The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1918-01-31
GOVERNMENT CONTROL
OF MINES AND MINERALS
DRAFT OF BILL WHICH HAS
THE OPPOSITION OF THE
MINING INTERESTS.

control of the federal government, just
as the coal mines have come under the
regulation Of Dr. Garfield, If congress
enacts into law a bill that has been
drafted by the war minerals commit
tee Of the council Of national defense.
Not only, under this bill, will the fed
eral government exercise supervision
over the mines--it will control the out
put of the mines, the distribution Of
that output and will regulate prices at
which minerals shall be sold 1t also
will regulate the smelling and handling
of ores.
The food control law and the fuel
control law have been taken as mod
els for the new mineral control bill,
and all the general principles laid
down in those enactments of the past
session are carried into the new bill
and made applicable to the mining in
dustry. The president is empowered
t6 create mineral administration"
similar to the food and the fuel adj
ministration, and is given 100000
for administrative purposes. fur
Their appropriation of $150,000,000 Is
made to enable the government to buy
up minerals after they are mined, and
to encourage the development of min
ing properties whose output is essen
tial to the winning of the war. There
is strong similarity between this new
bill and the food and fuel laws, and
the powers Of regulation and control
now exercised over food and fuel are
made to apply to minerals and oils.
Mining Under License.
The president, under the pending
ill which soon is to be taken up in
congress for active consideration, is
empowered to license the importation,
mining manufacturing. storage and
distribution Of minerals. This section
of the bill does not entail government
operation, but would leave the bust
ness in the owners hands and would
not necessarily go further than to di-
rect his activities in a way deemed
most effective for the winning of the
war The power to buy, store and sell
minerals is given the president, with
The view to stimulating the small pro-
Queer into new activity. 1t is felt that
many small producers, those holding
low grade properties or small deposits,
reed substantial encouragement.
Moreover, the president is empowered
take over and operate any mineral
deposit mine or plant, although this
section is inserted, it is explained,
merely to meet extreme situations.
The president under the bill, can
X maximum and minimum prices for
all war minerals, minimum price to
encourage production maximum
price to head off speculation. He may
llso limit the production, or even pro-
hibit the production of minerals not
ieeded and may go so far as to pro-
iibit the use of platinum in the man.
fracture of jewelry, If that use inter-
eres with war objects, and may sim
larry regulate the use of all minerals
and metals.
Merely Tentative Draft.
While the bill as submitted to con-
gress embraces the ideas Of the mem
bers of the war minerals committee,
who have been at work on the prob
EN- since July last the draft sent to
congress is a tentative draft only, sub
mitted with the view that congress
will make such changes as it deems
proper. statement has been pre-
pared by the council of national de-
Tense. explaining the new bill, and the
objects which II seeks to attain. In
part this statement follows:
Successful prosecution of the war
demands that prompt measures be
taken to stimulate and direct the min
ing industry. At present we rely
chiefly upon foreign sources for many
essential minerals although in mark
ed instances We have undeveloped re-
sources ample to meet any coming
ency. Such dependence will lead to
shortages which retard military pre-
parations, and inevitably demand cost
" diplomatic and trade concessions.
Further, burden is imposed upon our
shipping. OF other minerals we must
supply our own growing needs and
large part of those of our allies. In
the face Of increasing requirements,
we meet higher costs, unstable prices,
congestion, labor prob
lens, new taxes and other conditions,
which discourage individual enterprise
and reduce output
Causes Of Scarcity.
"The abnormal conditions in domes- $
tic industries together with uncertain I
foreign sources of supply and dimin- |
shing ocean tonnage even now cause q
scarcity of war materials which will 8
1rolong the war. No governmental a
,ody now has the authority which n
must be exercised to stimulate domes- s
ic production and to control effective n
distribution and use of mineral sup O
lies. This bill has been framed to
i've the necessary authority to the
resident The bill provides authority is
encourage the production of ores 81
nd minerals and conserve their sup Ell
~, to assure equitable distribution, as
improve and direct utilization, un- DC
air practices and UNEQUAL division Of co