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

z SOAnIS5IQH 10 GJ1SiQtI IS11SdI-5
10 protect life.
II is true that a gentleman said
this afternoon thai Commissions
have always bean held-since when2
Since the first time that miners and
mine owners considered there were
rights on 9th sides. The miners
had rights which the
should respect, and the miner own
srs had rights that their employees
should respect, but before the State
they o stood equsl-mastsr and
servant, owner and slave SlaTerg
mas bsen abolished The great diff
hculry We have in West Virginia TO-
day was expressed in a few words
oy the last speaker: that the money
IS mine and ] aliow no nan to die
tate to me how that money shall Dc
spent" That IS one of the greatest
obstacles that we have today in the
enforcement OF law My friends who
spoke before dinner said hat even
the Mining Department of the S1at-
! has no right TO interfere; that it is
their business exclusively; they op-
/ pose al! laws: they object to any re-
/ strzcrions being placed on them as
to the development OF the mines
/ That is one of the creates dangers
that We have got in the connection
! What 40 the miners ask before the
Commission? They a come be
/ fore the Commission and given q
written report based on the reports
I of the Chief Inspector of Mines who
IS conversant with the entire State.
points out the dangers and suggests
the remedies What Toes he say:
As l read yesterday The time was
t~iceship." A gentleman said before
dinner that he never heard of q
miner being required to have a Ger
tlhcate. We are not asking a Ger
uflcate. but the Chief whom he say
has the knowledge. and whose sols
interest is to benefit the mining IN
dustry of the State, says thai tn
time was when the miners did serve
an apprenticeship before being per
mitted to the responsibilities
of a miner. This is not the miner
saying this; this is the Chief of b
Department of Mines Of this State
calling the attention of the peopls
OF this State to the large loss of Iff
number OF accidents that occurred
in our State, but these conditions
do not now exist and inexperienced
men are employed who load afte!
machines n NOW practically moth
ing about the dangers in a mine, ant
as a consequence they are unable IL
exercise the ARE essential to thei,
own safety"
a VOICE.:
Read all of that.
MR.. NUGENT:
will finish it, my dear friend
He says simply this: THAI the EN-
ploylnent OF men in our mines ",
are now gaining knowledge even u
protect themselves. and as a resul
it is necessary for legislation to-
what? rotec them from their ow,
~ignorance." The gentleman want.
me to read it all; l will read it all
This is an acknowledged status y
lSbor and any safeguards that ma,
decrease the list of fatalities vii
have TO be made to operate through
those who have immediate supervi
sion OF the employees"
Now the question is, that proyi
sion will have to be made of the in
dividuals h have immediate su
pervision of the employees. VIVA;
are we asking for? We are asking
that a person who has 20 got rea
sonable knowledge of the dangers bs
not permitted to kill himself or xii
others. but that he go in the com
pany OF a man who has reasonable
knowledge and has the immediat.
control. But the gentleman say
read further" / will read further
We have a practical illustration O.
what constitutes the form of govern,
ment- That is the large body of lab
orsrs unable 10 protect themselves
Where? In West Virginia. "Anc
TO secure for them this protection
there should be legislation imposins
a duty upon the Mine Boss to exer
else due care n protection agains
. all dangerous practices which tn
men engage in. with & penalty at
tached for q lack of vigilance on hi:
} part On whose part? On h par
t OF the Mine Boss, whom the Chic
says should have immediate super
vision over-who2 The fellow VIII,
knows nothing OF the danger. Now
What is the difference? The differ
snce between US and the Chief !:
that we believe. not only in what h
recommends-we endorse it all-bu
We want to so q little bit farther
: that is all. We want to say that h.
S wise and has recommended vel
through experience given to him b,
] reports from the inspectors. w.
nave become SO reckless in the man.
, aSement OF our mines that Min.
Bosses as we'll as miners are en-.
f ploEed without any knowledge as tc
? the dangers and proper methods tina,
mines should be operated under
5 The Chief recommends that Min
Bosses and Fire Bosses should pas,
l an examination to show that the,
: have acquired sufficient knowledse
: TO be given charge Of a mine. We
go Just one little bit father. Realiz
/ ms that 1t is impossible for one MAJ
to guard ninety-nine different place,
within the mine, and the lives q.
~ rn~ -yro