Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-02-25
OPERATORS AND
MINERS JOIN IN
SEEKING LAWS
Agree on Legislation Held Es-
sential for Operations in
Coal Field.
BILLS PROVIDE SAFETY

For the first time in the history OF
Indiana the coal miners and coal Oper
atOrs through their joint conference com
mittee have united in recommending i'm
portant legislation which has for its
purpose. increased safety in the opera
ton Of the mines.
The proposed amendments to the ex-
listing laws or additions thereto are con
tanned IN Senate Bills so, 20S, 233 and
273, which have been introduced by Sena-
tors VIII Brown, Hebron: Miles J. Fur
mass, Lynn, and Glenn J. Richards Terre
Haute. Senate Bill so, which concerns
safety lamps. and Senate Bill 20S, which
requires registration OF all persons en-
tering or leaving a mine, already have
been passed by the Senate.
In addition to these bills there is Sen
ate Bill go, which provides for the estab-
lishment of a State school of mines in the
heart Of the mining region so that tech
nicalIy trained mining engineers may be
may available for employment in the
industry.
FEATURES OF
PENDING BILLS.
The salient features of the pending leg
isIatiOn are as follows:
observation-disclosures all persons en-
plOyed in and about the coal mines to
AA6 NAlu lAAcAA tAAl4UlCES Il etdLtultnA
showing age, residence, birthplace and
next Of kin, and requiring that operators
Of mines provide book, check. token or
other method of registration for all per
sons entering or leaving mines The
purpose OF this measure IS to enable the
mine managers. in case of accident, to
tell to q certainty who is In the mine
and who is out. Under the present sys-
TEN the mine boss does not know for
considerable time after the men have
gone nh
ground and, Of course, an accident may
Dappen before q report OF the men at
work is received. In addition, the miners
often come to the surface without the
knowledge Of the mine boss and there
have been accidents in which reliefs have
been sent down into the mine at great
danger 10 search for miners who already
are safe above ground.
Safety Lamps-Giving the State min
Ing inspector authority, upon investiga-
tlOn and written finding, to designate
the kind of safety lamps to be used in
mines or parts Of mines in order to avoid
danger from explosions of gas and to
NIX the time within which such lamps
shall be used. The measure provides
that after the expiration Of time fixed
by the inspector of mines for the install
than locked safety lamp or an approved
electric lamp shall be used in the mine
except as may be permitted in writing
by the inspector Of mines.
ventilation - amending the existing
laws so as to provide for better ventila-
ton Of tbs nine for the benefit Of the
miners health. The proposed law pre-
scrtbes that the ventilation required by
this act may be provided by any suitable
appliance or appliances, but in no case
shall booster fan be Installed In the
Inside workings Of mine enCendering
dangerous explosive gases without haY-
Ing secured a permit from the inspector
Of mines in writing to install such
booster fan.
Mine Motors-Under the proposed law
II Is required that there shall be an er-
fcient headlight on all motors in mines
when in use, and that on every motor
trip OF cars on the main haulage roads
there shall be an efficient bell upon the
rear end OF the trip The mOtOrman Is
prohibited from making the trip unless
the bell is properly placed on the end
of the last car The purpose of this
measure is TO prevent rear-end under
ground collisions and to prevent men in
the, tunnels from stepping in between
broken trip.
Examining Boards-Providing for the
continuation, with some desirable
changes. of the present method Of con-
Quoting miners examining boards.
CODIFTCATION
OF LAWS ASKED.
Codihcation OF Laws-Providing for the
appointment OF a commission of six per
sons to examine revise, codify and rec
ommend new legislation relating to coal
mining to the next General Assembly.
The commission is to be composed of
two practical coal YninerG two coal
operators and two members of the De
partment Of Mines and Mining. They are
to serve without compensation.
Mine Inspectors alaries-Increasi sing
the salaries of the chief deputy inspector
of mines from $1,000 to $500 and Of
the assistant inspectors from 81 100 to
$500. This measure was introduced be
cause of the prevailing opinion that mine
inspectors, who have a responsible duty
to perform, are underpaid. They are on
call for duty at any time, day or night
This proposed legislation IS supported
strongly by both the miners and the
operators. who are vitality interested in
seeing the inspectOrships filed by a high
type of men.
School of Mines-The bill providing for
an Indiana State school Of mines was
introduced because no courses Of instruc-
ton are given by the educational insti-
tutions of the State and because It is
held that the mining industry would be
greatly benefited and the natural re-
sources of the State much better con
served II technically trained mining en-
gineers are available for employment in
the industry. 1t is proposed that the
State school Of mines to be managed by
the State conservation board may be 10
Gated at Rose Polytechnic Institute in
Terre Haute. This situation is recon-
mining territory and that il will be pos
sible for miners and miners sons, as
well as other students 10 attend the
school Of mines and to take courses of
instruction leading TO the degrees Of
bachelor OF science in mining engineering
and bachelor Of science in ceramics An
initial appropriation Of $4,000 for build