The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1907-02-14

and more stringent mining laws
the other day and had Senate Bill
No. III. advanced TO q second
reading without reference to !, com
mittee.
But the true friends of the min.
ers and those who are intese$r.tl in
their welfare and who ale HSAring
,or laws that will protect The lives
Of the men and the pro,. .erty OF Tie
operators were equal "a ti,,. oc-
casion and that staunch supporter
3ot Justice ana a Square ie1l, tIon.
John Nugent, prepared anG Sscur-
ed the same recognition from the
House for House Bill No. 3ii, as
Mr.. Johnson did for his measure in
the Senate. Following is Mr..
Nupent's bill in full:
Be it enacted By the Legislature of
West Virginia:
Sec. l. There is hereby created
an executive department to be known
as the department Of Mines which
shall have for its purpose the super
vision Of the execution and enforce
ment Of all state laws pertaining to
the inspection of mines, heretofore
and hereafter enacted for the safety
of persons employed within or at the
mines within this state, and the pro-
lection of mine property and other
property used in and in connection
Herewith, and the said department
OF mines shall De in charge of an
Official to be known as the chief OF
the department OF mines, who shall
have full charge of said department,
and who shall superintend and di-
rect the inspection Of mines as here
IN provided and as provided by any
other state law not in conflict with
this act.
CHIEF OF The Department Of Hines
-His Duties.
The Chief of the Department Of
Mines shall keep q record Of all in
sPecuons made by himself and the
District Mine Inspectors. which shall
be permanent record properly in
dexed. The record Of the depart
ment Of mines shall at all times
be open to inspection by any citi-
zen OF this state, and upon request
OF the governor of the state the chief
Q; the department of mines shai!
lay said records before said officers,
also maps of mines furnished the
chief OF the department of mines b..
'he district mine inspectors Any
cHei ot the department OF mines
Who shall violate any Of the provi-
slons OF this act shall, upon convic-
Son, be fined not less than twenty
aVe nor more than two hundred dol
!sfs, and may in the discretion OF
me court be imprisoned in the ceun-
ny 1ail not less than thirty days and
not exceeding one year.
1he chief of the department. of
mines shall be male citizen OF
West Virginia, and shall be a COM
petent person having had at least
elght years experience in the work
ing, ventilation and drainage OF coal
mines, and having practical and
scientific knowledge OF all noxiou:
and dangerous gases found in sucf
mime, particularly fire damp, and OF
the best means of preventing and re.
moving the same, and to enable tho
said chief Of the department OF
mines to perform his duties he shall
have the same authority to visit, en-.
ter and examine the mine as is con.
ferred upon the district mine in.
sPector, and he shall have the au.
thorlty to call the assistance of an,
one OF the district mine inspector.
to any district in the state.
The present chief mine inspecto,
OF this state, who, according to thi:
act, Is designated as chief of the de
pertnent Of mines, till July l, 1909
he expiration Of the term for which
he was appointed as chief nine in
spector, OF until his successor shall
be duly appointed and qualified, IN
less sooner removed as provided By