The Labor enquirer., 1885-03-28
Minign LegtSlatIo

| 1OurS, ever truly, JOHN Il. LEWIS.
Minign LegislatIon.
For The Enquirer.
1t Is with great regret that we view
the chickering's prevailing between the
houses of our legislature, just when we
had contemplated the completion of the
steps taken at this session in providing
amendments to the coal mines act 50 as
to further secure the protection of the
liyes and health of our mining brother
hood, and the advancement of their
social position by further amelioriatlon
of the unwholesome conditions which
they are in many cases obliged to en-
dure while engaged in winning their
daily bread. ".
We hailed with pleasure the adoption
of house bill 1853 by Senator A. NJ. Stew
enson of Gunnison county. No doubt
this worthy gentleman carries in his rec
objection the horrible memories of the
disaster at Crested Buttes, and it is due
to his inspiration the completeness of
the bill which bears his name, includ-
ing the valuable amendments there set
forth to regulate the workings ofgaseous
mines.
So much for the conservativeness of
of the senate.
We hailed too, the readings of Mr..
Bradiey's BILL but we may here remark
that although it is a step in advance OF
the old act, it was not near so radical as
the one initiated in the senate. Still we
are tfnder the highest obligations to Mr..
Bradley for what he attempted to do
and has done, yet we cannot help recur-
ring to the logic of the argument that
while the house is nearer the people il
is nearer to that section of the people
who would subvert the better interests
of larger part of the community to the
service of smaller section.
So much then for the position of oul
| mouse III LnlS instance.
Our bill contained a provision for the
appointment of an assistant to the Goa
mine inspector, one Of the greatest needs
of this Office. as it is impossible that the
service can be perfected without more
thorough inspection of the mines thar
is now had, and one inspector is totally
unable 10 perform adequately the re
sponsible duties which are entailed by
the promulgation of the coal act 1t is
to be hoped that this provision will not
be overlooked this session, and that il
may be accompanied by sufficient ap-
preparation. We have had appro
pratons towards Teller investigating
committees" fish hatchery commits
sioners, and the like, and the appropria
tions which we seek for the furtherance
of our own object is still mote inheren
! in its demands than a majority of the
commissioners which have been con
tirmed and created since the August as
sembly has been called into existence.
However we trust that the bill may
yet come out as it was originally com
mitted.
We hope that Mr.. Bradley's bill will
be completed IN its compreEensivenes
by the appendlng of those vital clauses
promoted in the Stevenson bill, and tina
both these gentlemen will unite {
friendly rivalry towards the creation o
first class bill and that both section
of the assembly may vie with laudabl'
ambition in seeking to extend the be
Inefficient influence of salutary laws.
More, as to the strength OF our posi-
ton. 1t is matter of supreme satisfac
ton to all who have investigated to con
cede that we have a constantly decreas
ing expenditure of human life in proper
tion to the safeguards we take IN rela
ton to this kind of mining. There ar
those who believe that we can so ham
per and control the operators and coal
owners by means of mine regulatin
acts that we are in danger of decreasin
the output of coal and of robbing tn
Door man of his fire. But these predic
tions have not been realized, and the re
verse is true, 1t has been the means
this legislation has, of directly increas
ingpur coal output, and of inauguratin
more economical methods of working
1t has gr1wn now into the magnitude {
an axiom that the conduct of this bus
ness on the safest principles is the pla
best calculated to increase the output O
y coal with enhanced profit.
Colliery proprietors have grown richie
by their adoption. Whatever involve
a sacrifice of life involves a sacrifice
property. We can point to cases wher
: by the adoption of the advice containe
I in the proposed amendments, the ez
pense involved would have save
Y thousands of dollars and may hay
l. averted calamities.
2 We shall be on the lookout for th
Q blatant demagogues, those wolves