Show Assessment Work Muddle By Ira C. C Tichenor Tichenor- MUCH UCH confusion is certain to result from the ruling of the interior department anent house joint resolution approved August IS 15 5 last suspending annual assessment work for the year 1919 on on not to exceed five claims for any anyone one claimant This ruling ruing a a. copy COP of or which has haa just been received by the secretary ol or the Utah Utah chapter of or the American Mining con congress ress Is as follows The matter of or the performance of or annual labor upon pon mining claims re required required required re- re by section 2324 United States revised statutes is a question going to the right of or possession of or such lands and within the Jurisdiction of ot the courts and not o of this department It Is my opinion however that the house Joint resolution No o. o must be construed by this department as applying to claims whether fractional or full Therefore If It an individual either directly or as a a. member of ot an association or corporation claims exemption from the performance of ot work upon five claims In which he poss possesses an Interest no matter how small email that Inter Interest st may be be he would not be entitled to claim exemption upon any other claims which h he may own own or hold In full tull or In part According to the construction placed upon the resolution by the Interior Interior Inte Into nor department the Idea could be extended to exclude any person person owning one share of stock In any any mining company from taking advantage e of ot the resolution to any extent whatsoever As a a. matter of ot fact the resolution as now Interpreted would benefit only a a. small portion of ot the mining Industry and doubtless no one holding prospects prospects prospects pros pros- would care to risk loss of ot their claims by neglecting to do the assessment assess ment work If It the mining Industry Is entitled to any relief as the result of ot war ac activities activities activities ac- ac It is entitled to something definite and tangible and concerning which there ther Is no uncertainty Officials of the Utah chapter and Industrial mining operators now are urging upon Utah members of ot congress to support an amendment to the original res resolution and which is intended to remove the five claims limitation In view of ot the uncertainty that will result from the construction placed upon the original resolution it would be no more than an act of t Justice on the I part of or congress to adopt the amendment |