The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-07-12
Congressman Plans
to Introduce a
New Bill
SUPPORT IN CONGRESS
Secretary of Mining Associa
ton Says Little Support
Among MiningssMen

THE SENATE has accepted the
house amendments to the bill eX-
empting men in the military anC
naval service from assessment
work on mining claims during the wal
and it will now become law TIL,
Miner has advocated extending the
exemption to all claim owners in order
to divert the labor and expenditure tC
productive lines that would be of ben
eft to the government at IL time when
the efforts of all citizens should be
concentrated in prosecuting the wal
against Germany. The high, cost OF
labor and supplies and the difficulty
in getting men to perform assessment
work, situation that will be still
more acute when the draft takes ef-
feet, render it very difficult for claim
owners to comply with the law. But
according &to Ravenal Macbeth, secre-
tary of the Idaho Mining association,
the proposition to suspend assessment
work finds little support among min
ing men of the state. In letter un-
der date of June 80, Secretary Mac
beth says:
Support Lacking.
I'VE have taken up with a large
number of mining men the question
of requesting congress to enact legis-
lation that will exempt all claim own
ers from assessment work during the
period of the war and have failed to
find any appreciable support therefor
1t is probable that mining men,
In the ordinary acceptation of that
term, would not be as much interest
ed in the proposal as the thousands OF
other men not so classed who are al
fected by the assessment law Among
these there is a pronounced demand
for the suspension of the assessment
law. The mining press of other states
indicates that the same sentiment pre-
walls throughout the west. The sus-
pension of the law would be in line
with the policy Of the government tC
direct all efforts of the people to the
support of the fighting forces of the
nation.
French Favors Suspension.
1t is gratifying to know that Con.
gresham Burton l.. French faVors the
suspension of the assessment law anC
is preparing to present the matter tt
congress at an opportune time. lr
this he will doubtless have the sup
port of the Idaho delegation in con-
gress. His position on the subject is
indicated by the following extract
fran a letter to Ravenal Macbeth
secretary of the Idaho Mining associa-
tion, under date of June 30:
Il would say that | have raised the
question of granting an exemption tC
all entrymen of mining claims during
the period of the war on the theory
that the demand for labor in Other
places is. so great that we can wei
afford to waive the requirements fol
the present without the entrymen for
feiting their rights and in order thai
the farmers and other employers OF
labor may have the additional advan'
tage of further labor from those who
have mining claims without the latter
losing any of their rights.
1.-THE chairman of the committee on
mines and mining has assured me ol
his sympathy with this legislation, as
has also the chairman of the commit
tee on public lands. | believe the
committee on mines and mining will
report favorably on this proposition
before very long, but as conditions
do mot Immediately demand this law
as they seem to demand the exemption
for those who will be in the military
and naval service it seemed best not
to mix the two questions and thereby
possibly jeopardize the bill which we
passed yesterday afternoon