The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1889-03-16
Mr.. HIOKLIN'S BILL TO PROTECT
MINERS.

Mine operators, or rather we should
say mine operatives, the employees IN
mines, i'm Missouri, should feel a debt
of gratitude to Hon. Robt. A. Hickiin,
for the manner in which he fought for
his bill against the truck system and iii
favor of semi-monthly payments.
The bill was bitterly opposed In the
house by Mr.. Flanagan. OF Jasper. II
several others, but IN spite of all oppo-
sition Mr.. Hicklin succeeded in having
it first e~ngrossed and then passed i'll
the house.
The bill is in the following words:-
Be ii enacted by the General assembly
of The State of Missouri, as JOh0US d:
Section l. All corporations operating
any coal, iron, lead, zinc, copper or
CLAW mines, or any person or persons
operating any of said mines belonging
to any corporation doing business In
this state, shall pay their employees at
least twice in each and every month on
regular pay days, and no pay day to
be more than eighteen days apart or
eighteen days after the regular pay day
in the preceding month, payment % be
made in lawful money OF he Uhlteu
States at the option OF the employe,
and all orders given by them 10 saiu
employe shall be redeemed by the AID
person, persons Dr. corporations at the
face value of said order i'll Lawful
money of the United States, at the
option of the holder of said order, n
on the first regular pay day after the
giving of said order.
Sec 2. All corporations operating
any coal, iron, lead, zinc, copper or
clay mines, or any person or persons
operating any of said mines belonging
TO a corporation doing business i'll this
state, who shall fail or refuse to pay the
wages or redeem the orders given as
provided in this act, shall become lm-
mediately due and liable to the SAID
employee or holder of said order in a
SUN double the amount due, to be re-
covered by civil action in any court
having competent Jurisdiction.
We fail to see any reasonable objec-
ton 10 the bill. Why mine operatives
are not entitled to be paid twice u
month, when other laborers, artisans
and mechanics are paid four times a
month, we cannot gee. And why mine
operatives are not entitled 10 be paid
in money so that they a do the best
for themselves aud their families we
cannot see. The objections that are
made appear to us either puerile or in
terested. The mine owner pretends
that it would be a hardship, and the
casuist that it would interfere with the
| right of contracts. AS a matter of fact
the miner has the same chance to con.
tract in his W defense that the fly
has when the spider has gotten it into
it's webb. U, 'He needn't 60 into the
! webb if he doesn't want to?" Well it
looks that way, but if mining is his
business, and the mine owners are per-
mitted by law to pay only once a
month, and are permitted by law to
pay in store orders instead of money
thereby Oh all average reducing the
pay 10 per cent, they are very apt to
pay monthly and run company stores,
and he becomes the victim. The entire
system is wrong and should be reme-
died by law, The miner has a right
to receive his mouey on Saturday
night, or on Monday, as the case may
be, every week, and it should be in
money and not in truck.
The senate committee on labor,
mines and mining has shown a dis
position to kill the bill. We hope this
will not be done, but whatever hap
pens Bob Hicklin made a gallant fight
for the measure, and he deserves credit
Tor it.