The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1897-10-07
" This Law win reach parties such

No, 7S-Labor Day bill. presented by
~.Dator Cochran. This law changes
labor Day from the first Saturday In
-ptember to the first Monday. thus
aaling this holiday fall on the same
day designated in most Of the other
states. 1t also designates the days and
half days to be observed as legal holi-
days, and for the payment. acceptance
and protesting of bills. notes, drafts.
checks and other negotiable paper on
such days"
No. 4s-The famous Weller bill, an
act ito protect employees of corporations
, in their right to form. join or belong to
labor organizations, by prescribing pen
alties for any interference Herewith"
The penalty for violation of this act Is
not more than $1,000 nor less than 81 900
and imprisonment for a term not ex-
ceeding one year or either or both in
the discretion of the court
No. 1l4-The alien tax bill, presented
| by Representative G.. w. Campbell, OF
Fayette county. This law places tax
Of three cents a day on all employers
of foreigners, and provides that the tax
may be deducted from the wages OF the
persons affected by the provisions. 1t
| also prescribes n penalty of not less
5000 nor more than $1,000 for each Of
| fense.
No S4l-The eight hour day bill. pre-
sented by Representative Farr, Of
Lackawanna. This law regulates the
| hours of labor of mechanics. working
men and laborers in the state or mu-
nicipal corporations therein or other
wise engaged on public works.
No. 423-Presented by Representative
MouOhan, of LuZerne. This law is for
the better protection of employees In
and about the coal mines by preventing
mine superntendents, mine foremen
| and assistants from receiving or So
| Letting any sums of money or other
| valuable consideration from men while
| in their employ and providing a penalty
| for violation of the same"
No. Slt-"NmerS' certificate hill" pre-
sentcd 10y c. Is. Miller, of Luzcrne. This
| law is to protect the lives and limbs
OF miners from the dangers resulting
from incompetent miners working in
the anthracite coal mines of this COM
monwcalth, and to provide for the eX-
animation of persons seeking employ
| Hltill as illUtlS III lllc tulHlttllN re-
gion and to prevent the employment Of
| incompetent persons as miners In anth-
racte coal mines and providing penal
ties for u 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 fla
grantly. certificates being given out
| without regard to the fitness of the
men.
The law increases the cost of GER
tifcates TO 81. A man. in order to
get a certificate, must have had two
years experience either as a miner or
mine laborer in the mines of this
state. He must appear in person before
the board and he identified under oath
by at least one miner holding Il Certii-
cate He must be able to answer in
telligently at least IL questions in the
English language pertaining to the re-
qurements of practical miner.
The board must meet publicly once
a month. and not ofteher, and must
keep record open to the public show
ing n detailed account Of each eyamina-
tion OF all questions and their answers
Meetings must not be held wherein in
toxicating liquors are sold. Certificates
will not be legal unless signed In per-
son by all the members OF the board
All certificates that have been improp-
erly and Illegally issued are unlawful
and Illegal, and the owners must get
new ones This is "A feature that the
owners of the certificates and others
Interested under the law in those GER
tifCates might well be very careful of
because it is liable at any time to prove
interesting to them by way of causing
them considerable bother and trouble
under the new law.
Members of the board must prosecute
all violations of the act, and in the case
. of their failure to do SO it then becomes
the duty of the district attorney. anC
; any member of the board found guilty
, of violating the law, in addition to the
other penalties his Office shall be de,
clarcd vacant, and he shall not b,
=. eligible to again hold such Il position
Any citizen has also the power (,
prosecute. Employers are also liabl,
to the penalties in case of cmployini
persons not holding certificates. Any
person found guilty of violating the law
) shall pay a fine of not less than $40
and not more than $500, or shall undergo
Imprisonment not less than 80 days Ol
, more than six months, or either ol
, both. at the discretion of the court.
No. Slj-I'he anti-screcn bill pre-.
sented by Representative McWhinney
of Allegheny. This bill requires tn,
weighing of bituminOus coal befcr,
screening. and providing II penalty foI
the violation thereof. This is a law tha,
is of great Importance to the miners O
the soft coal region. and one that ha,
been fought for during many years.
No. 3i-The mines and.mining bureau
This bill creates the bureau Of mine,
and mining, providing for the Office of 3
chief, whose duty it will be to see thai
the mine laws are properly administer.
ed and that violations are promptly
punished. This bill was presented nv
Senator John j. Coyle, of SchuylkiIl
county.
No, jGS-The Orme companv storo
order bill, with which the readers of
The Journal are familiar, was passod
by the legislature, but was vetoed Inv
| the governor bn