The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-05-23
LABOR MEMBER WILSON !
!. SPEAKS 1 FOR MINERS.
Congressman Wilson Of Pennsyl-
vania, Member Of Mine Work
ers Union, Talks Ably.
SPEAKS WITH AUTHORITY
Tells Members Of Congress What
Must be Done to Protect Hu-
man Life in Coal Mines.

Especial to the Labor WORLDLY
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 2o.--
Congressman w. B. Wilson of Penn
sylvania, who is secretary of the
United Mine Workers Union, occu-
pied the whole attention of congress
recently with speech in advocacy
Of the appropriation of sufficient
amount Of money to create a Bureau
Of Mines and Mining. Mr.. Wilson IL
fresh from the coal mines and speaks
with authority when 1t comes to a.
question affecting the welfare Of the
mines. More union labor men like
for labor some very needy legislation.
The following is the text Of Mr.. WILL
sons speech as taken from the Con-
gressional Record:
Mr.. Chairman: There is no country
in the world where coal is mined
under as favorable conditions as it is
mined in the United States; there is
no country in the world where the per
diem production Of the miners is
greater than it is in this country;
there is no country In the world
where the workmen engaged in min
ing are Of as high an average of in
telligence as in the United States;
and yet, Notwithstanding that fact,
Notwithstanding the natural condi-
tions we have and the Intelligence Of
our workmen, there is no country in
the world where the mortality in the
mine Is as great as it is with us.
During the past II years, or from
1890 until 1906, the number of men
killed in the coal mines Of the United
States aggregated 22,S4o. 1t was 701
in 1890 and 2,061 in 1905. The num-
ber of men killed in the coal mines
in the United States for each 1000
men employed was. in 1895, an aver
age of 2.67;; sain 1905 1t was $40, de-
ctded increase The number Of lives
lost In the coal mines OF Belgium for
each ]. 900 employed was, Ia, 1896 a; :.
in 1906, 0.94, less than one third the
number of whose lives were lost in
the mines of the United States; and
yet Belgium has the deepest mines In
existence, the most gaseous mines
known anywhere, and the most dam
gerous for men to work in. In Great
Britain the number Of men killed for
each 1000 men employed was, in 1891,
$50; in 1906, 1923, or much less than
olrs-just about one-half. or less than
one-half, of the mortality there is in
the United states-and yets In Great
Britain they have deep mines. gaseous
and dangerous to work In. In Prussia
49, ~ To-
mines for each 1000 employed was, in
1895, 2.54; In 1904, the last statistics
that we have, 100; again a much less
death rate than in our mines. There
they have deep, gaseous, and danger
GUS mines. In France they have a
rate killed per 1000 men In the mines,
in 1901, 1.o3; In 1905, 0.s4.
I cite these tables for the purpose
Of showing that under the rules, regu-
lations, and laws governing the oper
alton Of mines in more dangerous ter
ritory than we have, there is greater
freedom from accident than there IS
under our laws and our regulations.
Belgium, France, Germany, and Great
Britain have bureaus in which they
investigate into the conditions exist
ing in mines, experiment as to- the
causes that create the conditions, and
endeavor to protect the lives Of the
men who are working in the mines
in those respective countries.
Several bills have been introduced
lat the present session Of congress
with a view to the establishment of a
Bureau of Mines and Mining; not for
the purpose Of usurping. the preroga-
tives of the various states, not for the
purpose of taking from the various
states the right to regulate the condi-
tions existing in the mines within
their respective boundaries, but for
the purpose of establishing a bureau
under the federal government that
will Investigate into. the causes that
lead up to the great disasters that
are occurring continually in the coal
mines Of the United States, so that
the information thereby obtained con
be utilized by the various states for
the protection of the lives and limbs
of those engaged in the dangerous
calling Of mining coal. '..'.
Mr.. Gaines of Tennessee. Will the
gentleman yield to me?T
Mr.. Wilson of Pennsylvania. I
yield to the gentleman. s~" + = r.
Mr.: Gaines of Tennessee. For the
purpose Of giving a comparison: The
gentleman lives in Pennsylvania, and
is man versed in the laws Of that
state controlling mining. Now, what
are, the defects in the laws of Penn
sylvania as compared with the laws
Of Holland and Belgium, where you
say there are fewer accidents and yet
they have deeper mines :?
Mr.. Wilson OF Pennsylvania Mr..
Chairman, the defects Of the law uf
the State Of Pennsylvania and the
laws Of the State Of Tennessee, and
every other state in the United States
where coal is produced, are that they
are based upon insufficient informa-
tion as to the causes of these acci-
dents.
Mr.. Gaines OF tennessee. What s
tOontt nusds on psxe 1.l