Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1903-01-24
COUNTY.
The Grand Jury'S Report.

After stating that 2l9 witnesses had
been heard, 81 cases considered, II in
dctments found and IL ''luckies" dis
missed, the Il 'ual references to violations
of the liquor law, want of IL new Jail,
good conditions of insane asylum and
almshouSc, the report continues:
The Court having instructed us To invcSti-
gate the workings of the mine inspection
Act. we have examined the law and listened
with much interest and appreciation to the
intelligent and comprehensive report given
by the Mine Inspector, which proves to us
that the law is a vast improvement on any
of the previous enactmcnt>.
That is very pretty. The Inspector
who can SO impress Il grand jury must
himself he an cXtra-tremendouS i'm
provemcnt upon Frank Mcmahon, his
predecessors and other successors.
We learned that some of the provisions
are being disrcgardcd by Il few of the mine
officials, especially in ncglccting to keep the
brattiCcs lined up as the workings advance.
Moreover we learn that the miners are gen.
spcctn. the burning of cheap and inferior
oil, which binders and utilities the proper
and hcalthful ventilation of mines put i'll
operation by the coal company.
Pretty even running. that, meek
and neck in violating the best law as
spector either or both ever had.
But third party in the race seems to
have the lead III the next ascertainment:
We also mention the more fagrant pollu-
ton of the air current on the part of drivers
and laborcrS in using black strap oil as an
iluminant.
Clearly this is unlawful and the jury
observes
As it is in the province of the mine fore
man TO prevent the burning of said oil by
their employees, we advise that they strictly
prohibit its use for said purpose.
Is it not IL wonder he fails to have the
law respected without being advised"
Sometimes an immense point is made
of the fact that ''the companies cannot
countenance interference with the run
ming of our mines in our own way
That claim is not only plausible, but
it is sound, everlastingly spund-until
"our own way" turns out to be unlawful.
But the jury, forgetting what it said
is 1.-The province of the mine foreman"
concludes
that the only sure way To prevent the
use of the poor oil is to have Il law passed
prohibiting the sale of any but standard OIL
by merchants of the county We would
recommend this to the attention of the next
Legislature.
Whose "province' will it be then to
see that the (mning) law is yet Il vaster
Improvement ON even this unprecedented
enactment the Inspector, representing
the miners, of course, or the mine fore
man, representing the companies:
That is, which or who is to see that
the merchants also shall obey the min
ing law:
In the next round the companies gain
somewhat on the miners in disregard of
the "vast improvement:
The law provides that there shall he cross
cuts every - yards. We recommend that
this provision be strictly enforced and viola
tons thereof in the future he prosecuted.
Looks like conducting our own bust
ness i'll our own way strikes another
snag herein, but no more on that point
until case gets into court.
Now for the dessert:
In conclusion. we beg to express our
highest appreciation of the courteous treat
mcnt from the court officials, and our es-
pccial thanks are due to the very efficient
States attorney who, by his advice and
assistance in presenting the cases before us
in a thoroughly clear and concise form, has
materially l"htcncd our labors and greatly
shortened our term.
Question--when breaking the best
mining law the region has ever had by
both employer and employee, is there
not in that one community of interest"
enough ground for both to stand upon
and deal directly with each other con-
corning matters that are lawful though
not in the Code?
In other words, why should employers
and employees, unitcdIy and conc"rrtnHy
violating the same Chapter, each mean
while running their own business to
suit themselves" why should either de-
cline to meet the other concerning the
lawful matter of wages because the other
is unfortunately represented by perhaps
third law breaker:
For these conclusions implied i'll these
questions the JOURNAL must not be cen
sured. The blame, if any, should be
laid at the doors of the authors of 1.-THE
best law the charmingly impartial i'll
spector and the indulgent grand jury
which leaves the story to be re told to its
April successor.
Journalistic.
Mr.. J. J. Robinson, editor of the l.onacon-
ing S",, left ON Saturday on a business trip
to indianapolis, lnd.-Cumberla Ne"S.
The national convention of United
Mine Workers was due in same city
Monday.
1t is probable, therefore. that Mr..
Robinson and the convention arrived