Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-16
MINES BUREAU
BILL WILL GO
PASSAGE BY SENATE NOW AP-
PEARS CERTAIN
With Objectionable Clauses Entirely
Eliminated Mining Men Believe
Nothing Remains but For
Upper House to Vote

That previously outlined arrange
ments for the forthcoming convention
of the American Mining congress,
which will open here Monday, Septem-
Der 26, have been ratified is indicated
in a letter received yesterday from Sid
ney Norman, secretary of the Sierra
Madre club, and written Immediately
after a conference held at Pueblo,
Colo, between DR. Il. r. Buckley prse-
ident of the American Mining congress,
and President Montgomery and Secre-
tary Norman of the club.
At least one excursion will be ar
ranged by the club probably to the oil
fields of San Joaquin valley. President
Buckley is of the opinion that the MINI
ing exposition, projected in connection
with the meeting, will detract from the
attendance at the business sessions,
and 1t now seems probable that the
idea will be abandoned, at least so lar
as making 1t an official part Of the
program is concerned.
1t Is probable that several speakers
of national reputation will be present
Such men as Clifford Pinchot, Senator
Hepburn, John Hays Hammond and
several others of like caliber have been
suggested, and it is expected that the
Los Angeles representatives, who ar
rived in washington last Sunday, haV-
ing been authorized to make arrange
ments, will secure definite promises
from some of these men, to the effect
that they Will be present to address
the convention upon matters of I'M
portance to the mining industry.
From the present outlook 1t appears
that the bureau of mines bill will re-
ceive "a substantial majority in the SEN
ate when Ii finally comes to vote
The bill has been amended in several
important particulars In the hrst
place, new clause provides that the
t.,I L., Ia ia n
"who shall be thoroughly equipped by
technical education and experience" for
the position; and, in the second place,
the director shall have such tempo
rary and permanent experts, for ser
vice In washington and elsewhere, ana
other employees as may be necessary TO
carry out the provisions of this act
within the appropriations" Section b,
which is the last, provides THAT moth
ing in this act shall be construed as III
any way granting to any officer or en-
ployc of the bureau of mines any right
or authority in connection with the In
speetion or supervision of mines or
metallurgical plants in any state
The first addition tends to remove
the bureau from politics; the second
gives the director added power IN pros
ccution of his duties. and the last re-
assures those who professed to believe
that such n bureau, or any bureau Tor
that matter, tends 10 interfere WIN Tue
notice power of the state authorities.
The change will silence the opposition
heretofore heard. and probably insure
the passage of the measure
1t is not generally understood that
the bureau of mines, il created, will
absorb the chronological branch OF the
geological survey, for which an appro-
priatlon of $350,000 has already been
made, and which is now conducting eX-
periments at Pittsburg, Washington
and elsewhere. In other words The
balance of the appropriation Will be
immediately available for the purposes
of the bureau.
The chief function of the bureau will,
of course, consist in research of benefit
TO the operating department of the min
ing industry. The geological survey
would still have entire supervision up
to the point where exploration be-
comes exploitation, or. in other words,
where actual mining begins.