The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1914-11-28

Ihe for the seventeenth an
nual convention of the American
mining congress to be held in Phoe-
nix December I'll, is not complete,
it is already certain that the session
will be the most important in the
history of tina organization. Com
pulsory arbitration of labor diputes,
workmen's compensation, mine tax
alton, mining investments, mapping
of water supply in desert regions,
federal control of water power, and
many other subjects of vital interest
are to come up for consideration.
Men of international reputation,
such as John Hays Hammond, Otto
Ruhl and Senator John F. Shafroth,
will deliver addresses and take part
in the discussions.
Probably more time will be devot-
ed to compulsory arbitration than to
any other topic. The labor organi-
cations are alive to the fact that this
subject is to be discussed in the min
ing congress and that any action
taken by that body will have great
weight at Washington. Therefore
they are planning to send their ablest
the side of the workmen. Among
those whom they will send are John
p. White of Indianapolis, president
of the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea, and Thomas Lewis of Column
bus, who stands high in the councils
of the same organization.
Hon. James A. Emery of Washing
ton will open the discussion on COM
pulsory arbitration. Robert Walk
err and Samuel o. Dunno of Chicago
will participate. Right along the
same line Charles Piez, also of Chi
.cago, will speak on "The Cost of
Strikes" Doubtless the speakers
on both sides will draw important
lessons from the Colorado troubles.
Mining men generally favor COM
pulsory arbitration and many union
leaders hold the same view. There
is a widespread belief that the two
elements can get together at the
mining congress-.
Samuel A. Taylor of Pittsburg will
OpCh IL 4 o0AO OA
compensation laws. This is a sub
ject of burning int. est at present.
Washington appears to be the only
state that has a satisfactory work
mems compensation statute.
d. l.. Webb, an attorney of Den
yer, and one of the worlds leading
authorities on mine taxation, is
" %h4 ~rncc'o nnnnmif-
on taxation of metalliferous
mines and will present an important
report. No state has an entirely sat
isfactory mine tax law and this
committee may have some solution
of the perplexing problem to offer.
Time will be given to the discus
sion of other phases OF the mine tax
question. Should mines be valued
for taxation at the prices asked for
by their owners? Should the state
use its power to prevent mining
property being held for purely spec
ulative purposes. These questions
and many more will be put squarely
up to the delegates.
Lieutenant Governor w. r. Allen
of Montana will present the report
of the committee on mining invest
ments, which probably will include
suggestions for increasing the conf
dence of the public in legitimate min
ing ventures. E. G.. Reinert, editor
of Mining Science published at Den
yer, and H. Foster Balm, editor of
Mining and Scientific Press publish
ed at San Francisco, will also talk
on the subject of mining investments.
The public lands question will be
dealt with in an address by Senator
John F. Shafroth of Colorado, a rec
cgnized authority. DR.. VIM. b.
Phillips of the University of Texas
will speak on Conservation, State
or National?" "Why Optimism" is
the subject of an address by George
Otis Smith, director of the United
States geological survey. Fayette A.
Jones, president of the New Mexico
school of mines, is to speak on min
ing in his state, while DR.. Chas. H.
Clapp of the University of Arizona
will deliver an address on the same
subject as applied to that state. Con-
gresham F. A. WedgwOod OF Salt
Lake and l.. Bradford Prince, form or
governor of New Mexico, will ed
dress the congress on federal cont oil
of water power in the west, which is
of high Importance to the mining in-
dustry.
Walter Douglas, general manager
of the Copper Queen and other
Phelps-Dodge interests, will address
the convention on the subject Of leg
islation as it affects the mining in.
dustry of Arizona.
A resolution will be introduced
asking the geological survey to make
a complete survey of underground
water supply in arid regions of the
west. At present the government
has no data at all on underground
49, =. uy;I~ orooc ond data which