Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-10-03
Protest to Commissioners
Against New "Confis-
catory Decrcc.'
URGE THE RETURN
OF OLD METHODS
Result of Arbitrary Tactics
Has Been Decreased in
Metal Output.

A rLANTIC CITY, y. j.. oct. "A
L N committee representing fifty
mining and smelling companies opcr-
atlng in Mexico protested today to the
American members of the Mexican
American joint commission against
what they called "confiscatory de
crees' in that country and urged the
return to the old methods of taxation.
william Loeb, jr, representing the
American smelling x Refining CO.,
headed the delegation. The other
members were Perry Hrucre, Ameri-
can Metals company; ID. j. Hall, Phelps
Dodge company; George Young.
Greene -Cananea Cooper company;
Charles Early. United Shelters, ana
Julian W. Beatty, American Metals
company II was the first time that
witnesses have appeared before either
the American or Mexican commercial
commissioners.
In the mass of statistics submitted
to the American commissioners was "A
statement showing the decrease in the
output of metal since 1912. Accord
ing to these figures the output in 1912
was:
silver 33,0OO.OO0 ounces. gold 94S,-
coo ounces. copper $4,000 tons. zinc
40, 600 tons and lead $1,000 tons
The figures for the first si>
months of 1916 were given AZ:
silver 100000 ounces, gold $50.
600 ounces, copper 100000 tons
zinc H. 900 tons and lead 5000 tom
He told the American commissioner
that the export taxes on gold anC
silver had been increased to foul
times what they were in 1872 anC
that now a heavy tax was placed or
lead, copper and zinc where none
had been imposed. They also placed
before the commissioners 4 stg:e.
ment showing heavy increases IN
other taxes affecting the industry
and characterized them as confls-
catory since the low grades IF d
great quantity of the ores produced
made impracticable the operation OF
mines under such conditions. Many
forfeitures already have been forced
according to the committee.
Ready to Contribute.
The actual investment of the COM
ranies represented was placed a,
S125, 100000. The American com.
missioners were assured that the
mining operators are prepared t.
make the government contributions
which are mot in the nature of ar
bitrary exactions and which do no
involve the practical confiscatiOn oI
property or make impossible the op.
GRAFTON of their enterprises on q
business base"
Secretary of the interior Lane mad
public the memoranda presented by
the mining men and said that the
commissioners would confer wit
them again tomorrow.
They came here at the request oI
the American commissioners who
wanted their statement of conditions
because OF the mass Of contradictory
evidence.
TIE Joint session Of the commis-
sioners in the day was marked by
the presentation by the McXicans OF
plan of border patrols which In
cluGed the withdrawal Of the Ameri-
can forces
The MeXicans assured the Ameri-
can commissioners of their belief
that their government would he able
10 carry out the promises they wcra
prepared to make that in the future
the military forces OF Mexico would
adequately safeguard the border. The
details OF the plan were not dis
closed.