The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-08
THE MINING CONGRESS.
PROPOSED ESTABLISHMENT OF A
DEPARTMENT OF MINES.
Lafe Pence Foreshadows the Report
of the Committee-The Colorado
Statesman Talks OF Mining Mat
tiers Generally.

Lafe Pence, who was appointed by
the mining congress at Denver last
year as chairman of the committee to
urge congress to establish a depar.-
ment of mines and mining, has just re-
turned TO Denver after some two
months spent in Washington on this
and other business. In an interview
with the Denver Republican, Mr.. Pence
toreshadoWs the report he will make TO
the convention to be held here in July.
t1e preiaces his talk with the declara-
tlon that he has no doubt of ultimate
success. but that he believes the min
ing congress can well afford to be sat
lsned with the establishment of a bu-
Teau OF mines first, and make that the
stepping stone to a full-fedged depart
Inent with cabinet officer at its head.
MT. Fences opinion is regarded with
inuch interest at the headquarters here.
because the department question will
be the topic of greatest interest at the
sessions OF the congress. and Mr..
FENCES report will be given precedence
over all others on the programme.
round a very strong sentiment in
favor of some move in this direction. :"
he said, 'as congress is beginning 10
recognize the Importance of the min
ing industry, 1t was thought best
however. to ask for something that we
stood some chance of getting. and in
stead of making our ARRANGEMENTS for
the passage of a bill creating a new
department, we decided to ask for a
bureau of mines and mining in the in
terror department. Senators Teller
Jones, Stewart ana others. and Repre-
sentauVes Shafroth. Cannon, Bell and
many others consulted were all of This
opinion. and our plans were laid ac-
cate fixed for a hearing before the
appropriation committee. but several
members of the committee appointed by
the mining congress were unable to at
tend, and sent me word that thew
would come at any time when it was
apparent that something would be done.
AS L felt certain that the proper
presentation of our case would result
in the establishment of bureau. 7
again went before the COMMITTEES IN
secure the appointment of a new date
Tor nearing, but in the meantime the
maine disaster had occurred. and when
called upon Cannon and Bell of the
appropriation committee, I was told
that it would be useless TO attempt the
introduction of any new business in
Volvfng an appropriation of funds. as
the only money that would be appro-
pr1ated by congress during the contin-
uance of the Spanish incident would be
Tor the purchase of shot. shell and bull
let's L was told that no new thing. or
new appropriation for government en-
terprises already commenced would be
voted upon, considered. or even pro-
posed. Work is to be Immediately
stopped on every government building
in the country which requires more
money for its completion. and no an
preparation will be made for anything
outside of the navy and war depart
ments.
subsequently I managed to secure
an informal meeting of the western
members and senators interested in the
establishment of the bureau, and went
over the matter very thoroughly with
them 1t was the unanimous sentiment
OF this meeting that it would be per-
fectly useless to present the matter at
a time when the government had en-
tered upon the game of war with a
$50, 900 blind. and a probability of
$500. 100000 table stakes: that even if a
new measure should pass the appro-
priation committee it would be indig-
nantly voted down in the house.
4 am well satisfied with the situa-
ton, however. The feeling in both
houses is that so important an industry
IS mining should be represented at
least by bureau, as the greater part
Of the business in the land office is in
connection with mines. about which
the average land official knows as much
as he does about phlebotomy. It is
thought that the same course will be
as in the establishment of tn
agricultural department-get a bureau |
first, and then have it enlarged to a de-
p2rtment, and it is thought that it will |
not he long before it is shown that A |
department. is necessary. I feel sure
that we can get a bureau during the |
next session of congress, unless Spain /
proves to be much more tenacious than |
We have reason TO heIieNe %