The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-11-29

NV Monday. among the many
" matters of pressing import
ance that will be urged for
early consideration will be a demand
from the mining interests of the west
that the law levying a tax on excess
profits be amended or rewritten in or
der to make it a fair and equitable
law, and that the purpose of the law
be stated in terms free from ambigu-
ity and uncertainty of meaning. The
first step in this direction was. taken
in this city last Saturday by the Ida
no Mining association in a special
meeting called for the purpose. The
meeting was representative of the en-
tire state, several districts in the
southern part of the state being rep
resented as well as those of the north.
The large attendapce of the most
prominent and successful operators in
the state and the earnestness with
which they discussed the revenue law
in its application to the mining indus. ;.
try indicated the seriousness with
law as it now stands. Throughout the
discussion and in the final action taken
in the adoption of resolutions, there
was at all times in evidence the spirit
OF loyalty to the government and an
absolute willingness to meet every de-
mand, no matter how drastic It might
be, If the necessities of war required
it; the only condition being that all
other industries be placed on the same
level and the law 50 framed that in
dividuals and companies coming un-
der it's provisions shall be taxed on a
basis that will fairly distribute the
burden.
Idaho Takes the Lead.
The Wallace meeting of the Idaho
Mining association was called by the
executive committee. The meeting was
held in the auditorium of the high
school building and was thoroughly
representative of the industry in the
state. Owing to the absence of Stan
ly A. Easton, president of the associa-.
ton, Senator |. f. Rockwell, of Belle /
vue, was elected chairman of the meet
ing. The purposes of the meeting
We're stated by Ravenal Macbeth, Sec
retary of the association, which We're
briefly these: To consider and take
such action as deemed necessary on
the matter of fixing the prices by the
government of silver, lead, zinc and
thcr t,J. h. ,fa.r nd Il nvip
mating features of the excess profits
tax the draft conditions as affecting
labor, and the need of representation
by the metal producers in the final set
tlement of these vital questions. While
all these subjects are of pressing i'm
portance, it WAS evident that the ex
cess profits tax was the one that de.
manded immediate attention. and
Chairman Rockwell announced that
this would be taken up for discussion
at once.
General Discussion.
The first speaker was Harry l.. Day,
representative of the Hercules and
other large Day interests. He was in
the senate gallery when the war rev.
enue bill was passed, which he said
was accomplished without the for
mality of serious debate. He was fol-
lowed in order by Axel P. Ramstedt,
formerly member Of the state utilities
commission and now chief accountant
for the Day interests; James f. Nc
Carthy, manager of the Hecla Mining
company; Frederick Burbidge, mana
company; f. A. Behling, manager of
the Empire Copper Mining company, OF
Mackay, the largest operating com
pany in the state outside of the Occur
dAlene district; and Robert n. Bell,
state inspector of mines. Summed up,
The prevailing opinion was that 1t
would be useless to attempt to obtain
construction of the law as 1t now
stands that would be fair and equit-
able, on account of it's ambiguity
which renders it impossible to give it
definite and clear Interpretation, and
that the only relief must come through
congress in the form of complete re-
vision of the excess profits section OF
the law. A committee on resolutions
vas appointed and the meeting, ad-
)o'rned to meet in the evening.
: Dinner and Discussion.
4 fhe delegates were entertained at
dlnner at the Banquet restaurant as
the guests of the Occur dAlene mine
operators A feature OF this occasion
was an address by Francis A. Thorn
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