Show 1914 work must be anone that the passage ot of a bill exempting mine assessment work for 1914 would do as much harm as aa good is the opinion ot of secretary lane of the interior department whose endorsement indorsement Indor is necessary on oa legis listion ot of this kind according to congressman karl hayden of arizona in speaking ot of the proposed bill congressman hayden said recently it is not likely that the bill exempting assessment work on mines tor for 1914 will be passed at this session ot of congress some time ago I 1 took up lip this matter with the secretary ot of the interior whose indorsement endorsement Indor is necessary on legislation of this kind hind secretary lane telegraphed to ills his field inspectors in montana utah nevada and arizona directing them to report as to the nece necessity sity tor for this legislation the secretary informs me that from the information lie he has received it appears that the passage of a bill waiving assessment work this year would do about as much harm as it would do good A great many miners I 1 have been thrown out of employment on account of the demoralization of the copper market due to the european war many of 0 them could make a living doing assessment I 1 work on mining claims winter so the secretary feels that this avenue for a liell livelihood bood should not be closed to them I 1 have talked the matter over with a number of western congressmen and while they L I 1 all eap exp express ess sympathy tor for the claim owners who have been financially crippled as a result of the war in europe yet the consensus of opinion is that a bill to exempt assess assessment ment work on mines cannot be passed at this time secretary lane in a letter to sanator walsh chairman of the sen in apte te committee on mines and mining recommends that the bill be not pe ased for the following reasons the expenditure required by law to told hold 1111 patented mining claims is relatively small therefore legislation of this nature is not warranted and lias has never been favored except to relieve from the possible consequences of some abnormal business or physical condition which might affect the ability of mining claimants to perform the labor or make the required expenditure I 1 am not advised th at any such condition now exists and except in connection with the passage of the act of december 1 1913 excusing mining claimants in the seward peninsula alaska from compliance with the annual labor law tor for the year 1913 there have been few or no requests or petitions received in this department within the past two years seeking such relief as is here proposed |