The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-12-13
SALT LAKE MEETING
MINING MEN0F WEST
Show Injustice of
Excess Profits
Tax
APPEAL TO CONGRESS
Also Demand Hearing on
Fixing the Price of
Silver
APPEAL TO CONGRESS

YDAHO WAS more largely repre-
sented in the recent meeting of
mining men in Salt Lake City thai
any other state, although the
Coeur d'Alene district, which is prob
ably more deeply interested in the
work Of the meeting, was without rep
reseptation The Salt Lake meeting
was the result Of the initiatives taken
at the meeting Of the Idaho Mining
association held in this city about two
weeks ago, when strong resolution
protesting against that section of the
war revenue law recently passed by
congress levying tax on excess pro-
ats, and calling upon congress to re-
write the law In accordance with the
principle of taxing incomes to the end
that it may apply more equitahly to
all concerned. The ambiguous Ian
guage, conflicting provisions and gen
orally unwor9able character of the law
as it now stands were pointed out, and
congress was urged to take immediate
steps to remedy these Objectionable
features by the enactment of a new
law
Call Salt Lake Meeting.
The Wallace meeting issued a call
for a general meeting of western min
ing men at Salt Lake City for the
purpose of taking united action with
the resolutions adopted by the Idaho
Mining association The prompt re-
sponse showed that the mining inter
ests of the west were ready to follow
the lead taken by Idaho. The Salt
Lake meeting was attended by repre-
sentatives from Idaho, which had the
largest delegation. Montana, Wash
ington oregon, Utah. Nevada, Arizona
and Colorado. Frank e. Johnesse. of
Boise, presided over the meeting. Res
olutions were adopted similar in tone
to those passed by the meeting in this
city, and each state was authorized to
send three delegates or more to go to
Washington and present the desires of
western mining men to congress for
the purpose of securing the enactment
of, new excess profits law on work.
able lines and on fair and equitable
basis. Idaho will be represented in
this delegation by John A. Percival.
president of the Consolidated Inter-
state Callahan Mining company; Ra-
venal Macbeth, secretary of the Idaho
Mining association, and w, A. Me-
Cutcheon
Eixino Price Of Silver.
The Salt Lake meeting also defined
the attitude of western silver produc-
ers toward the proposal to fix the
price Of that metal through joint
agreement between the. United States
and Great Britain in the following
telegram sent to the secretary of the
treasury:
Back the Government.
First, If the contemplated action of
the government is based solely on pa
triotic necessity or the needs OF our
allies in the war we are waging with
them, the silver mine owners OF the
United States have no word or protest
to utter and no favors to ask, beyond
eApTGSSlIS tllc SdliCpt iOPS ~'"S
the results Of the proposed action be
most carefully considered So far as
winning this war is concerned, we are
with the government to a man and to
the finish;
Second, IT, however, the action pro-
posed is based purely on economic
grounds, we respectfully call the gov
ernment's attention to >these pertlneh'
facts The present market vaiue OF
silver at sc cents per ounce as COM
pared to the price Of SO cents obtain
ing Immediately prior to the war, rep
rcsents an increase of As per cent
while the increase in the costs OF sup
plies and labor required in silver min
ing has been not less than rs per cent
The production of silver at present
price and cost represents a'less pro-
fit than when silver sold at So cents
an ounce
High Cost Of Production.
THE proposed action by the govern
ment will hold the price at the rela'
lively low increase of 46 per cent
while the unregulated costs of labo
and supplies are increasing day D!
day and will no doubt mount from q
to 100 per cent and even more. Lapo
In the mines. as in the trenches, mus
be young labor to be efficient, but ou
young men have gone to the war. Al
the conditions surrounding mine oper
atoms have become increasingly dis
tressing and discouraging, and II I'M
government desired to curtail the'out
put of silver at the present time, NJ