Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-22

pleted-but it is probable that the De-
partment of the Interior will have to
recommend to Congress modificati ons
IN this measure or new Legislation.
Bureau Inquiry to Go On.
Irrespective of whether it is under
,, this bill or some other, the bureau Of
mines will continue investigations
tic production of some commodities
the need for which is apparent Two
illustrations will Suffice-potash and
magnesite. General comment is favor
able to increased potash productio /.
and the President has taken a strong
personal interest in this. The bureau
of mines has already done much pot
ash research work and considcra Bile
toward increased production. There
are five main sources of potash in this
country. Some of thes, have been de-
velopeC to meet war needs regardless
of cost.
Before any very elaborate work can
be undertaken it must be determined
whether the peace conference decides
to maintain an open world-market
and encourage the German potash in
dustry so that the enemy country can
pay off its indemnities.
AS regards TagneSite, most of the
supply since the war has come from
California and new deposits found in
Washington. Previously most of the
the new sources of supply are to be
developed, it must be under some
tariff protection on account of the
heavy costs of transportation.
Magnesite and potash are good
examples therefore, of the complex
problems regarding raw materials. be-
cause they were both supplied before
the war by the enemy countries.
As to Chrome and Manganese.
AS regards the second sroup-those
which cannot meet competition and
where the government will proba bly,
be asked to liquidate the plants that
have been working to meet war needs.
Chrome and manganese are illustra-
tionS. Their production cannot profit
ably be continued. Chrome now pro-
duced costs about ten times normal
and manganese about four times nor
NAL. There is little likelihood thai
those Industries will survive in am
large way. especially where the point
of production enforces long freight
Eauls. The problem here under the
mineral bill. where the plants have
not been amortized. is how they
can be eased off to prevent serious
loss to those who invested heavily to
help the government meet war re-
quirements
So the question is whether the min
erals bill can be used to amortize the
invested capital or whether there
must he new legislation in the form
of tariff or a special amortization ap-
preparation. The minerals bill carried
a tariff provision: That The president
upon finding that importation into
the United States of any of the neces-
saries covered by the act is likely to
rsult in a loss to he Unied states
on any pecessaries which 1t may nave
acquired under the act. to ascertain.
fix and proclaim such rate OF dutx on
such imported necessaries as shaii De
sufficient to adequately protect the
United states from any such loss
The President reserved this right.
however. as one that might not prop.
erly be delegated when he intrusted
the administration of this minerals
act to the Interior Department
Up to President.
Before domestic production can be
stimulated by the government under
the minerals act as now worded the
President must find a present or nm
pending shortage of material before
he has any real authority to act-and
it is this Interpretation OF the law
that has checked the bureau OF mines
in activities toward increased ZONES
tic production.
There is also another important con-
sideration as affecting the larger con-
suming industry. The question has
been raised in legislative and admin
istrative circles as to whether II is
right to stimulate domestic produc-
ton of raw materials where prices
must be higher. 1t is pointed out that
in seeking expanded trade the United
States must keep her home market
against foreign competition as well -
to go after foreign markets.