United labor bulletin., 1911-06-08
GOVERNOR vETOES
MINE INSPECTION
True to Minors, He PIdoes
Seal OF 0isupprovaI on
HioIous Measure.

NV. Jouw =. ShdTTOtn mas SHOWN IN
receat acts that the confidence imposed
in him by organized labor when he was
candidate for the high office which he
now holds was not misplaced. He has
acted most conservatively but firmly and
In a way that he believed would be for
the best interests Of the commonwealth.
He has vetoed the mine inspection law
passed at the recent session of the leg
islatioR.
After the terrible mine disaster at Dai-
aqua, CoIo- which was preceded by other
disasters Of equal destructive force, Mr..
shafroth appointed a commission to ex-
amips( into the causes Of the explosions,
and structed the commission to draft
a bill and present the same to the iegis-
Iature to be considered by that body.
The commission consisted of DR.. v. c.
Anderson. president of the State School
of Mines: DIR. John E. Ekeley, professor
OF chemistry in the University OF Colo
RADIO: r. d. George. professor of geology
at Colorado university and state geolo-
gist. and James Dalrymple. state in
inspector OF coal mines. This commits
sion made an exhaustive investigation at
great expense to the state. and after
weeks OF diligcnt investigation and re-
search the commission notified the public
that II would sit in the chamber of the
Colorado house OF representatives and
listen to any suggestions that anyone
desired to make TO the commission on
the proposed legislation and the cause
of the many mine disasters. These meet
ings werc well attended and many from
all parts OF the United States appeared
and made suggestions while Deputy
State Labor Commissioner Brake made
an extensive argument and presented
facts to the causes of the disasters
and severely arraigned the fuel compa-
nies OF the state. placing the blame with
them
Following these hearings the commits
sion drafted House Bill No. 542, and after
submitting II TO attorneys to ascertain its
constitutionali;y 1t was presented 10 the
legislature. 1t passed the house in but
slightly amended form. but in the senate
II was attacked by the agents of the fuel
companies and wns amended In such a
way that 1t became vicious bill and IL
II had been signed by the governor It
would have been n dertiment to the
miners instead OF protection.
In transmitting the bill TO the secre-
tary Of state the governor said:
ITO the Secretary OF State OF the State
OF Colorado.
sir transmit herewith. without
my approval. House BIZ No. 5f2. entitled.
An Act Relating TO the Operation and
Inspection OF Coal Mines.
My reasons for disapproying OF this
measure are as follows;
This bill as II was introduced in the
house OF representatives was most ex-
ceilcnt measure and received the un-
qualified approval of the inspector OF
coal mines of the state OF Colorado. In
the form II passed the house 1t was still
a reasonably good measure II was SO
amended in the senate as to destroy
many of its good features: omit many of
those provisions originally in the bill
for the protection of the life OF the min
ers. and to impose very great burdens
upon the miners.
These amendments. omissions and
burdens placed upon the miners, were so
destructive OF the good provisions OF the
bill that the inspector OF coal mines OF
this state and the coal miners OF Colo
rado. MS represented by the officers of
their organization have requested me to
veto the bill.
For these reasons, l feel It my duty
to disapprove of this measure.
Given under my hand and the execu-
tive seal this 5th day of June, A. ID. 1911.
JOHN F. SHAFRoTH,
Governor of Colorado"
John McI.ennan, president of the State
Federation OF Labor. District Board
Member Lawson of the United Mine
Workers and other officials of the United
Mine Workers took the bill up with the
governor before his vetoing IL ana
pointed out the features OF the bill that
would not give the proper protection TO
the miners. An argument was submitted
in which the officials of the Mine Work
ers said. In part:
"On page |, line II. the number of
deputies has been reduced from seven to
fvc: the electrical inspector also has
beon stricken out; the bill provides that
each mine shall be inspected once every |
60 days: the present law provides that
the mines shall be inspected every so
days. The G0-day inspection with the
number of deputies allowed materially
increases the work of the mine inspec-
tors department.
In section 5. power to close a mine, |
mage o. lines to II, inclusive. has been
stricken out 1t reads as follows: III
mt any time the deputy inspector or the !
electrical inspector shall discover any
condition of so grave a character that In
his opinion delay would be disastrous to
life, he shall have power to withdraw
from such dangerous place
or places. all persons not required by |
the owner. for the purpose of removingi
such dangerous conditions and II shall
be misdemeanor for anyone not SO re-
auired to enter or remain in such place
or places until the dangerous condition
has been removed. The deputy inspector
or the electrical Inspector as the case
may be, shall Immediately give the owner
notice OF the withdrawal of the men and
the written notice shall contain full
statement OF the reason for such with
drawal Thus, one of the most importantl
sections OF the bill has been destroyed |