The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-06-15
MINERS DISCUSS
 INSPECTORS LAWS Fourth Day of Convention Was
 More Interesting
LETTER FROM GRAY READ
Committee on Resolutions Reports. Negro Hospital Seeks Aid-Frater- nal Delegates Address ConVen-
 tion-Other Business.

The fourth days session of the conven- ton of District No. 20 United Mine Work CTS of America, was held in Gelders nall yesterday In addition to the regular routine business scheduled for the day, quite a number of the delegates availed themselves of the opportunity to express themselves on the floor when different questions were brought up under the head of miscellaneous business. Large cards with a printed abstract of the act to regulate the mining of coal in Alabama were distributed over the house in order that the delegates might prepare them selves to follow closely the discussion that was to come in regard to this act. Aspirants for the office of sheriff kept the convention stocked with cigars of various brands and clouds of blue smoke were continually puffed up into the air.
 After the convention had been duly called to order and the preliminary pus- mess transacted, the committee on reso- lutions made Its report, the following clauses of which were adopted by the assembly:
 Resolved, That we ask the convention to have contracts printed Tn DOCK form so that each miner in the district can have copy, under recommendation or local union 22l4.
 eve the members of local union 25S9, while on strike, have been and are now threa tened with a danger which If con tinued will prove disastrous to the in terest of the striking members of said local. The danger is threatened by owners of houses occupied by members who are engaged in the strike. and we seek re- lief through the hands of our brethren while in convention. Therefore. be II resolved that this convention Will assist them by immediate action that will pro vide some way for striking members to escape the danger pointed out to them.
 Condemn Action.
 A resolution offered by local unions 129O and 465 condemning the practice of certain companies of deducting house rent due them from subscriptions that pass through their hands was also adopted.
 The other clauses were either tabled or referred to other committees.
 Under the head of miscellaneous busi- ness President Flynn read a letter which he had received from Chief Mine Inspec- tor Gray some days ago In discussing this communication, the president stated that in his opinion the inspector wants to throw the responsibility for accidents or the miners In all cases. He also read cer' tain sections of the mining act to show that his contention was right, and took | occasion to say that with one exception the board of examiners is composed ot l ,,,ipa onaratnrs
 MT. Flynn also read to the convention the following letter which he received Wednesday from MT. Gray:
 Gray's Letter. Birmingham Ala. June 13 1906. | MT Edward Flynn, President District 70
 United Mine Workers of America, Bir l mingham, Ala;
 Dear Sir-I see from the press that th' tendency of the convention is to thinl | that my set of rules is to work a hard ship on the miners it is not so intended | l have compiled some data which vii | probably show to the convention tha I have practically Init the nall on th' head"
 In 1905 there were u,90O,153 tons of coa mined in Alabama, the most ever minet 1 in one year in the history of the state of this 3. S45 tons were mined by unioi | labor, Wnlcn IS ~ per ceht oI the Noa' l product that year.
 There were ITS mines operated in 1905 | AS of which were worked by union labor which is 26 per cent of the entire mum | Der.
 There were 17,21S men working in ant around the mines of Alabama In 1905, o this number 5S76 were working at uniol mines, which is .3H per cent of all tn men in and around the mines.
 killed In 1qE 132 of these were working at union mines which is .73 per cent of all the fatal ac l cidents In the state. You thus see tha 1 while you only produced 29 per cent of tn coal with .3il per cent of the men, ye you produced .713 of the accidents; o course the Virginia mines is included il | this lot.
 You know that in Alabama or in an other state or country that from 50 to per cent of the accidents, as rule hap | ben from falling roof and sides. an ngain about 90 per cent of these happe at the working face: and. again. there ar quite number of accidents caused iron making up and handling dynamite an powder, and accidents from these tw canses are generally brought about b. carelessness and reclslessness on the par | Of the deceased.
 Will Make Rules. Rules for working the coal, elc., nere tofore have been made without consult ing this department If asking the ap prova of same and when this departmen ! has attempted to change the rules fo working coal at the union mines, 1t ha been unable to do so, the miners claim | ing that under the law we had no righ to interfere with previous rules and regu lations, and for this reason l have no tifjed your convention what they may ex pect. and 1t will be unnecessary for yo ! to make any rules at all to work tn coal and prop the roof, as this departmen will make such rules. as required by sec