Bisbee daily review., 1920-12-30
ASHURSI MAKES -HOQR SEARCH
 F0R NINE BILL
Arizona Senator Trails Meas
 ure All Over Washington; Finds Nothing Done.
SIGNATURE WITHHELD
Demands Frank And Manly Statement As Citizen =
 And U. 5. Senator.

WASHINGTON, Dec 29- Pressed by his constituents for information as to the fate of the mine assessment bill, sent by congress to the president December 21, Senator Ashurst. Dem ocrat of Arizona, today spent several hours trailing the measure through the executive offices. the interior de- partment and even the White House itself, and found out nothing. beyond the fact that the president had not yet signed the bill
 The senator from Arizona. bent on his mission of obtaining information, walked into the White House execu- tive offices shortly after one o'clock and found Secretary Tumulty absent Being told that the billsof which he was seeking information was with the president and having pressed White House attaches vainly to aD- nGunce to the president his desire for a conference. Senator Ashurst walked directly up the path leading to the residential section Of the White House, declaring that 'as an Ameri- can citizen and United States sen ator' he proposed to obtain informal tion
 Mrs. Wilson Sought
 At the White House door, the sen ator was met by an attendant who led him to seat within and went to seek Mrs. Wilson. The president had just finished his luncheon and had retired tC his study on the second floor. Mrs Wilson directed the White House attendant to tell the senator he would have to take up his business first with Secretary Tumul ty as the bill had not been received by the president, whereupon Senator Ashurst retired again to the execu- tive offices iS pursuit of the bill.
 After waiting for Secretary Tumul- sty for a shCrt while, Senator Ashurst left the executive offices for the in- terior department to which bills re lating to mining are generally refeir- ed by the president He had gone only a couple of blocks when the eX- ecutive offices received word that Tumulty was returning and mes senger was dispatched after the sen ator. Senator Ashurst retraced his steps and upon Tumulty's arrival re- quested frank and manly state ment as to the status of the bill. He was Informed by the secretary that everything possible would be done to expedite action on the me asure Sen ator Ashurst thereupon set out again for the interior department in quest of whatever information might be ob- tained there.
 No Action Taken
 Secretary Tumulty, during the sen ator's absence and upon return of President Wilson from his daily au- tomobile ride. went to the White House for conference with the pres ident Senator Ashurst shortly after six o'clock visited the executive of fices fer the, fourth time and an nounced after his visit that he had been promised an answer by tele- phone within an hour after Tumulty had talked with Secretary of the ln- terior Payne at Pinehurst, N. C.
 Senator Ashurst at 7:30 o'clock had received 10 word from the executive offices and announced to newspaper men that he would wait no longer as he had an engagement.
 x Secretary Tumulty, after dinner. arrived at the executive offices about nine o'clock and within half an hour Senator Ashurst stopped in. It was then that the Arizona senator was in formed that no actiCn has as yet been taken by the president on the bill.
 Explanation was made at the exec utive offices during one of the inter vals between the Arizona senator's visits. that the president had until midnight January. to sign or veto the bill which would extend for six months the provisions of the law re Quiring $100 worth of work on min ing claims before midnight Decemba3 31.
 Senator AShuTst on one of his NlS- its declared that for the president to sign the measure after December 31 would be like pardoning man after he was hanged since hundreds of western mine owners would be dis possessed by claim jumpers who. he said. were waiting like black birds on fence" to file claims to theI mines.
 Other Senators Interested
 ITO say the least" he added, pro | tracted and very extensive litigation would ensue should the president fail to sign the bill before January 1.
 In addition to Senator Ashurst, i Senator Shoot. Republican of Utah, Nugent, Democrat of Idaho. and Pitt | man. Democrat of Nevada. and other western senators and representatives called to see Secretary Tumulty dur ing the day 10 press fer action on the bill
 White House policemen. bewilder- cd bv the unconventional entrance of Senator Asrurst into the White House today. sought information to- night from headquarters as to how