The Owyhee nugget. ([Silver City], Idaho) 1905-1984, 1909-03-05
SENATOR KERNS' REPLY
TO NINE OWNERS CRITI-
CISM OF S. B. No. 81.


The following reply to the mine oper-
ators' criticism of Senate Bill No. 81
Liability for injury, by Mr.. Kerns,
indicates that the protest from the De.
Lamar Union must have been made at
the Urgent request of the mine manager,
Mr.. Oxford, as we have been Informed
that Oxford was present at the meeting
when the protest was adopted. We
understand that since the bill has been
changed as to the sickness clause that
the miners, both in the DeLamar and
Silver City unious are in favor of the
bill becoming a law, as it is measure
that every laboring man needs for pro
teclion. The feature Of the bill that
the miners in this section thought was
asking too much of the mine owners
having been stricken out, the DeLamar
Union should put themselves right on
this question, and correct the wrong
impression that hasgone forth.
Senate Chamber, Boise,
February, 81, 1909.
Hon. Dow Cunning,
Boise, Idaho.
My Dear Sr:-
take pleasure in responding to your
request for my opinion upon and an
answer to the resolution of DeLamar
Union No. SO, W. F. NJ, aud the letter
Of Mr., Ernest Oxford bearing upon Sem
ate Bill No. 81 relating to compensation
for workmen in mines injured by acct
dent.
La the first place have invited criti-
clsm of the bill aud at all times ac-
ceded to any practical suggestions for
its amendments.
The resolution makes no suggestions
and gives no reason or ground for its
adoption, and | am, therefore, at a dis
advantage in making a reply | will
state, however, that was elected by
the miners OF the Occur d. Alene on a
platform declaring in favor of my bill,
and as the miners there number more
than ten times the number in your
county, it is safe to say my bill more
truly represents view and wishes of the
great body of miners Of this State than
the resolution of your Union. Aside
from this, have in my support the
views of the Slate Federation OF Labor
of Wisconsin, and the great labor IN.
ions OF the United Kingdom and it's de-
Tendencies. and other large branches of
the W. F. NJ.
The concensus of opinion as nearly
as it can be ascertained from statistics
of che government, is that &C mpensation
for injuries by accidents in or about
mines should be charge against the
business or trade. This is the basis for
the provisions of Senate Bill No. 81.
The bill has been amended by strik-
ing out the whole of Section z; insert
ing fourteen hundred" for "two thou
sand" in the fifth line of Section 8; in
serling ''six thousand in line 10 of
Section 10, and striking out the words
amount payable under the foregoing
provisions" striking out the word zone"
aud inserting the word 1.-TWO" in line IA
dissection 10, and by striking out the
words lone thousand' and inserting in
lieu thereof the words two thousand
five hundred in line lob of Section 10.
These amendments were agreed to and
adopted by the Senate at the suggestion
Of interested parties.
Not knowing the grounds of the reso
luton of your miners, will assume the
reasons assigned by Mr.. Oxford contain
the material objections. Omitting ref
erence to Mr.. Orford's personal reflec.
tions on me and his learned criticism of
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