The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1912-02-02

A Commission to Revise Mining Laws
Legislation in behalf of the most haz
ardous employment of all cmployments
requiring the services of a large army OF
men, coal mining, has not kept steT
with the rapid development during the
past few years of the industry. Exist
ing legislation has suffered amendment
after amendment and conditions in the
industry have changed until it was es-
sential that complete revision of the
mining codes be undertaken. To that
end the legislature provided for the APP
pointment of commission and appro-
priated sufficient money to pay the eX-
penses thereof. The governor has since
appointed said commission and a com
plete revision of the mining laws of the
stae along lines which will result in
more fully safeguarding the health and
lives of employees is looked for.
Storage of Powder.
A catastrophe in Roslyn which resulted
in the blowing up of whole family gave
prominent publicity to the fact that
miners were required by the coal opera
tors to store their own powder, which
necessarily meant in their own homes. as
the operators provided no place of stor-
age. Remedial legislation compelling OPP
orators to build powder magazines in
| al,
morning in sufficient amounts for the
day was enacted
Assistant Mining Inspector.
The growth Of the mining industry
necessitated assistance for the mine in
spector who looks after the enforcement
of legislation in relation to ventilation
safety, cause of accidents and the state
welfare in connection with the industry.
An assistant mining inspector was pro-
vided for.
Day Labor on Public Work.
A revision of the local improvement
laws, among other things, made it pos
sible for cities, through proper officials,
to do local improvement work without
| letting same to contract. Heretofore it
has been compulsory that all work of
this nature be let by contract to the
lowest bidder. Likewise greater freedom
was given county commissioners to do
road and bridge work by day labor if
| they so desired.
| Lien Law.
The arts and crafts lien law. of which
we heard so much prior to the session,
was talked to death by its friends in
their anxiety to foist something upon
| the public which no one wanted except
few large contractors and architects.
A materialmen's lien law modifying eX-
| isting legislation relative to the giving
of notice of delivery of material, to
owners, but in no way affecting labor
was passed.
Full Train Crew Bill.
Members of the railroad organizations
concentrated their energies upon the
passage of what is known as the full
train crew bill and success crowned their
efforts. We We're pleased to render
them such assistance as we could as its
enactment is not only a relief to them
where relief was needed, but means
greater safety to the travelling public as
well.
Plumbers License Law.
The efforts of the plumbers to enact
plumbers license law met with defeat,
largely on account of that old decision
of the supreme court that is so sweeping
a denuncation of legislation of this
character that it is almost impossible to
overcome This decision, together with
the ever ready cry of a plumbing trust,
sent the measure to indefinite postpone
ment in the house one morning before
its friends could rally to its rescue.
BARRIERS License Law.
A bill extending the present BARRIERS
license law so as to include all cities
and towns of the state passed the house
on the fifty-third day of the session.
This delay should not have occurred, as
the opposition was not strong enough to
so long delay the measure, If its friends
had been more persistent in the early
part of the session. Brother Wilson
sergeant at of the house and a
barber). Brother Gieresch and Others
were looking after it and | gave it little
attention except to on several occasions
urge greater activity. When it reached
the senate the clerk of the judiciary
committee, who it was reported was in
terested in n barber school, did all he
could to delay it, but Senators Landon
and Bryan of the judiciary committee
came to the rescue promptly when their
attention was called to it and made a
favorable report on the fifty-ninth day,
Too late, however as it was lost in the
mad rush at the close and died for want
of time to consider it.
Semi Monthly Pay.
A bill providing for semi monthly pay
was introduced by Mr.. Scales but went
the indefinite postponement route. The
Retail Grocers' association were its insti-
gators and we We're backing it quietly
so were taken entirely unawares when
they permitted it to be sent to the
graveyard without an effort to ascertain
a record of its enemies.