Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-11
The Measure Pro US for
Shot Examiners { no
Shot E'irers.
MINERS APPROVE of IT
Rough Draft of the Measure Is Prepar.
ed and Submitted-Progress of the
Miners onvention-consider Co.
operative Store House.

Des Moines, March 10.-The sub
committee of the house mines and min
ing committee appointed to draft Dill
in conformity with, the report made by
the Kendall commission, appointed to
investigate the cause of mine eXplo-
sions, has made a rough draft of the
bill which will be presented. 1t en-
bodies the suggestions made in the ma
jority and minority reports of the COM
mission, and it is regarded as prob
able that the bill will pass this session,
although, doubtless, some opposition
will be made to it by the operators.
Representative Kendall has submitted
the measure to the miners, who have
been assembled here in convention,
and it meets with their approval. The
operators will not object to it serious
ly, although they MAY desire one or
two minor notifications in the mea-
sure The bill as prepared is very
short, but comprehensive. 1t amends
section 24S9 of the code relating to
the duties of mine operators, and adds
the following to the section:
He 1.-THE operatorl shall keep all en-
tries and roadways tree from accumu-
lations of combustibNe materials and
shall cause such entries and roadways
to be thoroughly sprinkled as often
as may be necessary to keep them in a
damp condition. In all mines where
coal is blasted from the solid. he shall
employ competent, capable and expert
enced men to examine and fire all shots
after the employees and other persons
connected with saih mine have retired
to a safe distance from the vicinity of
such shots.
The bill as given makes three dis
tinct provisions: First, for shot exam
iners, as recommended by the entire
commission; second, for shot firers, as
recommended by the representatives of
the miners on the commission; third,
for the sprinkling and dampening of
all roadways and passageways, as sug-
gested by all the members of the COM
mission.
Appoint Legislative Committee.
The United Mine Workers in ses-
sion in this city, are today appointing
a legislative committee to assist in Sc
curing the enactment of laws for the
benefit of the miner. One of the most
important recommendations was that
of establishing legal eight-hour la
Dor law, to he applied to mine work
ers, municipal and state employees An
other recommendation was that re-
quiring inspection and proper ventila-
tion of gypsum mines in northern
Iowa in the same manner of it's effect
in coal mines. Heretofore there has
been no au thorized inspection or re-
quirement of facilities for the safety
OF employees, operative in the gypsum
mines in Iowa. A recommendation
which places the age limit of mine
workers at Ia years will also receive
support through the legislative COM
mittee. This has not yet been intro
duced, but measure has been pre-
pared and will be submitted to the
legislature as soon as possible. The
commission appointed by the COVER
nor to Investigate the Lost Creek dis
aster has received high testimonial
from the United Mine. Workers, and
this, in the form of resolution, will
be presented to the commission.
Cooperative Supply House.
Among the subjects discussed was
the establishment Of a cooperative
supply house, to be owned and con
trolled in theinterests of mine workers
The supply house is to have branches
at each mining point and distribution
made according to the number of mine
workers who are members of the CO
operative association. The subject
was taken up as a special order during
the afternoon session and it was decid
ed to submit a proposition at the mex
annual meeting. 1t was the opinion OF
members that considerable time would
be required to properly present the
subject for concerted action of the or
ganization and the establishment O
membership.
Boys in Mines.
Another subject taken up with es
pecial interest;was that of employing
boys in the mines. The present la,
requires boy to be more than 1:
years of age before he is allowed tt
work in the mines. 1t was said th,
habit of mis-stating a boys age had of
ten been resorted to in cases wher,
an employe seeks work and his siz,
does not conflict with the given age
TO remedy this, a rule was adopted re
Quiring parents of boys who apply TO
work in the mines to make affidavi
that their boys were of the required
age. Following this rule came recon
mendation that limit of IA be applied
to boys working in mines. AS rul
in Iowa mines of any size, boys ar
employed to drive mules pulling car
of coal. Others are employed to al
tend the trap doors, and others to max
car couplings and keep the switches il
order. 1t was popularly expressed il
the meeting Saturday that only me-
should be employed to handle the car
Of coal sent from place of digging t
eAe foot of shaft. There have bee