The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-14
Mr.. Breen's Measure Will Create
Fun When II Comes Up for
Passage.
Mine Owners and Superintendents
Send in q Strong Protest
Against It.
A A!s Hatch Of Kills hsfors Roth Honses-
Moro State Institution
Bills.

Breen's clght-hour bill. They are shy
about al open expression OF views. bul
there il much curiosity to learn wheths,
the bill will become 4 law. Tho other DAY
the committee on education and labor
brought In two reports, the majority report
recommending passage. A motion to table
tho bill was lost by a vote Of twsnty-siRhi
to nineteen, but this is not considered IN
index Of the inal vote. Some Of the repre-
sentatives will do some hard thinking when
the third reading comes. The bill was sent
to the printer and may be brought before
tho house any day. The different mining
unions have boon encouraging the bill in
every way possible. James Gilillan, presi-
dent of tho Miners union at
Gronite, has been in town several
weeks lobbying for the bill. while
W.. III. Eddy, president Of tho Miners
union. Of Butte, runs over from the Smoky
city every day or 80 to help the bill along.
Several cords of petitions are slowed away
in Mr.. Breen's desk. They nre from the
miners Of Butte, Red Lodge, Granite, Elb-
horn and Barker and from labor unions.
The one from Butte contains over 5000
names. 1t gives n table OF figures showing
the money raised by the union to take care
Of ita sick and bury its dead. Over $2S,OO0
was paid out from this fund last year. II is
claimed that the mortality IL greater than
among any other class of laborers. Statis-
tics are produced to show this. Bad dir
and continuous hard work are largely re-
sponsiblo for SO many deaths, many OF
which are caused by lung disssses. Mr..
Giifilan says That il the bill becomes 4 law
the miners will do as much work in eight
N---- A. --. -. -. 49,. FhA ~ -
receiving opposition from the mine ownors
and superintendent. WHO have prepared
and signed the following protest. which
will be presented to the houge:
BcrrE CRY, Nent.. Feb. $40 tho Hon.
orabls the House of Representatives of the
State OF Montana. Helena. Montana:
The unaers,gnsd. operating mines in the
state Of Montana. having learned that a
bill ia to DE presented TO your honorable
body firing the working time Of miners and
other underground leborers at q day of Not
to exceed eight hours, would respectfully
beg to ubmit for your confederation a brief
statement regarding existing conditions
Ind thu consequences that would result
from the enactment OF sucE II measure.
While ten honrs constitutes the present
working day nine hours night shift has been
the almost universal custom for the last ten
years, n III many cases on Saturdays 4
''short shift OF nins hours for day ard
e.xHh LCUfS IOE ulRGt IAcU Is CUuULeu lult
tIn0. In wet workings eight hours per day
IN and always has been the rCle. and where
impsrfec. ventilation exists the men are al
lcHcn aid invariably take sufficient time
atts. blasting for the poxious fumes to be-
come dissipated 80 that in such places even
eight hours work per day is not accom-
plished. In shaft-sinking and similar WORK
sight-hour shifts prevail. and it is custom
sry to pay more than the regulation $3.50
per shift to miners SO engaged.
Any reduction in the hours of labor is
equivalent to an increase in pay, since the
cost of production per ton of ore is corre-
spondingly enhanced, and while the cost of
living has been materially reduced during
recent years, miners wages and their hours
OF labor have suffered No change.
The margin Of profit enjoyed by mining
companies il not large except in iso-
lated cases, and every years operations
reduce j. by reason of the augmented work
ing expense consequent upon hosting and
pumping from greater depths. 1t is q we'll
Of both silver and copper many mines
throughout the state are barely paying ex-
penses, and for such mines any increase in
the cost of production would throw the
working balance On the wrong sid and
force them to suspend operations.
For the reasons above cited we feel that
the passage of such q bill would seriously
initiate against the INTEREST," of both en-
plCyer and employee, and while We are an
1ious TO adopt all possible means tending
toward the amelioration of the condition Of
the working classes, we feel assured that
any legislation in the premises will be inim-
ical 10 the best interests of the class it is in
tended to benefit.
1t il signed as follows: Butte d Boston
Co.. by G. II. Palmer, superintendent; Lex
jngtOn Mining Co., by Superintendent
Charles G. Ringer; Park Coal and Coke Co.;
Cable Co.: Amy b Siiyersmith, by Prssi-
dent George w. Irwin; Champion Co.. N. J.
Superintendent Thomas Couch; Volunteer
Mining Co.. by President W. X. Kenyon:
j. A. Leggatt, Bannister Mining Co., by
President II. ~. Bannister; Colorado Smell
ting q Mining Co, by Manager G. W.
Goodals; Parro. Silver q Copper Co, by J.
Manager W. G. Keller; Glsngarry Co.. by
Manager H.. G. Carney; Anaconda Co., by
Marcus DAILY and Michsel Carroll; Comb
nation Co.. by President W. q. Lewis
Black Rock Mining Co., Original Co.,
Coluss Parrot CO.. by Superintendent A. H
Wethey; Elv;na Mining Co., by X. d. Leg
GET The Alice Co., sy Superriaten SI 2 " y
Go0dals; Mouiton Co., by Superintendent
j. X. Clark.
Noticsg of the following bills were eiyer
in tho house:
By AR. Loud-An act appropriating none,
for bcunties On stock killing animals, AND
Au act 10 aIDsna section 1866, fifth division
compiled statutes.
Fy Mr.. Woodson-An act to provide fol
the election Of certain state and count,
officers and presidential electors and repre-
sentstives.
BY Mr.. Blakely-An ac. providing for al
agricultural college End location.
By Mr. Gooonian-An act to proven
gambling and the use Of certain gamblin,
devices.
By MIR. Hughes-To prescribe the duties
number and compensation of employees o
each houss of legislature.
by Mr.. Greenough-Amending q law pro
vlding for the levy Of taxes and assessmen
of property.
BillS we're introduced as follows:
BY Mr.. Thompson-1O6-TO provide th
compensation and mileage of members o
the legislative assembly.
BY Mr.. Wailace-1o5-To provide 70
bonding the outstanding Indebtedness G
Helena.
BY Mr. BIair-1G2-An act to f~aciIitat
the recording of marks and brands.
BY BIZ. Tools-Io3-An act appropriatin
money for the care and maintenance of til
insane.
BY Mr.. Hastie-1D4-An act to create tn
Eleventh Judicial district. composed of tt
counties of Choteau and Fergus.
The committees on state boards and of
cers favorably recommended the bill pr,
scYibing compensation and duties Of u