The Glenwood post., 1916-04-22
Congressman Taylor Says Con.
gress is Not Favorable to
Creation Of Commissions
he WANTS SUGGESTIONS

Denver, April 17.-Congressman Tay-
lor has sent the following general let
ter to the mining men Of Colorado re-
garding the bill recently introduced in
congress by Congressman Foster, chair
man Of the mines and mining commit
tee Of the house. 1t should be read by
every man interested in mining in the
state:
Washington, D. O., April 1O,l916.
My dear Sir:
You probably know that the Ameri-
can Mining congress and nearly all as
sociations of mining men in the United
States, have for the past ten years
been vigorously urging congress to pass
bill authorizing the president of the
United States to appoint commission
of high class practical mining men to
go out and thoroughly investigate the
operations of the mining laws and min
ing conditions throughout the western
states and Alaska, and make recon-
mendations to congress for amend
ments, and revision and modern codi-
fication Of our mining laws. Scarcely
any changes have been made in the
mining laws during the past forty
years, and many provisions of those
laws are generally looked upon by
mining men as being now obsolete and
not at all adapted to new metals r
modern mining conditions. A great
many prominent mining men and min
ing lawyers are firmly convinced that
our mining laws seriously rstsrd instead
of aid mining, development in the west
today. and many prospectors feel that
present conditions hold out livery little
encouragement to them.
In response to that sentiment have
had pending before congress for sew
eral years bill providing for the ap-
pointment of such a mining commission.
had it favorably reported in the last
congress, and the senate this session
passed a similar bill, introduced by
Senator Smoot; but the house mines
and mining committee has, after an ex-
haustive hearing, refused by a'vete OF
seven to six to approve either my bill
or that Of Senator Smoot, and in lien
thereof has appointed subcommittee
Of five to diligently investigate and
consider the whole subject and make
recommendations to the main commit
tee, as soon as we consistently can.
This action does not accord with the
general desire Of the west, and was
over my vigorous opposition. However,
that is the present sentiment of a ma
jority of the committee, and the sub
committee is Foster, Taylor, Hamlin,
James and Wickersham.
I am not criticising the action Of =
majority of my colleagues on the cor'-
mittee. In fact, generally speaking, !
heartily coincide with their principal
objections to my bill, namely, that the
country is getting tired of creating SO
many expensive commissions; and,
moreover, if the metalliferous minin !
people know what changes they want,
or what new laws they want, and will
agree upon them and will let this COM
mittee know, it is our duty to promptly
enact those laws without waiting il
definitely on the report Of commits:
sion. On the other hand, if the mining
people have no concerted determine
tion as to what they want, there is no
reason for congress appointing a com.
mission or doing anything else. Roose-
welt appointed a mining commission
and after they had worked a couple of
years, congress never even paid enough
attention to them to have their report
printed.
I am writing this general letter to
the editors Of papers in the mining
sections Of Colorado, and to the mining
associations to advise them Of this con.
gressional situation regarding possible
mining legislation.
Chairman Foster has, with the assist
ance of several prominent mining at
torneys and practical mining men, pre-
pared . bill Incorporating the main
amendments to the mining laws that
have been most generally recommended
70 the committee. This bill mas been
introduced BY Dr. Foster u h. r. lgs7b