The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-04-09
TO REVISE MINING LAW
LETTER FROM W|NCHELL
ALL ENGAGED IN MINING URGED
TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS TO
CONGRESSMAN.


the committee on mining law OF the
American Institute of Mining Engip-
GERS, has issued a circular letter dated
March |, 1914, which deserves the care
tul attention of all engaged in mining.
The letter Is as follows;
Mining men have for years demand
ed revision Of the mining laws. There
are Indications that their demand will
soon be gratitied In fact, revision Is
coming at rapid pace and will be an
accomplished fact before we realize 1t.
There are now pending in congress
bills for mining legislation as follows:
S. i373 A bill to provide for the APP
pOntment ol a commission to codify
the mining laws ana sugg3s amend
mcnts thereto.
s. 44o5 a bill to provide for and
encourage the prospecting. mining and
treatment Of radium bearing ores in
lands belonging to the United States.
II. r. 1S,l37. A bill to provide for
the leasing of coal lands in the terri
tory of Alaska, and other purposes.
A bill to authorize exploration for
and disposition Of oil, gas, potassium
ana phosphates In the public lands.
other bills for leasing coal lands in
the United States and for various 9TH
n purposes of greater or less import
'ance.
Of hi ,1nf n "a
introduction Of new practices and
principles into our mining laws. Thus
the leasing idea. to which many OF our
r.iners are unalterabv opposed, is con-
tanned in the radum bill, the Alaskan
coal bill, and the oil and phosphate
bill. as well as in numerous other coal
land bills The radium bill goes stu
further and gives to the government
the right to take possession and oper
ate patented properties, provided the
owner does not work them with rea-
s,nable diligence"
The radium bill and the Alaskan
coal leasing bill are thought to be ur-
gent and are likely to be passed soon,
in some form or other. The others are
receiving the attention Of the con-
gressional committees on mines and on
public lands. and will be brought up
for final passage in due season.
Now, regardless OF our views as to
tho propriety Of these various bills,
there Is one which seems to be gener-
ally looked upon as representing the
sensible way for congress to proceed
to ascertain the condition OF the min
Ing industry and the wishes of mining
men as to desired amendments TO our
laws. That Is, tho appointment OF a
commission to study the subject In all
its bearings, and to prepare the draft
OF a revised mining code.
1t has been suggested that such
commission should consist Of three
members, all Of them mining lawyers,
and that It's scope should be limited to
metal mines. Our belief is that it
should have five members, QD an ex-
perienced mining attorney, ca min
ing geologst, (3) mining engineer.
% a representative OF the Y. 8. geo.
logical survey and bureau OF mines.
and 60 n man who Is himself the
owner Of large mining interests. The
commission should also be authorized
to cover the entire field OF mineral land
laws, and all classes of mineral depos-
its. Pieccneal revision will only lead
to still greater confusion, while ra-
tiona and coordlnated laws should be
qucnt and mining titles more secure.
Now that there is evident DISPOSE
ton on the part Of congress to grant
US some attention, there should be no
|hesttancy on the part Of mining men
in making their wants known. IF you
believe that the proposed mmiSSion
should be authorized, and that It should
have a liberal representation Of min
ing men. and that general mining law
revision can well afford to wait until
such a commission has had time to re-
port the draft of suitable bill, please
do not hesitate a moment in saying so
to your congressman. Now is our OPP
portunty We shall not be heard with
patience later. II will be our own
fault II the revision now under way
does not result in laws best suited to
our own industry, Write today to tie
chairmen Of these committees or to
your own senator's and representatives