The record-union., 1895-10-16
Chosen as Secretary,

Chosen as Secretary,
SAN Francisco, Oct. 15.-The Miners
Convention resumed its sessions this
morning. There was q good deal OF de-
lay in opening the proceedings owing TO
the fact that the Committee on Resolu-
tons was not ready to report at 10 o. clock,
the hour fixed for calling the convention
20 order.
Something like half an hours grace was
allowed the committee, but Chairman
Neff finally became a little impatient and
suggested that there were other reports
which might be read while the committee
was concluding its labors. The suggestion
was adopted, and the convention was ac-
cordingly called to order:
The first report presented was one from
the Executive Committee, which read as
follows:
To the Gentlemen Of the California
Miners Association az Convention Il sSena-
6Ged: Your Executive Committee has the
following report to submit for your con-
sideration:
During the past year your Executive
Committee has had nine general meet
tees on Legislation, Protection of Min
eral Lands, and Ways and Means have
been received, which were considered
fully and at length. Most OF The work
for the past year, has fallen upon the
shoulders of the Committee OH The Pro-
lection of the Mineral Lands, as that was
the paramount question for The time
being. Congress not being in session,
the Executive Committee was not called
upon 10 meet and discuss matters so often
as 1t was in the year 1894.
Unfortunately most of the time of this
committee has been occupied in trying TO
devise some means of raising funds.
This committee endeavored in every
way in its power to raise money from the
county associations, but only one county
answered by liberal assistance. Cersiti-
Gates of 50 each were printed aud sent 10
the various counties, and but few re-
sponded.
Assessments were levied on each
county association in proportion to its
membership, as is provided by the by
laws of the association, aud but few paid
shat.
The Board of Trade of San Francisco
donated 81, 900 TO the association, without
which we would have been unable to
continue our work. In fact the commit
tee was obliged TO borrow $500 from the
Placer County Miners Association to
This committee found it necessary TO
send a representative to 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 repre-
sentative were given without remunera-
ton. Only his expenses were paid.
over s., 900 Of the s., 900 expended in the
past year was used in The endeavor to
reserve the mineral lands of our state to
The prospector and miner. No officer OF
the association has received one cent in
payment Tor services rendered during
the past year.
This committee cannot continue it's la
bors without some fixed income TO de-
pend upon. The Finance Committee and
Committee on Ways and Means have
done good work in assisting to raise
funds, and TO them We wish TO extend our
thanks.
70 the press of San Francisco and a
few interior journals we are indebted for
valuable assistance, and hereby extend
TO them our thanks.
The Secretary omitted to state in his re-
port that there is an Indebtedness of some
500 due for the employment of an attor-
ney at Wa hlngton, who was engaged 10
obtain the Information regarding the
railroad land lists, so that proper protests
could be made by the Committee on Pro-
submitted, for The committee,
J. II. NEFF, President.
W. G. RALsTON, Secretary.
The report Of the Executive Committee
was ordered accepted, after which State
Senator TREY l.. Ford, Chairman of the
Committee on Legislation. was intro
duced and personally presented the re-
port of that committee.
It formed quite a lengthy document,
he ri IL
stances under which the committee had
been called into existence. 1t was then
stated that those composing it had drafted
two bills for introduction in Congress.
but were wholly unable 10 secure the de-
sired legislation, owing to an entire lack
OF funds and the brevity OF the session OF
Congress.
In the State Legislature, however. two
measures were introduced, one of which
became a law. This provided that when
an Injunction is granted prior TO the trial
OF a cause, it shall not continue in force
longer than one year, unless the parties
consent thereto or the case is set for trial
Your committee" continued The re-
port, 'is OF the opinion that but little
more can be done by our State Legis-
lature than has been done. aud that the
mining Industry must look 10 the Ma
tional Congress Tor ultimate relief"
A review OF the legislation thus far ob-
tanned IN behalf or The hydraulic mining
industry OF the State. including the Cami-
netti bill. was then given at some length,
accompanied by statement that point
had now been reached where the further
efforts OF the association must be directed
TO an appeal TO the National Congress-
Appended was statement OF the legis-
lation thus far had in relation to the con-
troll and disposition OF mineral lands. fol-
lowing being extracts from the report re-
lating thereto:
prior 10 1866 the mineral lands lying
within this State were held and work ed
under mere possessory titles based upon
local customs and usages. In the year
last named Congress granted the right OF
exploration and purchase OF the public
mineral lands, and laid down certain rules
that should govern the possession and ac-
QUESTION of title of such lands. This law
was ainplified and re-enaeted in 1872 and
its provisions, somewhat amended, were
afterward carried into the revised stat
utes OF the United States. covering Sec
tions IBIS 10 1882 of the revised statutes.