Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-20
An Editer Very Roughly Handled.


While on the subject of ventilation, Mr..
Blick picked up the editor of the CoUiery
Enqirseer and spanked him very thoroughly
for siding with and acting as spokesman of
the opponents of the bill. Under the pres
ent law the speaker said the use of locked
safety lamps could not be compelled. In
England the use of such lamps has reduced
the death rate in mines from 1 in 233 per-
sons in 1855 to 1 in 553 at present Mr..
Blick opposed the idea of new commits
sion and held that all that could be secured
would be the more rigid enforcement of the
present law.
1t was evident by the time Mr.. Blick got
through that the institute would devote the
day to the discussion, and it did, with an oc-
casional tilt with Mr.. Hartley, an operator
and also member of the late commission.
In the afternoon almost all present had a
shy at the matter, and the interest appeared
to grow as the debate progressed.
Mr. jenkins held that the Legislative
Committee didn't want to hear anything on
the subject, and treated the mine inspectors
as though they had no rights that Legis-
latsrs were bound to respect, and Mr.. Hart
ley agreed with him on this point, if not on
the general issue.
Indifference or Criminal Neglect.
Mr. Adams deprecated the indifference OF
the people in the anthracite region. He
doubted whether Indifference was strong
enough term to apply to the case where hu,
man life was in danger. He said the Mine
Commissions work was well done,
but done for naught. The objec
tions now made by operators were
not the same they had made. Mr.. Adams
had favored giving mules, as well as men,
more air. Now the operators are objectine
to what they once found no fault with. The
reason given for the minority report was
that Pittsburg men didn't want it. Mr..
Adams said the operators could get meet
ing whenever they wanted a hearing, but
the operatives representatives could not
Seven-twelfths of the blame rested with the
Republican party, as the Legislative Com
mittee was of that proportion.
Operator Hartley combatted Mr.. Adams
from time to time, but the latter drove
straight ahead. Mr. Adams charged that
the operators had so arranged that the only
way to get at them was to take the case:
into court, which did not suit him, as he
hadn't time to attend court. The operators
contend that miners can get along comfort.
ably with 100 cubic feet of air per minute
while miners contend that they need 15(
feet per minute.
Mr.. Adams said miners must pay more at
tention to the personnel of the men they senC
to Harrisburg Men who know nothing O
mines are controlled by influences that
miners know nothing of, and are furnished
with data or ammunition to fight miners.
Composition of the Committee.
He said the Committee on Mines anC
Mining was picked from counties generally
without interest in mining He read the
list. Thompson, of Dauphin, once miner
but for years corporation lawyer; Bates Of
Union county, manufacturer, who was in
imical; Keiffer, of Schuylkill; Newell, OF
Bradford, a dentist; Becker, of Philadel-
phia; Crawford, in whose district there is
not mine; Heinz, of Luzerne, who voted
right; Mcdonald, of Scranton, ditto; Mona
CHAN, ditto.
Secretary Seddon offered a resolution
censuring the Senate Committee for its
action. Mr.. Vandusen demanded if a vote
were taken that record be made, as he
contended it wasn't good politics.
Messrs. Steiner and jenkins did not care il
their names were paraded as censurers tc
the committee. The latter referred to the
'Junketing" which investigated mining dis.
asters as a drunken committee. He said
they were no better than he and had no more
rights, though they were members of the
Legislature. Steiner and Jenkins didn't
care continental for being spotted.