Mr. PHELPS. I renew the amendment. Up to 1861 copper ore as raw material was imported entirely free of duty. Under the operation of that system the business of mining and smelting copper ores in the eastern States and California was developed to a very considerable extent. The ore was obtained principally from the States of Vermont, Cot necticut, NewJersey, Maryland, Virginia. NCarolina, Tennessee, and California. Large smelting establishments, located principally with a view to facilities for obtaining coal and transportation, were established at various points on the Atlantic coast. In order to show the extent to which this smelting business had advanced, I will refer to u.very large establishment located in the neighborhood of Balti more, employing an amount of capital ofvover $1,000,000, requiring for the transportation of its products over 70 vessels, consuming over 35,000 tons of coal peran num, and capable of producing of pure copper 30,000 poun s a day or over 5,000 tons perannum. Upon that work alone our Government was very largely dependent during the war for its supply of copper for per cussion caps, cannon, and vessels. For the successful manipulation of the native ores there is required a considerable infusion of foreign ore, principally imported from South America sonic from Cuba, but mainly from Chili. The process of smelting co peris a complicated and excnsive one without that infusion; with it t ie process is materially shortened and the expense very considerably reduced. Indeed, without the employment of this foreign material, the native ores cannot be advantageously smelted. Consequently the recent tariff upon foreign ores which was required as an indispensableingredient, so far from beinga protection to domestic production or to home industry, is in point of fact a discouragement to both. Under the operation of the 5%. advalorem tarilf now imposed the works to which I have referred, located in the neighborhood of Baltimore, have been prosecuted to a very considerable disadvantage, at aloss, as I am informed, during the last year, of over $250,000. It is now proposed to triple the weight now loading down this interest by raising the duty on ores from 5 to 15%. This sud den and enormous increase cannot but be disastrous not only to the copper smelting, but the copper mininginterests ofull the States named. This is not protection, but virtual prohibition on the further develOpment of American minw excepting those on Lake Superior. These mines yielding native copper require no llux of foreign carbonate ores, but are refined by a much simpler and less expensive process. The present duty of 5%., onerous to the general copper smelting interest of the country, may be tolerated as a protection to the Michigan miners. The ine rdinate increase proposed y the committee may be well calcu ated to swell the profits of those operating in that particular section. ere the hammer fell.]