settlement of his ores by
the local agents of the smelter trust,
or in dealing with the trust direct,
will give the Observer the evidence,
in the shape of ore settlements as
made, the Observer will undertake
and see that said evidence of unjust
charges and discrimination are
brought to the attention Of the con-
gressional committee that will in
vestigate same.
1t will be hard fight, but the
ore producers can win outfit they will
but take the trouble to file with this
office the evidence in their posses
sion.
We are informed that Attorney
General Wickersham will advise the
house, in replying to the Martin reso-
luton, that he has no evidence of
the existence Of smelter trust.
The department of Justices investi-
cations" he said have revealed no
indication OF combination in this
industry"
There are five large smelter COM
panies, he says. which seem to be
in active competition
Just think Of it: there are no less
than five large smelter companies to
whom we may sell our ores. all in
active competition!
This certainly will be news to our
mine operators and lessees but today
we were advised that in dispute
on ore settlement with the local
agents Of the trust, the shipper was
told that IL he was not satisfied
with the settlement as offered, "Why
in hell did he ship his ore to them?"
Representative Martin, the author
of the resolution stirring up the
smelter inquiry. has the following to
say concerning IT:
IF the attorney general au-
thorized a statement that there is no
smelter trust in the United States,
ut1 Ink No In hn
II this information was given out as
the result Of an investigation made
by the department of Justice last
year, it was assuredly very noise
less brand Of investigation.
Considering the feeling existing
in mining circles against the Amer
ican Smelling & Refining company
and the common charge that it is a
monopoly which not only controls
smelling but mining, should think
Senator Guggenheim would have been
glad to promptly give wide publicity
to the result OF the investigation
to the result OF an official investiga-
tion showing that there is no smell
ter trust.
81 have no personal knowledge
whether there Is n smelter trust Or
not, but the attorney general will
have to show me. l shall, II neces-
sary, introduce a resolution to in
vestigate whether there is such a
trust. and shall lay before the rules
committee such information as has
come into my possessicn. as well as
referring the committee to other
sources Of Information, and II the
committee decides there is nothing
to investigate. the American Smelling