Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-02-09
GOVERNOR TAKES ACTION
Disastrous Mine Explosions Causes
Great Alarm.
INVESTIGATION ASKED FOR
Special Message Is Sent to the Legs,
lature-The Business in the
Senate and House.

Charleston, Feb. 6.-The explosion
in the mine of the Davis Coal and
Coke Co; at Thomas, IN Tucker conn
ty, in which a number of lives were
lost Monday, rendered still more acute
the situation here with regard to mine
legislation and the necessity of inyesti-
eating the manner in which the pres
ent laws are being enforced.
Resolutions were already pending in
both houses, introduced in the senate
by Littlepage and in the house Of dele
gates by Nugent providing for an in
vestigation Of the conditions leading
up to the explosion at the Stewart
mine last week, and when the newspa-
pers told of the added horror to the
states already long list for the past
~ months, 1t seemed as If every OBJ
lection must he swept away and the
resolutions go through without let or
hindrance Then. too, Governor Daw-
son took a hand in the matter, sending
to both houses a special message cali
ing upon both bodies TO appoint a
committee to investigate not only the
conditions at The Stewart mine, but
also the actions of the mining depart
ment of the state government to learn
If it had been doing its duty.
For Better Roads.
Owing to the large number of in
quiries coming from his constituents
back home who are Interested in the
building Of good roads, Delegate T
j. Parson OF Marshall county has
introduced bill in the house Of
delegates, which means an education
OF the people who demand better
roads and which, it is thought if en-
acted into law, means that the mex
legislature must devote considerable
attention to the construction anC
maintenance of the public highways
of the state.
Mr.. Parsons like many other del
egates in the lower body knows thai
the people of his county demand bet
ter roads and his bin was framed
with the intent and wish that il
might be adopted SO as to learn ex
actly what is needed The Marshal
delegate does not know whether his
: bill meets all the requirements along
this line, but it is open to amend
ments and those opposing the same
must come to the front with a. bill
that is more suitable or oppose the
movement toward good roads alto
gether Concerning his bill he SAID
there was a demand all over the state
for the Improvement of our public
highways and that the legislature
must take some action at the present
session and if they did rot the people
would hold them responsible. There
are other delegates in the house. par
ticularly those from the agricultural
counties who favor some action
along the line of Improvement of our
public roads and will support any
measure that means step in that
direction.
The proposed bill would create the
Office of state highway commissioner
or inspector. who would be appointed
by the governor for a term of two
years with salary of $4,000 per an
mum. He would also be allowed his
actual disbursements for travelling
expenses, but in no year could it ag-
gregate sum OF more than $1,000.
1t would be the duty OF this official
to report to the governor and to the
next Legislature what changes are
needed in the laws of West Virginia
relating to the construction and
maintenance of public highways of
the state to meet the conditions as
they exist in the several counties with
the least possible burden upon the
people and property of the state. He
shall submit it is provided, to the
governor and the legislature, such
measures as he may deem necessary
or expedient to remedy defects, or
Irregularities in our present laws re,
lating to the subject and give brief
report giving the total number of
miles of road in each Of the counties,
the manner in which the roads are
constructed and maintained, the man
ner in which money for such purposes
is raised, and how expended, amounts
expended annually during the past
FIVE years by the various counties of
the state and with what results as
may be shown by hheir present con.