The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-02-02
ElGHT-HOUR BILL is UP.
the Senate Committee Talks 1t
Over,

Over.
Three eight-hour bills now in the
hands of the senate committee on
mines and mining were discussed be-
fore that committee by representa-
tives OF mining companies and smeit-
ers and officers of the labor orgariza-
lions of the state. a few days since.
There was no considerable divergence
of opinion regarding the eight-ho'tr
day for underground miners, but the
question of application of the law to
by the men who participated in the
discussion. The committee took no
action, for the meeting was called for
the express purpose of obtaining in
formation and to allow all concerned
to represent their claims. John Mac
ginnis, one of the candidates for the
second senatorship and vice-presi-
dent of the Montana Ore Purchasing
company; A. M. Hotter, John R.
Toole, Charles w. Clark, Charles w.
Whitley. manager of the American
Smelling and Refining company's
works at East Helena; B. H. Tatem,
Mike Mccormick, president of the
State Trades and Labor council,
Charles Whitley, a member of the
Smelter and Millmen's Union of Butte,
- ,%<,%s r 4
Representative j. j. Quinn addressed
the committee and answered ques-
tons pertaining to the proposed law.
While three bills are before the
committee, their objects and provls-
ions are practically Identical. One is
Representative j. ] Quinn's bill or
iginating in the house. The others
were introduced in the senate by Sen
atOr S. S. HObson. One of these bills
applies to miners working in under
ground mines; the other to men en-
ployed in smelters. concentrators and
dry quartz mills. In the latter bill is
a provision that the law shall not take
effect until May -. 1901. That is MT
contained in the provisions of the
Quinn bill.
All the members of the committee
on mines and mining were present.
They are: Senators r. r. Courtney,
Jerry Connolly S. s. Hobson, W. NJ.
Biggs, and w. A. Clark. Senator
Hobson stated that he introduced the
bills credited to him by request, that
he knew little about mines and smelt-
ers and was not prepared to speak
intelligently on the merits of either
bill He asked A. M. Hotter to en-
tighten the committee on the subject
Senator Clark said that as the com
mittee was not familiar with the
smelling or mining business, and could
not know what effect the passage Of
an eight-hour law would have upon
those industries in the state, he
thought the meeting should be post
poned and some of the managers of
the mines and smelters, including f..
Augustus Heinze and c. w. Goodale,
should be summoned to appear and ex-
plain what effect the passage this
law would have upon the mining and
smelling interests of the state.
We are here to hear arguments
and to take action upon these bills"
said Senator Jerry Connolly.
Ger tainly the action of his corn
mittee should be taken in executive
session. Senator Clark added.
A. NJ. Hotter said he woHld rather
hear the views of men who give min
ing their full attention. Put said
Mr.. Hotter, Il think the law will be
a detriment to the state. For instance
in the Peck concentration at East
Helena, there is no manua, labor per
formed by the employees The work is
all done by electricity and the EN-
gloyes simply have to watca the lna-
chinery and sec that it perform" its
functions. That concentrotor has
been run at positive loss since Il
was established and if this law goes
into effect the result will Ic that the
Peck concentration vii have to shut
down.
There are mines in thi.; state that
can probably afford to reduce the
hours of labor to six or even four
hours, but that condition does not ap
ply generally. In Jefferson county
there is only one mine | know of that
is paying a dividend The business OF
the county has dwindled down so that
the only way in which it can be sup
ported is by the over valuation OF
property.
The main object of this law is that
it prohibits prospecting and retards