Arizona republican., 1915-01-03
THE MINES OF ARIZONA

hack to the house by it's committee on mines and mining.
 At that stage, congress decided to restrict it's legislative program for the remainder of the prolonged session to the trust bills and your representa- tives were informed that no further progress with the revision bills would be possible until the next session. Later on. the administration meas ures relating to coal, oil, etc, were added to the legislative program and It was understood that the revision bill would be included with these. This expectation was not fulfilled and the house adjourned without action in the matter, so that nothing fur ther can be done until the winter session.
 Both the senate and house bills vary somewhat from the measure recommended by the American Min ing Congress which provided for a commission of five members who should be selected by the president for their recognized knowledge and experience in the mining industry (see copy attached). In the senate bill. this was amended to create . commission of three members, two Of whom should be lawyers and one |: mining engineer. The house bill, on the other hand, permitted the commission to consist of five mem bers, but provided that they should serve without compensation.
 While these alterations were unsat- isfactory it is believed that the best opportunity to make further efforts for their correction will be presented after the passage of the house bill and when it meets the senate bill in conference.
 Your committee believes that the most important qualification of the commission should be it's ability to command the confidence of the min ing communities and that this end can best be attained by having at least five members and leaving the president free in making the selec- tions. Moreover, the members should be properly paid so that the ap- pointments may not be restricted to men of wealth and in order that the business may be undertaken in d serious way. befitting it's importance. The house bill will shut out from any possibility of selection the vast ma iurity of mining men as it restricts the personnel of the commission tu those who ha ee the rare combination of a knowledge of the subject a de-
 sire to work for it, and who, at tle same time. possess such incomes and
 freedom from business duties that
 they can leave their. own affairs for
 six months of arduous labor ana
 bear the serious expenditures which
 cannot be included in government ac- counts
 At the proper time further efforts
 will be made to have these difficul-
 ties considered by those who are T
 it is proba de that revision oil will be passed T, the next sessic"
 In the meantime, public interest i
 growing and the forces massing bacl
 of the revision movement are stead
 ily increasing. In the American In
 stitute of Mining Engineers and th
 Mining and MetallUrgical Society o
 America. no other matter of publi
 policy has been commanding such in terest as this. In both organizations
 the sentiment in favor of genera revision is overwhelming and eacl one has gone far as it could in ap proving and aiding the movement , The American Institute of Minin Engineers has been specially re stricted in its support by provision in it's constitution which bar it fror taking up public questions and a effort is now being made to have it . sphere of activity enlarged.
 = In the meantime, the America l Mining Congress remains as the onl general organization of the grea mining industry which Is in a posi- ton to freely voice its wishes an
 act for its interests n any direction
 There certainly never has been time when these interests hay v needed cooperation and inteliger i, direction so much as they do nov I and mining men cannot afford [ !, have the activities of the congrcs l weakened through any lack of finan 9 cial support.
 s Practical experience has shown ths f to be effective, the recommendatio q of the congress upon any matte