The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-15
In their employ and providing a penal
ty for violation OF tho same"
MINER,S cERTIEIC,A ATu, III

law is 10 protect the lives and limbs
of miners from the dangers resulting
from incompetent miners working in
the anthracite coal mines of this COM
monwealth, and to provide for the ex-
| animation of persons seeking employ
ment as miners in tha anthracite re-
gion and to prevent the employment of
incompetent persons as miners in an
thracite coal mines and providing PEN
alties for a violation of the same" This
is one of the most important laws en-
| acted by the legislature. The old law
of 1889 was looked upon as a burlesque
| and it was known to be violated Iia-
grantly, certificates being given out
without regard to the fitness of the
| men. The law increases the cost of GER
tificates to 81. A man, in order to get
a certificate, must have had two years
| experience either as q miner or a mine
laborer in the mines of this state. He
must appear in person before the board
and be identified under oath by at least
one miner holding certificate. He
must he able to answer intellgently at
least II questions in the English Ian
guage pertaining to the requirements
of practical miner.
The board must meet publicly once
a month, and not oftener, and must
keep a record open to the public show
ing detailed account of each exam
nation, of all questions and their an
sWers. Meetings must not be held
wherein intoxicating liquors are sold
Certificates will not be legal unless
signed in person by all the members of
the board. All certificates that have
been improperly and illegally issued
are unlawful and illegal, and the own
ers must get new ones. This is a fea-
ture that the owners of the certificates
and others interested under the law in
those certificates might well be very
careful of, because it is liable at any
time to prove interesting to them by
way OF causing them considerable
brother and trouble under the new law.
Members of the board must prose-
cute all violations of the act, and in
the case of their failure to do so it
then becomes the duty of the district
attorney, and any member of the
board found guilty of violating the
law, in addition to the other penalties
his office shall be declared vacant, and
he shall not be eligible to again hold
such a position. Any citizen has also
the power to prosecute. EMPLOYERS
are also liable to the penalties in case
or employing persons not holding GER
uhcateS. Any person found guilty of
violating the law shall pay a fine of
not less than 500 and not more than
$500, or shall undergo Imprisonment
not less than 80 days or more than six
months, or either or both, at the dis
cretion of the court.
ANTI-SCREEN BILL.
No. S15-The anti-screen bill, pre-
sented by Representative McWhinney
of Allegheny. This bill requires the
weighing of bitumnous coal before
screening, and providing a penalty for
the violation thereof. This is a law
that is of great Importance to the min
ers of the soft coal-region, and one
that has been fought for during many
years.
NO. 34-The mines and mining
bereau. This bill creates the bureau of
mines and mining, providing for the
Office of a chief, whose duty it will be
to see that the mine laws are properly
administered and that the violations
are promptly punished. This bill was
presented by Senator John j. Coyle,
of Schuylkill county.
Representative Mansfield from Bea-
Yer, introduced a bill covering 56 pages.
amending the entire bituminous min
ing law, which had been declared un-
constitutional by Judge Gordon. This
bill passed and received the executive
signature
The arbitration law, which is a copy
OF the Ohio law, passed the senate and
second reading in the house. 1t was
on third reading calendar during the
last two sessions, but because of the
rules to get the appropriation bills
through it fell with final adjourn
ment. If this bill had come to a final
vote it would have passed with a big
majority. 1t was unfortunate that
this bill Jared as it did, as arbitration
Is considered favorable throughout the
whole country among prominent men
from the president down.
TO SAVE $1,000, 900 A YEAR.
Another bill along the line of in
terest and Importance to labor and the
patriotic orders, and which has been
commended from one end of the COM
monWealth to the other, was introduce
ed by Representative Benjamin X.
focht, OF Union county, who was one
OF the leaders on the floor Of the house
IN the interest of labor and agricuI-
ture. The bill provides for the removal
TO other states and countries of all
unnaturalized foreigners who are
quartered upon the state. The law is
modelled after the one that has been in
successful operation for some years in
massachusetts,. Mr.. Focht SAYS that
an investigation recently made dis
closes the fact that 10000 aliens are
quartered upon the taxpayers of PENN
sylVania at an annual cost of 81 5000 :
OOO,and to this extent the public will
be relieved when his law is fully en-
forced.
The above bill do not include all
that We're passed in the interest of
labor, and they constitute but q
small fraction of the whole number
designed to benefit all branches Of in
dustry.
In the face Of the above it would
seem to be about time to shoot when |
the calmity buzzard persists in be-
rating the last legislature. Facts are
deadly and the distortion of the truth |
by partisans and factionalists, and
those who wish to advance personal
interests and ambitions, will not pre- |
vail, The fair and just thing for all |
workingmen to do is to cast their vote |
for the whole Republican ticket, and |
ald in strengthening and maintaining |
the party that has rolled away for
them the Democratic clouds of desnair |
ana brought back in state and nation |
and happiness.
A POLITICAL POINTER