Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-08
LICENSED COAL MINERS
PENNSYLVANIA STATUTE RE-
CURING CERTIFICATIoN.
A Most Important Factor in the Pres
emit Problem Regarding the Peo-
pies Fuel Supply.

One Of the most important factors in the
present anthracite coal strike is the Penn
sylvania statute which requires the licens-
ing of miners. This statute in effect limits
the number of men who are legally qualified
to enter the mines and direct the opera
tons of the gang. All workers in the mines
are not, however, certified miners These
in most cases. are the only men directly
recognized by the operators who in effect
contract with the licensed miners and the
latter in turn subhire laborers who are not
certified. One of the chief points of the
controversy at present awaiting solution
| through the presence Of troops at the mines
is as to the attitude of the certified miners
The operators contend that IL they are
given protection these men will return to
work in sufficient numbers to permit the
production of an ample supply of coal. The
strike leaders declare that the licensed
miners will not return. II the operators are
correct in their claim, the presence Of
troops may solve the problem If they are
incorrect, it will be impossible under the
laws for them to operate the mines. In
| this event, according to some reports, the
next step Of the mine owners will be to seek
| the repeal, amendment or suspension Of
| the statute requiring the certification Of
| miners. against the enactment Of which
| they fought at the time of its proposal.
| The full text of the law regarding the
certifcation of miners follows, the first Sec
| ton of the statute, which is not given, re-
lerrlnS TO enlOmDeO miners.
Examination Of Miners.
| Sec. 2. Hereafter no person whomsoever
| shall be employed or engaged in the an
| thracite coal region Of this commonwealth
| as a miner in any anthracite coal mine
| without having obtained a certificate Of
! competency and qualification so to do from
| the miners examining board Of the
proper district, and having been duly regis
| tered herein provided.
| Sec. 3. There shall be established in each
| of the inspection districts in the anthracite
ers' examining board" of the dis
| trict, to consist of nine persons, who shall
| be appointed by the president judge of the
| proper county from among the most skill
| in their respective districts, and who must
| have had five years practical experience in
| the same, three Of whom to serve one year.
| three two years and three five years. and
| thereafter annually three to serve for the
| term Of three years. The said persons so
| appointed shall be and constitute the min
| ers' examining board for their respective
| districts and shall hold the office for the
| term for which they were appointed, or
| until their successors are duly appointed
| and qualified, and shall receive as compen-
| sation for their services 50 per day for each
| day actually engaged in this service, and
| all legitimate and necessary expenses in
| Cured in attending the meetings of said
| board. under the provisions Of this act and
no part OF the salary Oh Sdlu DOaTQ OF eX-
| penses thereof shall be paid out Of the state
| treasury.
Sec T. Each of said boards shall organize
| by electing one Of their members secre-
| tary, and by dividing themselves into three
| subcommit tees for the convenient discharge
| of their duties; each of said committees
| shall have all the powers hereinafter con-
ferred upon the board. and whenever in this
| they shall be taken to include any OF the
| committees thereof.
Sec 5. Every member of said board shall.
within ten days OF their appointment. or
being apprised OF the same take and sub
scribe an oath or affirmation before a prop
erly qualified officer of the county in which
| they reside that they will faithfully and i'm
| partially discharge the duties OF their Office.
| Sec. 6. Any vacancies occurring in said
board shall be filed In the manner herein
| before provided from among such as are
eligible for original appointment.
Sec. Z. Each Of said examining boards
shall designate some convenient place with
in their districts for the meetings Of the
several committees thereof. of which due
| notice shall be given by advertisement in
two or more newspapers Of the proper
county, and so divided as to reach as nearly
as practicable all the mining districts there
in.
Names to Be Registered.
Sec. 8. Each of said committees shall
open at the designated place of meeting a
book of registration, in which shall be reg
istered the name and address Of each and
every person duly qualified under this act
to be employed as miner In an anthracite
coal mine. And 1t shall be the duty of all
persons now employed as miners, or who
shall hereafter desire to be SO employed, to
apply to said board to be registered as such
within ninety days thereafter; application
for registration only may be sent by mail
to the board after being attested before
any person authorized to administer an
oath or affirmation In the county in which
the applicant resides. The form OF applica-
ton shall be subject to such regulations as
may be prescribed by the boards, but In no
case shall any applicant be put to any un-
necessary expense In order to secure regis
trAtion-
Sec. 9 TIE said board shall b satitlad to