Weekly journal-miner., 1916-02-02
MINING G BILLS ARE GOING THE
 WRONG WAY
MEASURES AFFECTING IN DUSTRY IN ARIZONA NEED BOOSTING TO SE- CURE THEIR PASSAGE.


 man of the Arizona Committee of the American Mining Congress on Federal Legislation, that two bills which greatly affect Arizona mining interests have recently been intrduc- ed into congress. and at the present time look as if they were going the wrong way.
 H. R. 153 provides for the creation of bureau of labor safety in the dc partment of labor. While it is believ- ed that bureau of labor safety IS an extremely important thing, and should be passed. It should be so amended that it excludes tne activities of the U. s. Bureau of Mines. This tHireau ias done remarkably good work in the promotion of labor safe ty in mines and metaiIurgical plants, and there has been perfect co-opera- ton between the mine managers, the mine workers and the U. s. Bureau of Mines. To disturb these relations of confidence could not possibly bet ter the work and might easily destroy the relations.
 Should the bill pass in its present form. it would mean A duplication ot effort in mine safety work, which would not only be wasteful, but might lead to conflicts very harmful to the work Should legislation provide for the transfer of all mine safety work to the Department of Labor, 1t would mean the destruction of the U. :. | Bureau of AIinds machinery. and would probably lead to the destruc- ton of that sympathy for this work which has been manifest on the part | of the mine operators.
 The U s. Bureau of Mines was ere atei with a view to Increasing safety in mining and metallurgical indus tries. and it IS urged to amend the bill creating the Bureau of Labor Safety by the addition of the fol lowing:
 Except that the Bureau of Mines. in connection with its investigations looking to the prevention of acci- dents and the improvement of safe tv and health conditions in the mining metallurgical and other mineral in | dustries. as required by existing law, shall prepare for said Bureau of La bor Safety such reports on this sub ject as may be called for"
 Some opposition has been brought against Senate Bill 52. which provides for a commission to codify and sug' gest amendments to the general min ing laws. It has been argued that the congressional sub committee would be able to prepare suitable code of mining laws to be presented direct to congress in the form of Dill. and thus do awEy with tne nee essary expense of the commission | If this bill does not pass. and a con gressional subcommittee prepares a code of mining laws, 1t will undoubt- edly mean a similarly loosely con | structed set that we have at the pres | cnt time. which only make business | for the lawyers and courts.-it would | he better to retain the present laws which have at least been partially interpreted. than to nave a new set which would take years of litigation and millions of dollars to get inter preted
 One source of opposition lead by | Delegate Wickcrsham of Alaska Is | lIldI lnOSG lOi tHC iSNiSiOh VT | the mining laws are the big interests of the east. and assumed that the present laws. as interpreted by the courts. are sufficient to meet the pres ent requirements TEis is not the case. as 10 one desires more that the laws be changed than the small operator and the nrospector. because of the fact that the loosely construct ed present laws allow for litigation. which Is impossible for the smaller man. The progress of the State ot | A -iZona, as well as others of the min in0 states. has been greatly retarded because of the inadequacy of our min ing laws. and the revision of the code should not be to revise portion of the laws. but to make complete new code.
 The present laws. framed in 1872. are 40 years behind the times. They have never 'conformed to the facts of geological structure and are not adapted 10 present methods of pros pecting. developing and financing min ing properties. The wide dissatis- faction of the mining public mas long been expressed through every means at its command Judges, engineers, lawyers, geologists, and mining men of every class have been pointing out the various faults of the present cole. Mining law revision is necessary, and should be done carefully and com pletely.
 It is urged upon all those interested in mining 10 call the attention of the members of congress to these facts. and show them wherein the opposi- ton Is mistaken.
 As chairman of the Arizona Com mittec on Federal Legislation, Profes- sor Willis desires very much that those interested will take the time to express their views either direct to members of congress or through his office, and they will be forwarded to the proper channels. Immediate ac- ton Is necessary 10 get what the West desires, a complete revision ot the mineral land laws and the preser- vation of the U. $. Bureau of Mines operations.
 For quick and artistic job work,