Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1920-11-29
CONGRESSMAN HOPE
To ENACT MEASURE
ON MINING CLAIMS

Despite the fact that a bill exempt
ing unpatented mining claims from as
sessment work died in committee last
spring, strenuous efforts will be made
by members of congress from western
states to obtain the enactment of such
a measure before January 1. The
measure 1T is hoped, viii be one Of the
first to be considered at the coming
session of congress, which convenes
on December G.
Congressman Carl Hayden, who
leaves this week for Washington, said
yesterday:
Last spring the committee on mines
and mining of the house of represen-
tatives definitely refused to report a
bill waving the requirement of annual
assessment work on mining claims for
the present year. Notwithstanding this
adverse vote, it is certain that the
western members of congress- will
make every effort to induce the COM
mittee to rescind its former action and
favorably report such a measure be-
cause conditions have materially
Echsnged in the meantime.
Eat the beginning of the present year
copper was at a fair price while now
there is no market for the red metal.
Gold mining has been greatly cur
tailed, and the same is true of other
metals, due to the worldwide business
depression which we are now expert
encing. Under such circumstances
most of the owners of mining claims
are finding IT extremely difficult tC
obtain the necessary funds for assess
ment work, and believe that they are
fully justified in asking for further
exemption for this year.
TT should not be difficult to pass
such a bill through the senate, be-
cause the west has greater proper
tionate influence in that body than II
the house. Six of the ten members o.
the senate committee on mining arr
from the west, but unfortunately ther'
is but one member of the house com
mittee, Hon. NJ. H. yelling OF Utah
who comes from a district containing
metal mines Our chief difficulty hal
always been that the mining commit
lee of the house is made up of mem
bers from districts which produc
nothing but coal or oil. 1t is hard t
: make them understand the real servic
to the nation which the prospector ha
rendered, and that in times of financia
distress, relief from assessment worl
lis Unsuitable With but little appre
citation of its risks, they talk as thoug
y metal mining was usually profitable
e and seem to think that to discover or
i means an assured fortune.
r "Tn 1916 the house passed a bill ex
!. enpting soldiers serving on the Mex
: can border from assessment work O
their mining claims. In 1917 and lsl
\ this relief was made general becaus
4 all available labor was needed for wa
e work. Owing to opposition in tn
?. house, it was late in the fail OF III
i before an exempting bill for that yea
? could be passed, the argument agains
il being that hostilities were over. an
q the country should therefore be place
r on a peace basis. Fortunately con
\ gress remained almost continuously
q session, so that there was time to~oVer
: come the opposition.
congress adjourned last June, an
= win not reconvene until December
: The holiday recess usually begir
= about December 81, so there will |
:, only about two weeks in which to g
= an exemption bill for 1920 out of II
committees and through the houses 4
the approval of the president. IL
= much easier to block legislation tina
:. to mass it. In view of the adverse a.
q tit,,de of the house committee, franz
:, ness compels me to say that the on
look is not very encouraging. but :
:. those who are interested in mimi
ie claims can be sure that their repr
= sentatives in congress will as th'
=. have in the past, do everything poss
y BILE to bring about this mueh-need'
40 relief"