Bisbee daily review., 1918-01-23
EXCESS PROFITS LAW 4 HARDSHIP
 ON METAL MINES
lRr Reriew Leased Wirel


 the silver producers of the west be- hind a definite policy in regard to the government regulation and the excess profits tax took definite form today at the opening session of the fifth an- nual joint convention of the Colorado Metal Mining Association and the Col orado Chapter of the American Mining Congress.
 The silver men are particular to have congress amend the excess prof. it's tax law. which they contend works a hardship on the mining industry. The committee is expected to outline an amendment satisfactory to the in- dustry which will be presented by the two organizations. backed by silver men of the west. for consideration of congress.
 Tonight a public meeting at which Senator Key Pittman of Nevada spoke on the Walsh-Pittman coal and oil land leasing bill and Senator John B. Kendrick of Wyoming discussed the silver question
 Senator Pittman declared congress has no intention of extending the leas- ing system to metalliferous mining. and if the Pittman-Wslsh oil and coal land leasing bill becomes a law the leasing question as far as the west is concerned would be settled for years.
 Would Settle Question
 "On the contrary" the Nevada sen ator added. If the pending legislation which has already passed the senate is donated and the matter drifts on as it has drifted for years. then it is pos sible that congress in desperation and in need of resources may take hold of all of the lands. metalliferouS and non metalliferOus. and develop them as government products. This is not drifting towards the leasing of metall- iferous mines. but it is the final defini- tiOn of a policy against the leasing of metalliferous mines"
 Senator Pittman said the oil leasing bill represents the maximum of what can be expected from the senate and admitted a hard fight would be neces- sary to pass il in the house. He said citizens of western states maintained that the public lands and all they con tain are held in trust and have always been held in trust for the peopel of the states. Instead of belief in this principle becoming stronger in con gress. Senator Pittman declared it has received less support from year to yea rand now at least a majority in the senate oppose the theory. and maintain that the public lands and the minerals and wealth therein contained are the property of all the people of rha I-nsFn1 -A k, ministered by all of the people of the United States. for that reason he urg- ed the people of the western states to be unselfish in their demand for new legislation The insistence by enthu- siasts and these having personal in terests to impose upon bill an amend ment that is obnoxious to the majority is the sureSt method of defeating leg iSlation." Senator Pittman said. The oil leasing bill" Senator Putnam said. was passed by the senate despite ef- forts of opponents who used nefariOuS means of defeating it."
 Accuses Lobbyists
 These propagandistS. who had am pie money to purchase the expensive pages of great daily papers. attempted to play upon the prejudice and fears of senators by declaring the bill to be drawn in the interest of the Standard Oil Company. The gentlemen who signed theS statements had evry op- pOrtunity to appear before the public lands committees and give such facts as they possessed. They did not come They did not represent the independ- ent oil operators of Wyoming whom they would have liked to have had the senate blieve that they did represent. On the contrary they represented a subsidiary corporation Of the Royal Dutch Shell Company. as powerful a monopoly as the Standard Oil Compa- ny. and a corporation that is perma- nently controlled hy foreign capital. I am glad to say the committee of the independent oil operators of Wyoming denied any connection with the prop aganda and repudiated it.
 The records of the land office dis closed that the Standard Oil Company was only interested i n 260 acres out of the 20,O00,O0 acres that might come under the remidian provisions of the bin. I am not here to question the motives that prompted this propa- ganda. but | know that its only effect was to endesvor not only to defeat the bill under consideration but any legis-. latiOn of a similar character. I am stating this as a warning against any similar procedure in the future"
 Boyle To Speak
 Tomorrow morning Governor Boyle of Nevada. silver expert, will speak on the silver situation. paving the way for committee reports on the subject.
 "NNITTING" CAY.