The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1914-08-08
Mining Law Revision Again

Revision OF the mining laws OF the United States has been a mat
ter OF discussion for a long time. Suggestions have been made to con
gress By the American Institute OF Mining Engineers, TIT american
Mining Congress and other organizations, and now the subject is being
considered by a committee Of congress. Projects Tor the revision OF
the mining laws, SAYS the Mining and Scientific Press, always well in
formed, have, incidentally, reacted i'll a number OF directions.
For example. it has made it necessary for the American Institute
Of Mining Engineers to face squarely the matter OF whether it al or
cannot make recommendations as to legislation affecting mining. 1t is
evident to anyone familiar with the situation that congress often needs
dsinterested advice IS to technical matters and it is equally well known
to those who know congress and the congressman that authoritative
opinions from truly representative bodies would De welcomed by TIT
real leaders. There re so many public bodies addressing congress-
and it has been shown repeatedly that it is so easy for adroit manlpua-
1ors O secure favorable action on any project from a body that does
ct assume responsibility, that volunteered advice is at a heavy dis
count. At the same time a real expression OF opinion iron he Amer
lean Institute of Mining Engineers would deserve, and would carry
great weight. The difficulty is to secure any such concensus OF opinion
The nroposed creation of a commission to codify and recommend re
vision of the mining laws, has attracted great interest among mining
men and, following the thorough discussion Of the matter at the New
York meeting of the institute a committee was appointed to further the
project.
We believe that there would be no material dissent from the pro-
posal to create such a commission If the individual vote OF each member
of the institute had been taken since, and while there re wide differences
of opinion a. to what revision is necessary, theIe is general agreement
that the laws need mending and that preliminary consideration by a com
paent commission will be helpful. However, strict consructonHs
raised a question as to the authority of the directors of the institute to
appoint anv such committee, and, the matter being referred to counsel
the directors were advised that, while "A committee to recommend ap
pointment of engineers on such a commission was proper no authority
existed for one to urge the creation OF the commission itself An
amendment to the constitution has now been proposed SC a to make
clear the right of the directors to act in such cases and this amendment
IS now before the institute for consideration. whether 1t houd De
nassed opens too large a question for discussion at this time. In gen
eral we feel keenly that the institute has never eHerted the lnfhlence III
public affairs that it could and which would be good for it and for the IN
dustry. but before opinions are expressed they must De formulate Inc
that REQUIRES development OF machinery which the institute as yet does
not possess. The amendment as framed opens the way to what we
slider a desirable change, but II adopted 1t must d. supplemented by
creation of machinery to give it effect