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Show METAL PRODUCTION PROTESTS are heard from many lines of industry against so-called unjust and unfair provisions of the war income tax law and each individual industry in-dustry feels it is hit hardest. Undoubtedly in a hastily drawn measure to meet emergency requirements, require-ments, many discrepencies will be found and it is within the power of congress con-gress to make modifications and changes on shortest possible notice. Western mining men are presenting their case in congress and the solution so far as mining is concerned is this: Taxes cannot be imposed to the extent that metals will not come out of the ground and if war excess profits taxes are at present inequitable compared to same taxes in othr lines, of industry, a speedy change should be' made, for taxation which curtails production is worse than no taxation at all, for production pro-duction at this time is essential above all else and the mines are willing to turn over their entire earning in support sup-port of the government if necessary, but they ask that other lines of industry indus-try bear a proportionate- share of the load. Price fixing on silver has also been taken up and the general opinion seems to favor no set price as the present market price is stimulating production pro-duction in properties which heretofore hereto-fore could- not be worked. If price fixing fix-ing is adopted the price must be high or production will fall off due to high cost of operation at this time. Take lead for instance. The present price of $6.25 would be comparable' with about $4.00 in normal times of labor la-bor supply, etc. At times past there has been quite heavy production of lead on a $4.00 basis, and this even at times when silver, which is usually combined with lead, was lower in price than at present. So far as lead is concerned, however, it is possible under existing conditions that the government will have to advance the price above $6.25. In regard to copper every one seems quite easy. Nothing has been done yet about fixing fix-ing the price of silver. The government -is fearful of being unable to get sufficient suffi-cient silver for monetary purposes and for that reason will undoubtedly take over its. sale, first giving itself and its allies that quantity which they , will need for monetary purposes, then giv- ing the balance to the public at a price ' which probably will be fixed. A scarcity of silver for monetary purposes in the U. S. and allied countries would be a very serious thing and for that reason ' any price set should be high" enough to insure greatest possible development. n |