Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1919-07-03
BILLS IN CONGRESS
TO EXEMPT MINING
CLAIMS FROM 1919.
ASSESSMENT WORK
Measures Introduced in the
House of Representatives
Would Relieve Claim Owners
Ravenal Macbeth Advises De-
lay of Annual Development
Pending Washington Action

Further exemption of mining claims
from annual assessment work is pro
yided in each of two resolutions intro
duced in the national house of repre-
sentatives at Washington. One reso-
luton provides for exemption from as
sessment work during 1919, and the
other would exempt mining claims from
assessments during 1919 and 1920.
In the years 1917 and 1918, when
the nation was engaged in war, congress
enacted legislation relieving owners of
mining claims from the annual 800 as
sessement work required to retain title
TO the claims. This action was taken
because of the great need for men in
war work both in the army ind navy
and in essential war industries, and it
was felt by the government that assess
ment work could well be eliminated
during the emergency.
Why Further Exemption
Arguments in favor of further exemp-
ton from assessment work are numer-
Gus. Cost of doing assessment work now
is just as high as it was during the war
it is said, and claim owners as rule are
less able to meet the expense. The min
ing industry has been particularly hard
hit since the armistice was signed.
Labor is high and difficult to procure
at any price, while powder, provisions
and supplies of all kinds still command
war prices. Under these circumstances
1t is argued, the miner should be reliev
ed of the annual assessment burden dur
ing l9l9-l920, by the end of which time
it is believed, business conditions will |
have become adjusted to more equi- |
table and permanent basis, when annual |
assessment work can be carried on with |
out working a hardhip to the claim
owner
Assessment work on mining claims 1
is requirement mainly for the purpose
public land, and is comparatively unim-
portant so far as actual mineral de-
velopment is concerned
Resolutions in Congress
One of the resolutions introduced in
the house, providing for exemption from
assessment work was by Representa-
tive Hawley, of Oregon, and provides
That in order to take advantage of the
provisions of the resolution a claim own
er must file with the county recorder
Of the county in which the claims arc
located on or before Dec. 81, 1919, not
ice that he desires to hold said mining j
claim in accordance with the provisions {
OF the resolution. It is further provi- {
ded that the resolution does not apply to
OIL placer locations or claims. s
The other resolution was introduced
by Representative Raker, of Califor- ,
ma. 1t is substantially the same as the
Hawley resolution with this important
exception: 1t provides for the exemp
non from the Requirements of annual as
sessment work on mining claims "du
ring the war in which the United States {
Is now engaged, and until midnight of +
december 81 of the year following that t
III winch such war is concluded. Pro c
vision Is further made that the resolu- a
lion shall not apply to any locations +
made after Jan. l, 1920.
Suggests Work be Delayed d
Ravenal Macbeth secretary of the n
uaho Mining association, with head n
quarters at Boise, is receiving num-
'rous inquiries from claim owners in b
"'lous parts of the state regarding !,
neSe exemption resolutions and the a
/. for their passage, which in W
Icales that the sentiment is generally
=, aNorable to the enactment of one of al
neh' Mr Macbeth keeps in close =
ouch with mining legislation that o.
L Umes before congress, and it is assumed n
'at as secretary of the mining associa- v
,ou ne Is using his influence to obtain !
MS relief for owners of mining claims. v
.,egardlng the prospect for passing one
l the resolutions, Mr.. Macbeth says:
lhasmuch as the house of represen-
lives declined to pass the resolution
: senator Henderson of Nevada, that
eiieVed claim owners from assessment
."k IN 1919, which passed the senate
vi the last session of congress, do
~ reel sanguine that the house will a
Ufl either of these two resolutions, t'
u. would suggest that claim owners de- CT
y Hretorming their assessment work II
"il tne houses take action - n.