The Arizona copper camp. [volume] (Ray, Ariz.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-27
Mr.. Hayden from the Committee on
the Public Lands, submitted the
following
REPORT

(To accompany H. R. 1SS26.)
The Committe on the Public Lands,
to whom was referred the bill Oh. R.
1925 to relieve the owners of mining
claims who have been mustered into
the service of the United States as Of
ficers or enlisted men of the Organized
Militia or National Guard from per
forming assessment work during the
term of such service, having considered
the same. report the bill and recon-
mend that it do pass without amend
ment.'
1t appears that there are a number
of officers and enlisted men of the Or
ganized Militia or National Guard now
in federal service who own mining
claims which they are liable to lose un-
less this legislation is speedily passed
because they are not earning sufficient
funds to pay for having their annual
assessment work done, and they can
not leave the military service of the
United States to do the work them
selves. Congress has, by joint reso
luton approved August 29, 1916, (39
Stat GID, extended similar relief to
homestead entrymen who are serving
as soldier on the Mexican border or in
mobilization campus. 1t appears to
your committee that it would be unfair
to these men that they should forfeit
their mining claims by reason of the
service that they are rendering to their
country.
The Secretary of the Interior recon-
mends the passage of this legislation
in the following letter addressed to the
chairman of the Committee on Public
Lands:
Department of the Interior,
Washington, January 9, 1917.
Hon. Scott Ferris,
Chairman Committe on the Public
Lands, House of Representatives.
My Dear Mr.. Ferris: In response to
your letter of December 29, 1916, trans
mitting copy of H. R. 1926, for report
thereon with recommendations, l have
the honor of submitted the following:
The purpose of the bill is, as ex-
pressed in the title, to relieve the own
ers of mining claims who have been
mustered into the service of the United
States as officers or enlisted men of
the Organized Militia of Natinola
Guard, from performing assessment
work during their term of service.
Under Section 1924, Revised Statutes
the owner of a mining claim located
since May 10, 1872, is required to per-
form during each year and until patent
is issued not less than 800 worth of
labor, or make improvements of that
value upon the claim, and where failure
to comply with these conditions occurs,
the claim or mine becomes open to re-
location in the same manner as if no
location of the land had been made,
provided that the original locator, his
heirs, assigns, or legal representatives
have not resumed work upon the claim
after failure and before such location.
Section 1924 was amended by Section
2 Of the act of June %, 1880 (21 Stat,
61) to provide that the period within
which work was required to be done
annually on unpatented mining claims
shall commence on the 1st day of jan
uary, succeeding the date of location
Under the provisions of the bill, a
claimant must file in the office where
his location notice is recvorded and
within 80 days after the passage and
approval of the act, a notice of his
muster into service and if his desire to
hold the claim under the act, and
claims so held will not be subject to
forfeiture for nonperformance of an