The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-07-17
THE FULL TEXT OF THE MEASURE
By It's Provisions the Governor Appoints a
Chief of the Bureau Of Mines, to Serve
Four Years, Who Shall Have
General Supervision Of
the Mine laws.

House of Representatives of the Common
wealth of Pennsylvania, in General As
sembly met and it is hereby enacted by the
authority Of the same, that there is hereby
established in the Department of Internal
Affairs of Pennsylvania a bureau to be
known as the Bureau of Mines, which shall be
charged with a supervision of the execution
of the mining laws of this Commonwealth,
and the care and publication Of the annual
reports of the Inspectors of Coal Mines.
Section g The chief officer of said bureau
shall be denominated Chief of the Bureau of
Mines, and shall be appointed by the Cover
nor, by and with the advice and consent of
the Senate. within thirty days after the final
passage of this act, and every four years
thereafter, who shall be commissioned by
the Governor, to serve term of four years
from the date Of his appointment and until
his successor is duly qualified, and shall re-
ceive an annual salary of three thousand
dollars and travelling expenses. and in case
of a vacancy in the office of chief of said
bureau, by reason of DEATH resignation or
otherwise the Governor shall appoint
qualified person to fill such vacancy for the
unexpired balance of the term.
Section 3. The Chief of the Bureau of
Mines shall be a competent person, having
had at least ten years practical experience in
the working and ventilation of coal mines of
this State, and a practical and scientific
knowledge of all nOXiOUs and dangerous gases
Bureau Of Mines, so appointed, shall before
entering upon the duties of his Office take
and subscribe to the oath of office prescribed
by the Constitution, the same to be filed in
The office of the Secretary Of the Common
wealth, and give to the Commonwealth a
bond in the penaT sGir 81 teeiif thousand dol
lars with surety, to be approved by the
Governor and Secretary Of Internal Affairs.
conditioned for the faithful discharge of the
duties of his office
Section 4. 1t shall be the duty Of the chief
of the bureau to devote the whole of his
time to the duties of his Office and to see that
the mining laws of this state are faithfully
executed, and for this purpose he is invested
with the same power and authority as the
Mine Inspectors to enter, inspect and ex-
anime any mine or cOlliery within the state
and the works and machinery connected
Herewith, and to give such aid and instruc-
ton to the Mine Inspectors from time to time
as he may deem best calculated to protect the
health and promote the safety of all persons
employed in and about the mine and the said
Chief Of the Bureau of Mines shall have the
power to suspend any Mine Inspector for any
neglect of duty, but such suspended Mine
Inspector shall have the right to appeal to
the Secretary of Internal Affairs who shall
be empowered to approve of such suspension
or restore such suspended Mine Inspector to
duty after investigating the causes which led
to such suspension. Should the Chief of the
Bureau of Mines receive information by
petition signed by ten or more miners or one
or more operators, setting forth that any of
the Mine Inspectors are neglectful Of their
duty or are incompetent to perform the duties
of their office or are guilty of malfeasance i'm
office, he shall at once investigate the matter
and if he shall be satisfied that the charge or
charges are well founded, he shall then
petition the court of common pleas or the
judge in chambers in any county within or
partly within the inspection district of the
said Mine Inspector, which court upon
receipt Of said petition and a report
of the character of the charges and tes-
timony produced shall at once issue
citation in the name Of the Commonwealth
to the said Inspector TO appear on not less
than fifteen days notice on fixed day be-
fore said court, at which time the court shall
proceed to inquire into the allegations of the
petitioners and may require the attendance
of such witnesses ON subpoena issued and
served by the proper officer or officers as the
judge of the court and the Chief of said
Bureau may deem necessary in the case, the
Inspector under investigation, shall. also have
similar power and authority to compel the
attendance of witnesses in his behalf If
the court shall find by said investigation,
that the said Mine Inspector is guilty of
neglecting his office or is guilty of malfeas
ance in office, the said court shall certify the
same to the Governor, who shall declare the
office vacant and shall proceed to supply the
vacancy as provided for by the mining laws
of this state The cost Of said investigation
shall, 1tsehe charges are sustained, be i'm
posed upon the Mine Inspector, but if the
charges are not sustained. the cost shall be
paid out of the State Treasury upon voucher
or vouchers duly certified as to correctness
by the Judge or proper officer of the court
where such proceedings are held. To enable
the said Chief of the Bureau of Mines TO con.
not of ftuII
investigations Of charges and complaints
which may be made by petitioners against
any of the Mine Inspectors as herein pro
vided, he shall have power to administer
oaths and take atiidavits and depositions in
form and manner provided by law Pro
yided, however, That nothing in this section
shall be so construed as to repeal section thir
| teen Of article two Of the act of Assembly
/ approved the second day of June, Ammo
/ DOmiui, one thousand eight hundred and
ninety-one, entitled, can act to provide fol
the health and safety Of persons employed il
and about the anthracite coal mines in Penn
sylyania, and for the protection and preserva
tion Of property connected Herewith" " ant
also articles thirteen and fourteen of am ac
Of Assembly approved the fifteenth day o
May, Ammo DOmni, one thousand eight hun
! dred and ninety three, entitled, IAN act re
lating to btuminous coal mines aud provid
ing for the lives, health, safety and welfare
Of persons employed therein"
Section 5. 1t shall be the duty of the Chic
Of the Bureau Of Mines to take charge O
and preserve in his office the annual report
of the Mine Inspectors and transmit a cop
of them together with such other statistica
data compiled therefrom and other matte
relating to the work of the Bureau as ma,
be Of public interest properly addressed +
the Secretary Of Internal Affairs for trans
mission to the Governor and the General AS
sembly Of this Commonwealth on or befor
the first day of March in each year 1t shal
also be the duty of the Chief of the Bureau
of Mines to see that said reports or a copy O
them are placed in the hands of the Publ
Printer for publication at the same date, th
same to be published under the direction O
the Secretary of Internal Affairs as other re
ports of his department are now required b,
law 20 be published, and in order that tn
chief Of said Bureau may be able to prepare
compile and transmit his annual report t
the Secretary of Internal Affairs within tn
time herein specified the Mine Inspectors an
hereby required to deliver their annual re
ports 10 the Secretary Of Internal Affairs ol
OF before the fifteenth day of February il