The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-06-14
A Question That
Is Considerably
Discussed.
DISCUSSION is INVITED
Some of the Arguments Ad-
vanced in Support of
the Proposal.

NYoW THAT law exempting all
nj officers and enlisted men in the
army and navy from perform
ing annual assessment work on
mining claims in which they are in
terested Is practically assured, there Is
a feeling that occasionally finds ex-
preston that the law should go fur
ther and exempt all owners of mining
end of the war. This Is not altogether
a new proposition, for it has been pro-
posed at other periods of national
emergency, but has never received as
fact when one considers the drafts
that are to be made upon the men and
resources of the nation before the war
against Germany can be VIGOROUSLY
concluded, it must be admitted that
there is some merit in the argument
in support of the abandonment of as
sessment work until the end of the
great war. A system of taxation Is
being devised that will reach every
citizen directly or indirectly, the rich
and poor alike. This Is an absolute
necessity and the people will pay it
cheerfully, knowing that the govern
ment must have the revenue to prose-
cute the war successfully.
People Must Buy Bonds.
The government must borrow money
as well as levy taxes to finance the
war and for this the people are called
upon to buy bonds. The first issue of
81, ,O00, 100000 has just been absorbed
by popular subscription, and other is
sues will certainly follow, for our
country is just entering the great
world struggle. The people will be
called upon for further subscriptions
and they will respond, for the life of
the nation is at stake.
Support for Red Cross.
The people of the United States have
just now undertaken to raise $780,
10000 for the Red Cross and no citi-
zen can think of refusing to contrib
ute to this noble cause. Nothing must
be lacking in the way of facilities for
the care and attention of our sick and
wounded soldiers who are to suffer the
dangers, hardships and privations of
war in defense of our country, and the
support of the Red Cross is a solemn
duty which will not be evaded by any
right thinking citizen.
These illustrate the burden of ex-
pense which must be cheerfully borne
by the people during the war.
High Cost of Labor and Supplies.
Thousands of prospectors and claim
owners find assessment work a heavy
burden in normal times. In addition
to the unusual demands just mention
ed must be added the high wages that
must be paid for labor and the almost
prohibitive prices of supplies which
have already become prohibitive to
many development companies. By the
time the assessment period arrives,
which is the summer and early fall,
the great army will have been drafted
which will take many men from the
field of labor and the question Of Sc
curing men to perform assessment
work may become a serious one There
Is little surplus labor in the west now
and the supply will certainly become
less.
The Miner would like to have ex-
pressions from it's readers on this sub
ject, and If there appears to be a
predominating sentiment in favor of
exempting all claims from assessment
during the war, the matter should be
presented to congress through the
Idaho Mining association.
An Eastern View.
A recent issue of the Engineering
and Mining Journal discussed the
question OF abandoning assessment
work during the war in response to a
suggestion from a correspondent, and
its comments are here reproduced:
"One of the popular reforms sug-
gested during every national crisis has
been the suspension of assessment
work on mining claims. This comes
up periodically but has never been put
in actual force in our recollection, ex-
cept for enlisted men in war time. A
reader now comes forward with the
following suggestion:
LAS war measure, what would be
the matter with suspending assess
ment and location work as long as the
war lasts? 1t would release men fol
work in more essential things
"This proposal has more force ir
this instance than at any previous
time in which it has been brought for.
ward Assessment work Is not, as {