The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-26
iii 4 ext
AS Submitted
T o Legislature

no the Legislature Of West Virginia:
ON the sixth day of February, nine
steen hundred and seven. theNfollowing
Joint resolution was adopted:
substitute for House Concurrent
RESOLUTION No. s and House Joint Res
olution No Disappointing COM
hiittee Of the legislature to lnyesti-
gate mine disaster and report 70 the
legislature.
whereas, on the evening Of Janu-
afy twenty-ninth, one thousand nine
hundred and seven, a most disastrous
mine explosion occurred at Stuart
mine, Fayette county, West Virginia.
resulting in the death OF over eighty
mine workers. rendering over forty
families. widows anil children orphan
ed, and
whereas, many explosions in mines
have occurred in this State within the
resent past resulting in great loss OF
life and property, and
whereas, the governor of this State
In obedience to the great public con-
Germ and apprehension occasioned by
the loss OF life in coal mines in this
state prior to the converting of the
present session of the Legislature, ap-
pointed commission to take up the
entire subject OF mining legislation
and report a feasible and practical
plan for amending the mining laws OF
this State, to the end that health OF
the mine workers might be preserved,
loss OF life prevented and property
saved, and
Whereas, there has never been a
legislative investigation of mine dis
aster in this state. and it Is common
" charged that the local investiga'
tons of these calamities are not thor
ough, and it Is the desire of the leg
islature TO do what is best after hear
ing all the facts and after knowing
all the conditions, and without charg
ing negligence or fault to any one, II
is hereby
Resolved by the Legislature of West
Virginia:
First. that a committee Of five be
and the same is hereby appointed con
sIsting of three upon the part of the
house of delegates to be appointed
by the speaker thereof, and two or
the part of the senate to re appoint
! ed by the president, which committee
at once shall fully and fairly investi'
gate;
second, whether said Stuart Iuine
vas being operated in violation OF
law, and If so in what particular it
mas being SO operated;
Third, the cause of the disaster al
said Stuart mine and other like disas
tiers occurring in the state within the
recent past:
Fourth, TO investigate fully the bu
reau of mine inspection as TO the con
duct and workings of It's office;
Fifth, to ascertain and report what
further Legislation is necessary in or
der to prevent a recurrence of simil
ar disasters, and what further legisla
ton may be necessary to enable the
mine inspector effectively to promul
gate rules and regulations for the con
duct of mining operations and to Sc
cure the enforcement of the law and
the compliance with such rules and
regulations.
The committee is hereby directed to
report upon its investigation on or be
fore the eighteenth day of the present
month.
Said committee is authorized to OBJ
tain the assistance of two persons ex
pert in mines and mining in all its
branches and to employ necessary
stenographers.
The attorney general is hereby di
rected to give the committee all pos
sible assistance; and the committee is
empowered to employ such other coun
sell as it may deem necessary.
All expenses of this investigation
shall be paid out OF the treasury o.
the state upon warrants drawn by the
auditor therefor; the auditor is here
by authorized and directed TO draw his
warrant for such amounts rs shall be
certified to him by the chairman o
the joint committee hereby created.
The committee is hereby empower
ed to send for persons, paper and rec
ords; to administer oaths, and to ex
anime witnesses under oath.
Subsequently, on the sixteenth day
of February, nineteen hundred ant
seven, the following joint resolution
was adopted:
Senate Joint Resolution No, %. :
Authorizing the special joint commit
t,z,no 10 ~,