The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-02-22
Plan for a State
Bdreau OF Mines
Provisions of the Least Objectionable
Measure of This Kind Yet Intro
duced at Harrisburg.

OF the propositions under considera-
tion at Harrisburg looking to the Gre
alton Of state bureau of mining the
least Objectionable is that known as the
Mansfield bill, which has, we believe,
the support of the state administra-
ton. 1t consists of ten sections, as
follows:
Section 1.--Be it enacted, etc, that there
| is hereby established in the department.
| of internal affairs a bureau to be known
| as the bureau of mines which snail be
| charged with Il supervision OF the eXecu-
| tion of the mining laws of this common
wealth and the care and publication OF
| the annual reports of the inspectors of
| coal mines.
Sec. 2.--The chief officer of said bureau
shall be denomnated chief of the bureau
| of mines and shall be appointed by the
| governor upon the recommendation or
| the secretary of internal affairs within
sixty days after the final passage of this
| act and every four years thereafter. lie
| shall be commissioned by the governor
| to serve for a term of four years from
| the date of his appointment and until
| his successor is duly qualified and shall
| receive an annual salary of $4,000 ana
| travelling expenses. In case of vacancy
in the Office of the chief of said bureau,
| the governor shall appoint on recon-
| mendation of the secretary OF internal
| affairs a qualified person to fill such va
| cancy for the unexpired balance of the
| term
| Sec. 3.-The chief of the bureau OF
| mines shall be a competent mining en-
gineer having at least ten years practical
experience in the working and ventilation
| of coal mines of this state and practical
| knowledge of all noX!ous and dangerous
gases found in such mines, or other per-
| son who shall be fully qualified by sclen-
tihc knowledge and practical experience
to perform the duties of the office. He
shall have passed the examination re-
Quired by the mining laws for applicants
for the position of mine inspector an0
shall have been recommended to the gov
ernor as qualified to fill the office of mine
| inspector by some of the examining
| boards duly appointed for that purpose
| The said chief of the bureau of mines sc
appointed shall before entering upon the
| duties of his office, take and subscribe tc
the oath of office prescribed by the con
stituton, and give to the commonwealth
a bond in the penal sum of $4,000 witt
| surety, conditioned for the faithful dis
charge of the duties of his office.
MUST ENFORCE THE LAW.
Sec At shall be the duty of the chic
of the bureau of mines to devote tht
whole of his time to the duties OF his OF
this state are faithfully executed and fol
this purpose he is hereby invested witt
the same power and authority as tn,
mine inspectors to enter, inspect and eX
anime any mine or Colliery within tn'
state and the works and machinery con
neCted Herewith and to give such ait
and advice to the mine inspectors from
time to time as he may deem best calcu
lated to protect the health and prom0t
the safety of all persons employed in an(
about the mines And should he receiv,
information by petition, signed by ten o.
more miners or operators, and setting
forth that any of the mine inspectors ar,
neglectful of their duty or are incom
petent to perform the duties of their of
flee or are guilty of malfeasance in of
flee he shall at once investigate the mat
ter and if he shall be satisfied that tn
| charge or charges are well founded h
shall then petition the court of common
pleas or the judge in chambers in an!
| county within or partly within the in
specton district of the said mine in
| spector, which court, upon receipt of SAT-
| petition and report of the character o
the charges and testimony produced, shal
at once issue citation in the name o
the commonwealth to the said inspecto
| to appear on not less than fifteen days
notice on a fixed day, before said cour
at which time the court shall procee'
to inquire into the allegations of the pc
titioners and may require the attendanc
of such witnesses as the judge of tn
court and the chief of the said bureau
may deem necessary in the case. Tn
inspector under investigation shall ais
have similar power and authority to com
pei the attendance of witnesses in hi
behalf If the courts shall find by said in
vestigation that the said mine inspecto
is guilty of neglecting his official dutie
or is incompetent to perform the dutie
of his office or is guilty of malfeasance II
office the said court shall certify tn
| same to the governor who shall declar
the office vacant and shall proceed t
supply the vacancy as provided for by tn
mining laws of the state The cost o
said investigation shall, if the charges ar
sustained be imposed upon the mine in
| spector but if the charges are not sus
tained the cost shall be paid out of tn
| state treasury upon voucher or voucher
duly certified as to correctness by tn
judge or proper officer of the cour
| where such proceedings are held. pre-
Vided that If the court shall be satisite
that there is no foundation for the con-
plant or that the same is made wit
malicious intent then the court may a
Its discretion impose the whole or an
portion of the costs upon the said pet
TONERS. To enable the said chief of tn
bureau of mines to conduct more effectu
ally his examinations and investigation
of the charges and complaints which ma
be made by petitioners against any {
the mine inspectors as herein provided h
shall have power to administer oaths an
take attidavits and depostions in forI
and manner provided by law.
: TO TRANSMIT REPORTS.
, Sec. Sit shall be the duty of the chic
of the bureau of mines to take charge {
, and preserve in his office the annual rC
ports of the mine inspectors and transm
, a copy of them together with such stt