The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-12
MINING BILL IS UP
SOME CHANGES MADE DY HOUSE
 COMMITTEE.
Nsssure Wlu Result, the Meahess of / Csnmltts< Believe. h Great Bet. teFwent of Conditions h Ala.
 hana Coal .Alnea.

0eooote Wuu Ae0oSts tne Meooexo oI / Csnnttts< Believe. h Great Bet-
 teRnent of ConaittOns h Ala
 bama Coal Mines.
 For Ave hours ysstsrday afternoon the House Committee on Mining and Manufacturing. of which MT. Bloch of Wilcox is Chairman. had under constd. etation the bill introduced by Mir. John of Jefferson which If 1t becomes . law will affect every coal mine and the operation thereof in the state of Alabama. It is designed to give to the miners more safety and protection in the puFsuit of their work.
 So much importance is attached to this bill that a full committee was present, the Judiciary Committee be- ing obliged to foreg0 its sessions be- cause of the absence of its Chairman. Colonsi John. who is also member of the Mining and Manufacturing Com mittes. Senator Bankhsad was also present.
 Every line of the bill was carefully considered and approval was first had instances wore changed, these changes bsink of an important character.
 It was decided that the present mine inspectors should hold office until their torm expires.
 The law. as amended by the Commit tee. will also provide that the Board of Mine Inspectors to be created shall be appointed by the Governor on Septem- Der ]. next.
 Thsrs will be four inspectors who will have general supervision over all the mines In the State as far as the life. safety and health of the miners Is concerned. and their judgment in all such matters is to be final.
 The bill also provides for the ap- pointment of . Board of State Mine Examiners whose duty 1t shall pe to examine those who do not now hold certificates and to issue same only when they are satisfied as to the quai- ifcation of ths applicant. More air in the mines Is required by the bill. and that ample provision shall be made for the safety and health of all miners. It provides for the pre- venting or explosions either of gas or of coal dust.
 The bill further provides for the es- tablishment of standard scales in all mines and that correct weights are to be made and kept Severe penalties are provided for the violation in any way of this latter clause.
 The bill was framed by joint com mittee representing both the miners and the operators. Much time wsS consumed in It's preparation before 1t was submitted by MT. John, to the House The Committee on Mining and Manufacturing is now prepared to re- port the bill to the House with the rec Ommendation that 1t become law. as amended.
 There is not . detail in the present methods of mining that has not been carefully gone over. Under its pro- visions, If 1t becomes a law. much of the evil that has existed in mining. it is claimed tor the bill will be elimi- mated and ne chances for accident re- duced to a minimum. 1t will change the galleys and shape in many of the mines and cause stouter timbers to be used for sharing purposes and. in gem eral, mini ,g conditions in Alabama will oe altogether improved. if ..s adherents may be relied upon.
 The provision for a Board of Mine Inspectors and q Board of Examiners will greatly aid matters, the members of the committee believe, as the board will see to 1t that the provisions of the law are carried out The examining board will make 1t hard for 8 man to secure q rbsilion in the mines if he is siot fitted for 1t.