Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-11-04
NO SUSPENSION
FOR MINERS THIS YEAR
(From Saturdays Daily.)

of the law which makes 1t necessary
for miners to do a certain amount
of assessment work on property
they own for the current year.
This was not only made plain
in a letter received from Con
gresham Hayden by Attorney LIE
Roy Anderson, who took the mat
ter up with him in the interests
sage OF such a suspensory act
but by letter over the signature
of the secretary to Congressman
Hayden, who transmitted the same
to Mr.. Anderson in his letter. Sec
rotary Lane gave as a reason for
opposition to the bill, the fact that
there were many protests filed by
those who have already performed
their assessment work, and stated
that he could see no reason him
self WHY such movement should
succeed. The reply to Mr.. Ander-
son from Congressman Hayden and
the view of the secretary are self
explanatory, and read as follows:
Washington, D. C., Oct. q. IA.
Mr.. Leroy Anderson,
Prescott, Arizona.
Ny Dear Mr.. Anderson:-I am in
receipt of your letter of October
70. and beg to say that it is not
likely that a bill exempting assess
ment work on mines for this year
will be passed at this session OF
congress. Some time ago, took
up this question with the Secretary
OF the Interior whose Endorsement
necessary on legislation OF thls
kind. Secretary Lane telegraphed
to his field inspectors in Montana,
Utah. Nevada and Arizona direct
ing them to report as to the ne
cessity for this legislation. The
secretary informed me that from
the information he received 1t an
pears that the passage of a bill
waving assessment work this year
would do about as much harm as
it would do good. A great many
employment on account OF the de-
moralization OF the copper market
due to the European war. Many OF
them could make a living doing as
sessment work for claim owners
this winter so the secretary feels
that this avenue for a livelihood
should not be closed to them. | in
close an adverse report made by the
Secretary 0. the Interior on the
bill by Congressman Raker to re-
licve claimants from the perform
ance of annual labor.
have talked this matter over
with a number OF western congress
men and while they all express
sympathy for the claim owners
who have been financially crippled
as a result of the war in Europe,
yet the concensuS OF opinion is that
a bill to exempt assessment work
on manes cannot be passed at This
time. | shall be clad to promptly
notify YOU if there is any change
in the situation.
With kindest regards, | am,
Yours very truly,
CARL HAYDEN.
Lanes Reasons.
Hon. Martin D. Foster.
Chairman. Committee on Mines |
and Mining. House of Representa-
tives.
Dear Mr.. Foster:-I am in re-
ccipt of YOUR request for an opin-
ion as to the advisabilitv of the
legislation proposed in House Bills
1914 and 70. llS, which bills pro-
vide for the waiver during the year
1914 of the requirements of law
for the annual assessment work on
placer and lode mining claims. One
OF the measures provides that the
assessment work for the year 1914
may be performed the first day OF
January. 1916. The other bill pro-
vides that the requirement OF the
law as to assessment work be sus-
pended for the year 1914.
This matter was brought to my
attention by some OF the western
representatives several weeks ago.
made investigation at that time
and found that there was strong
protest against the adoption OF such
policy. because many OF the miners
lad already done their work and
the passage of such a bill would
be n the nature OF a preference
to those who had waited until the
last of the year to comply with
the provisions of the law. ] also
found that many men in the mining
states expected during the fall and
winter months to do this assess
ment work for others, and that the |
postponement of it would be in
effect the shutting down OF an in
dustry
Canada has passed similar
measure. but this is part OF war
policy which will allow prospectors
and mine owners to volunteer Tor
the European war without the loss
OF their claims. The necessity for
the adoption of suGa a policy by
the United States manifestly ds not
present.
Without a showing much strong
err than has been made to me in
favor of the adoption of such II
policy as proposed in these bills,
cannot advise that it would be wise
to adopt either OF these measures.
In general. | believe our purpose |
should be to insist that he who |
holds the land shall use it.
Cordially yours,
Signed FRANKLIN K. LANE |
Secretary |
GEORGE THORNE
COMES UP MISSING