Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-03-01
Legistattue.-The House bill amend

ing and ventilating mines, and OF the
nature of gases and the way of expell.
ing them from the mines. He is to
inspect the mines at least once month,
to see that proper precautions are
taken to insure the safety Of life. In
| cases of loss of life he is to act as
coroner, and where the fault is with the
company the heirs can recover dam
ages in the courts. He is prohibited
from acting as land agent, superin-
tendent or in any other capacity for
any Of the companies. Maps of the
working of the mines are to be kept by
companies for the inspectors reference.
| The companies are to provide a proper
system of pure air ventilation. For
this purpose and for the safety of the
men each mine is to have an inside
| overseer, to watch over the ventilating
apparatus, the Anyways, the travelling
ways and the timbering and anything
| else pertaining to safety. Props and
| timbers are to be furnished the miners
at the place they are working. When
| gases or impure air are known to
exist in any mine the inspector must
| make an examination, and if it is the
fault Of the ventilating apparatus he
must notify the owners to expel the
gases or impure air and properly ven
tilate the mine. The mine inspector is
also constituted an inspector of weights
| and the weighmaSter must be sworn
officer. Fines and penalties of from
$25 to $500 for the companies, from
$50 to 5000 or Imprisonment for the
mine inspector, and from $25 to $3.50
or Imprisonment for the weighmaster,
are provided for violations of the
law.
In addition to the reference last
week to Mr.. Braces bill providing for
the election of school commissioners
by the people it is stated that minority
representation is provided for. Where
three commissioners are elected no
voter is allowed to vote for more than
two. Where five are to be chosen no.
body can vote for more than three.
The terms Of Office are to begin JAN
uary l, and the present commissioners
are to hold Office until January, 1886.
Mr.. Brace has introduced a bill en-
towering the town of Frostburg to
issue $50, 600 in bonds for the purpose of
securing water supply, subject to the
appreciation of the voters. The bill
appoints Adam E. Hitchins, VIM. R.
Percy, Marx Wineland, J. B. Oder,
Thomas 6. McCulloh, Owen England,
James Kane, Owen Hitchins, L. NJ.
Gorsuch, C. M. McCulloh and Frank
C. Beall water commissioners, with
power to purchase the present water
works and improve and extend them,
and to buy or condemn land for the
purpose. Willful pollution of the
waterways is to be punishable by fine
of from SIS to $50. The commissioners
are to regulate and collect the charges
for water used, the charge to be lien
on real the estate.
In the Senate Tuesday, on motion Of
Mr.. Brace, the enacting clause of the
bill providing for the taxation Of mort
cages was stricken out. Subsequently
q motion to reconsider the vote was
adopted, and the bill made the order
of the day for Thursday.
The bill to amend the charter of
Frostburg was read the second time.
In the House same day a petition
from Allegany county was presented
favoring the enactment of a law sub
jectinG all boats used ON the Chesa-
peaks and Ohio Canal to lien as pre-
| ferred debt for all debts due to mer-
chants, farmers, employers and other
persons, and to punish absconding cap
talns of such boats by fine not ex-
ceeding 500, or Imprisonment for 100
days, or both.
Local option bill for this county
read first time also bill amending Act
Of 1880 vestins additional powers in
the commissioners of Allegany as to
care Of insane persons.
In the Senate Wednesday Mr.. Brace
introduced joint resolution endors-
| ing the movement Of Mr.. Nc
Comas in Congress for an amendment
to the constitution of the United States
to repeal and annul the charter ex-
emption from taxation now enjoyed by
various large corporations. The res
olution of Mr.. Brace sets forth that
the people of Maryland are largely in
terested in the measure, and that it
would greatly relieve the overburdsned
taxpayers and more evenly and justly
distribute the cost of supporting the
State government. The Senators and
Delegates of Maryland in Congress are
requested to vote for the resolution of
Mr.. McComas.
The Allegany delegation in the
House same day voted solidly against
a motion to postpone indefinitely con-
sidertion of Senate bill reducing cost
| of marriape licenses from 81 20 tn 10