The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-11-15

SatS tAs cause OF such q Ereat
loss OF life, but, IL possible TO sec,r,
remedies to protect the mine worr>
ers In following their dangerous oc.
cupation. oS
With this end in view, the Cover.
nor q exercised the great prerora
1--WE OF his Office and appointed n
commission to revise the mininr
Jaws OF West Virginia. In his letter
% inc members of the Commission
the following appears: There are
NO PRINCIPLES objects sought to be
obtained, The preservation OF ufs
IN en- Is the first Importance. Of
course, secondly, the preservation of
'opertN. rhis statement of the
governor in his letter to the mem
JET OF the Commission explains his
position very Clearly TO those VIII,
nay and ought t o be Interested In
the preservation OF life.
we, the representatives of the
miners believe that Governor Ds
son Is sincere. as every other cit,-
N or our State should be, In his d.
SIRE TO reduce to the lowest mint.
mum the dangers encountered in coal
mines, and to provide such meas
ures as will eliminate, so far rs mr.
t,ncial means can. any possibility OF
the loss OF life. "
In the opinion OF the representa-
tlves OF thousands of mine work ers
In this State. and we believe in the
opinion of all mine workers. n they
we're given an opportunity to express
tnelr honest convictions, the caus,
Tor the great loss of life in the mines
OF west Virginia may be g%eneralized
as follows:
lst. Inadequate mining laws.
Zno. insufficient penalties,
Srd. The employment of men
VINO nave no knowledge of the dan
gers OF mining.
It'll. The failure to enforce the
law. ~
5th. The need of a larger force
of inspectors.
We, the representatives of the
miners, present to the members of
tho Commission to revise the mining
laws and through the said Commits,
SION to the Governor of West Vir-
slnia, the following recommends
lions to be incorporated into laws
this State.
Under our FIRST proposition, '.In-
adequate mining laws" there should
be-:
A larger current of air, more
uniformly distributed in the mines.
B-Brakethroughs between entries
and rooms should be made every ATTY
feet apart.
C-An breakthroughs between en-
tries and rooms, except the last
breakthrough, should be closed with
concrete, friedrich, stone or such ma
terial as will make the br%eakthrough
air tight.
D-The entries in all dust accu-
muiating mines should be sprinkled
with water every twenty-four hours.
E-All mines accommodating fire.
damp should be inspected by com q.
petent hre bosses and the result of
his inspection he posted at the
Smonth of the mine before starting
time OF each shift.
Fin largely developed mines,
the current should be divided by ov-
er-oasts or such other methods as
Will furnish a proper amoun of pure
air at b working places and not
more than fifty men should be al
owed to work in a single air current.
Cir entries where doors are
placed. the doors should be kept
closed by the employment OF boys or
such automatic arrangement as may
be provided.
Under our second proposition,
The employment of men who have
no knowledge of the dangers of min
Ing" we believe that men employed
to work in the coal mines should
have a general knowledge of the min
ing laws of the State and the dan
SNAS ASAoS ~ AAo oSSuDlNlOuS dS Il
miner and should have at least one
years experience in working in
mines, and an impractical and en- in
experienced man SHOULD be required
to work n year with q practical
miner. Where there Is any doubt as
to the applicants experience as n
mine worker, he should be required
to certify under oath that he has has
one years experience working in
Goa mines.
Under our fourth proposition,
The failure to enforce the law, we
believe hat the Chief of the Mining
Department should have authority to
o the provisions of the law in
every particular.
Under our fifth proposition, 1.-THE
need OF a larger force of inspectors"
we believe this is necessary, in ord
er to keep pace with the rapid devel-
opment of the mining industry of
West Virginia. While we. as rep
resentatives of the miners. we want
it distinctly understood that increase
in the force of the inspectors to-
gether with an increase of salaries at
the expense of the tax payers OF this
State will give US no relief. unless
"a car get laws that they can en-
force to protect the lives and limbs
of the mine workers of West Vir-
ginia.
Respectfully submitted.
B. F. MORRIS,
Secretary of the Convention.
THE CHAIRMAN:
I will ask, as you have heard the
reading of this communication from