INSPECTION OF MINES.
Mr. Compton's bill [S. 5] to amend Sections 17 and 18 of the act regulating the working of coal mines, etc., of March S, 1879, being read the third time--
Mr. COMPTON stated that miners and operators have agreed to this proposed amendment of the existing law. The old law requires the Inspector to inspect every mine. This bill amends that clause so that, unless there are more than ten miners working in a mine, it does not require inspection. And this bill requires a map to be made only when paid for by the person interested. The qualification of the Inspect r is changed so as to require him to be a practical miner, only striking out the twelve years' experience; then his page: 242[View Page 242] term of service is restricted to two years, with a salary of $1,500, to be paid out of the State Treasury. State officers should be paid out of the State Treasury, and especially such an officer as this.
Mr. HENRY saw no reason why a Mine Inspector should be paid out of the State Treasury. The bill up a few moments ago provided dealers should pay the Oil Inspectors' fees, and why not coal operators pay the Coal Inspectors' fees?
Mr. COMPTON insisted miners should be protected by State law as they work frequently eighty or 100 feet below ground, and especially while the operators are anxious to get out coal as cheaply as possible In Pennsylvania and Ohio the Mining Inspector is paid out of the State Treasury and the plan has been found to work well.
Mr. SPANN heartily favored the passage of this bill. The mining of coal, he knew from experience, is one of the most dangerous kinds of work. The Inspector's relations should be divorced from the operator as far as possible. It is for the safety of the lives of laboring men that such a measure should be passed. That being right, it is our duty to enact a law that will tend to that end. He favored the bill as an act of justice to the miner.
Mr. TRAYLOR also favored the passage of the bill, if for no other reason that the Inspector will hereafter get his money from the State, and not from interested operators. Under the old law the Inspector would tax every farmer who opened a mine on his land, while this bill exempts such as mine only for their own use, and this is another good feature of the bill.
Mr. HENRY doubted the propriety of passing but would vote for it on the representation of its author.
The bill passed--yeas, 35; nays, 0.
The Senate adjourned till to-morrow.
