The San Francisco call., 1901-10-23

lateness of the hour, there was a member
of the Debris Commission at a hotel on
Montgomery street who then had the coin
for O'Brien in charge. AS soon as the
news came from Smartsville there was a
stir in the Palace Hotel, where the min
ers were holding committee meetings.
There was then wild rush to- catch a
boat for Oakland, but this mission failed
of results, as OBrien was not found.
Yesterday there was more searching, but
the advice of the United States Attorney
made it appear that it was of less impor-
tance than it had at first appeared wheth
er O'Brien was located or not
Report on Legislation.
A very interesting report was sub
mitted to the convention by the commit
tee on legislation through the chairman
of the committee, John F. Davis Of ANA
dor County. The committee maintained
the doctrine championed by it at two pre-
ceding conventions of the miners that fu-
ture legislation with reference to the law
of mining in almost all its branches
should be amendatory of existing Federal
law rather than Independent statutory
amendment at the hands of the Legisla-
ture. Generally speaking, so the COM
mittee reported, there was nothing in the
geology of California which required min
ing legislation Of such a peculiar nature
that it could be obtained only from the
State Legislature. The following resolu-
ton was recommended for passage by the
convention:
ments to sections 2S1s, 1890 1924 OF the Revised
Statutes of the United States, concerning the
location Of mining claims. so that the locator
shall be accorded reasonable time within
which to finally mark his surface boundaries
on the ground; SO that all local rules. regula-
tions and customs of miners and all State and
territorial law on the location of mining
claims shall be abolished; and SO that. while
liberal provision shall be made for the protec-
ton of the locator who holds and works his
claim in good faith the law concerning annual
assessment work shall most effectually check
the present Injurious practice of holding claims
year after year without practical development.
The committee also reported concerning
the work Of securing additional legisla-
ton and appropriations for the aid Of the
Yuba River restraining barriers. The
Legislature had appropriated s150.OO0,
one-half of the remaining $500, 900 that was
asked for 1t remained for Congress to
appropriate s15O,OOO. the State having COM
pleted its share of the work as suggested
in the recommendation of the California
Debris Commission. The committee re-
ported:
One of the most important pieces of work for
this convention will be to take all due care that
in the remaining legislation to be passed by
Congress upon this subject there shall be no
deviation by a hairs breadth from the original
purpose of this scheme of legislation. or from
the understanding under which this scheme of
legislation has had the approval of the Cali
fornia State Miners Association. For what
ever purpose or upon whatever foundation in
timations have been huttering in the air OF late
that there might be attempt made IN the
coming session OF Congress, in the bill appro-
priating the remaining s15O.0OO to incorporate
some proviso or clause which would nullify the