The San Francisco call., 1895-10-16

morning, the delay being caused by wait
ing for the members of the committee on
resolution, who were in session in an ante
room. The meeting was finally called to
order without their presence.
w. c. Ralston opened the proceedings
by reading the report of the executive
committee, which stated that its labors
were mostly confined to the raising of
funds. 1t then adds:
This committee found it necessary to send a
representative 10 Washington TO place the
question OF the railroads and the mineral lands
before the President of the United States and
the Secretary of the Interior. The services of
this representative were given without remun-
GRAFTON; only his expenses were paid.
To the press of San Francisco and a few
interior journals we are indebted for valuable
assistance, and hereby extend them our thanks.
Chairman TREY l.. Ford of the commit
tee on legislation then read the report of
his committee. in which the following oc-
ours:
there has been one short session of Congress,
namely, from December to March last and on :
session of our State Legislature.
Your committee drafted two bills for intro
duction in Congress; but, owing to an entire
lack of funds and to the shortness of the Con-
gressional session, your committee was wholly
unable to secure any legislation at the hands
of Congress during its last brief session.
With our State Legislature your committee
were more fortunate. Two measures were
drafted and presented to the Legislature, both
of which successfully passed both houses of
the Legislature, and one OF which met
with executive approval and thus became
law. This latter measure, now law,
provides that when I'M junction is granted
prior to the trial of cause it shall not con-
tlnue in force longer than one year unless the
parties consent thereto or the case is set down
for trial. The other measure above referred to
provided for appeals from judgments and or
10 fnr tam lafg hCrtr
met with an executive veto and thus failed to
become a law.
Your committee is of opinion that but little
more can be done by our State Legislature than
has been done, and that the mining industry
must look to the National Congress for ulti-
mate relief.
suggest that, as Congress meets December
next, 1t is of the utmost Importance that there
should be no delay in the needed preparations
for the presentation OF our case TO that honora-
BILE body. Our delay has already cost us much
and rendered more difficult the work in hand,
ana if we permit the approaching session of
Congress to run its course without having
taken some action looking TO the relief herein
suggested, the cause for which this association
has earnestly labored will have been seri-
ously retarded
Letters of regret at their inability to be
present were read from Stephen NJ. White,
Governor Budd and Martin kellogg of the
University of California
gresham Barham had expected to be
present and address the convention, but
was called home by urgent legal business.
The chairman then informed the conven-
tion that Congressman Barham had prom
ised to do all in his power in Congress to
further the interests of the mining industry
of the State.
After some emendation, the report of the
committee on constitution ana bylaws as
presented by Chairman Carrigan OF that
committee was adopted. The salient fea-
lures OF the amended constitution follow
The annual membership dues for all branches
of this association shall be as follows, viz.
Mercantile houses and manufacturing concerns
of San Francisco shall pay $50 per annum
mining companies shall pay $25 per annum
all individuals or associations in counties
abutting on San Francisco Bay. $5 per annum
in all other counties of the State mercantile
houses manufacturing concerns and mining
companies shall pay $25 per annum, and all
other members 81 per annum.
All dues must be collected by the county
branches and 75 per cent of same paid to the
secretary of the California Miners Association.
The remaining % per cent shall be retained
by the county branches TO pay for the cost OF