The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-06-26
Exemption Resolu-
ton Should be
Passed
WRITE CoNGREssMEN
Mining Industry Entitled to
To This Concession--Favor
Raker Resolution

"0WO RESOLUTIONS nave Deen
introduced in the house provid-
ing for exemption Of assessment
work on mining claims. One
of these was introduced by Represen-
tative Hawley, of Oregon, and pro-
vides that in order to take advantage
of the provisions of the resolution. a
claim owner must file with the county
recorder of the county in which the
claims are located on or before De-
cember 81. 1919 notice that he de-
sires to hold said mining claim in ac-
cordance with the provisions of the
resolution. 1t is further provided that
the resolution does not apply to oil
placer locations or claims.
The other resolution was introduced
by Representative Raker, of Callfor-
MIA It is substantially the same as
the Hawley resolution, with this i'm
portant exception: 1t provides for the
exemption from the requirements of
annual assessment work on mining
claims during the war in which the
United States is now engaged and un-
til midnight of December 81 of the
year following that in which such war
Ia concluded" Provision is further
made that the resolution shall not ap-
ply to any locations made after Janu-
ary 1. 1920.
Claim Owners Should Wait.
A letter to the Miner from Ravenal
Macbeth, secretary Of the Idaho Min
ing association with headquarters at
Boise, states that he Is receiving num-
erous inquiries from claim owners in
various parts of the state regarding
these exemption resolutions and the
chances for their passage, which in
dicates that the sentiment is generally
favorable to the enactment of one of
them. Mr. Macbeth keeps in close
touch with mining legislation that
comes before congress, and 1t Is as
sumed that as secretary of the mining
association he is using his influence
to obtain this relief for owners OF min
ing claims. Regarding the prospect for
passing one of the resolutions, Mr..
Macbeth says:
'Tnasmuch as the house of represen-
tatives declined to pass the
resolution by Senator Henderson, OF
Nevada, that relieved claim owners
from assessment work in 1919, which
passed the senate during the last ses-
sion Of congress, do not feel sanguine
that the house will adopt either of
these two resolutions, but would sug-
gest that claim owners delay perform
ing their assessment work until the
house takes action"
Urge Quick Action.
To say that "the house Of represen-
tatives declined to pass the resolution"
during the last session of congress Is
hardly correct statement Of the case
The Henderson resolution passed the
senate, and upon being sent to the
house it was referred to the committee
on mines and mining. Representative
Foster, of Illinois, was chairman OF
that committee and it soon developed
that he was antagonistic to the resolu-
tion. He refused to report the resolu-
tion to the house, although urged to do
so by friends of the measure and con-
gress adjourned without the house
having an opportunity to vote on the
resolution. It is believed that the res
olution would have passed If the house
had been given an opportunity to vote
up It. 1t is now up to the mining in
terests Of the west to make its influ-
ence felt in support Of one Of these
resolutions. In this matter the Idaho
Mining association should take the lead
by urging Idaho's congressional dele
CATION to support the measure, and by
filing strong endorsement OF one OF
the resolutions with the house COM
mittee on mines and mining.
Raksr Resolution Best.
The Miner believes that the Raker
resolution Is the one that should re-
ceive the support Of the mining in
terests. Under its provisions mining
claims would be exempt from assess
ment work this year and in 1920, and
the conditions prevailing in the min
ing districts entitle claim owners tc
this relief The cost of doing assess
.ment work now is just as high as II
was during the war and claim owners
as a rule are less able to stand the ex'
pense. The mining industry has beer
particularly hard hit since the armls
tice was signed and 1t Is evident tha'
much time will be required to restore
normal conditions. Labor is high ant
hard to get at any price, while pow