MINING LAWS.

COMMISSION TO REVISE-APPOINTMENT.

LAWS 1883, P. 48.

JUNE 1, 1883.

AN ACT providing for the appointment of a commission by the governor to revise the mining and ventilation laws in the anthracite coal regions of the Commonwealth, and for an appropriation to pay the expenses thereof.

SEC. 1. Be it enacted, etc.:

That the governor be authorized to appoint six competent and experienced miners and six competent and experienced coal operators, one miner and one operator from each of the counties of Schuylkill, Northumberland, Carbon, Columbia, Luzerne and Lackawanna, who shall, with the six mine inspectors for the said counties, act as commissioners to revise the mine laws and ventilation acts relating to the anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania and to report to the legislature at its present session if possible, (and if not at the next session thereof), such changes in said laws as will tend to the greater security of persons engaged in working in and about such mines, and secure a more prompt and strict compliance with such laws. The said coal operators and inspectors to serve without compensation, and the said six miners to be allowed five dollars per day for each day actually employed in the work of said commission, not to exceed fifty days, and the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the same, be, and is hereby, appropriated out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be paid by warrant drawn by the auditor general on an itemized statement furnished to him by the chairman of said committee.

COMMISSION FOR INVESTIGATION OF MINING LAWS. LAWS 1891, P. 401.

FEBRUARY 24, 1891.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, JANUARY 15, 1891. WHEREAS, The present laws relating to ventilation and regulation of the bituminous coal mines of this State are defective and in many respects imperfect; therefore, be it Resolved (if the senate concur), That the governor be authorized to appoint eight competent miners, one from each bituminous inspection district, each of whom shall have had at least seven years' experience as miners in the bituminous coal mines of this State, who, with eight coal operators, who shall be appointed, one from each of the said bituminous districts, by the president judge or president judges of the courts in said inspection district, together with eight mine inspectors of the bituminous region, all of whom shall be citizens of Pennsylvania, shall act as commissioners to revise the mine laws and ventilation acts relating to the bituminous coal regions of Pennsylvania, and to report by bill to the legislature at its present session, not later than thirty-five days after its appointment. The miners serving on said commission shall be appointed on the certified recommendation of the miners' labor organizations.

The commissioners shall meet, immediately after their appointment, at Harrisburg, to organize, and a majority of the whole commission shall be necessary to pass upon any question that may be brought before it; and the said eight miners

and coal operators shall be paid five dollars per day and expenses for each day actually employed in the work of said commission, not to exceed thirty days, and the mine inspectors shall have their expenses paid for each day actually employed in the work of said commission. A sum necessary to pay the compensation allowed the commissioners and necessary clerical and other expenses shall be provided in the general appropriation bill, and paid upon warrants of the chairman drawn upon the State treasurer and to be audited by the auditor general in the usual way.

COMMISSION TO REVISE ANTHRACITE MINING LAWS.

LAWS 1891, P. 4.

FEBRUARY 27, 1891.

AN ACT providing for the appointment of a commission by the governor, to revise, amend, and make such changes in the mining and ventilation laws of the anthracite coal regions as will secure greater safety to human life and property, and to provide for the payment of their compensation and their necessary expenses.

SEC. 1. Be it enacted, etc.:

That the governor be authorized to appoint forthwith eight competent miners (each of whom shall have had at least seven years' experience as miners in the anthracite coal mines of this State), three coal operators, two mining engineers of skill, and two mine inspectors, all of whom shall be citizens of Pennsylvania, to serve as commissioners to revise, amend, and make such changes in the anthracite mine and ventilation laws as are deemed necessary for the better protection of life and property in and around the mines, and to provide adequate penalties for any violation of said laws.

The miners and mining engineers shall receive five dollars per day and expenses for each day actually employed in the work of said commission, and the operators and inspectors shall be allowed their necessary expenses for each day actually engaged on said commission. The commission shall meet at the call of the governor in the city of Harrisburg, and they shall report to this session of the legislature, by bill, within a period of thirty-five days after their appointment. A majority of the whole commission shall be necessary for the approval of all questions that may come before it.

SEC. 2. That the sum of six thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the same, be and is hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to be paid by warrant drawn by the auditor general, on an itemized statement furnished to him by the chairman of said commission; and the commission shall have power to employ a competent stenographer whose services shall be paid out of the money hereby appropriated and in the manner herein provided.

PUBLICATION OF REPORT OF MINE COMMISSION.

LAWS 1891, P. 405.

MARCH 25, 1891.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, MARCH 19, 1891. Resolved by the house of representatives (if the senate concur), That three thousand copies of the report of the Mammoth Mine Commission, together with the testimony taken and suggestions of amendments to the mine law submitted by the inspector and others, be printed. Two thousand copies for the use of the house of representativės and one thousand copies for the use of the senate.

APPROPRIATION FOR COMMISSION TO REVISE LAWS.

LAWS 1891, 261, P. 279.

JUNE 9, 1891.

AN ACT to provide for the ordinary expenses of the executive, Judicial, and legislature departments of the Commonwealth,

SEC. 1. Be it enacted, etc.:

That the following sums be and are hereby specifically appropriated to the several objects hereinafter named for the years commencing June 1, 1891, and June 1, 1892, and to be paid out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.

SEC. 30. For the payment of the expenses of the commission appointed to revise the laws relating to the ventilation of the bituminous coal mines of the Commonwealth, and the health and safety of persons employed therein, the sum of $4,828.54; the same to be paid on the warrant of the auditor general on a statement rendered him by the chairman of the commission.

PUBLICATION OF MINING LAWS-RESOLUTION.

LAWS 1895, P. 647.

FEBRUARY 20, 1895.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FEBRUARY 8, 1895.

Resolved (if the senate concur), That the secretary of internal affairs be and he is hereby authorized to have published each year in his annual report on the mining industry, a copy of the laws regulating mining in both the anthracite and bituminous regions of Pennsylvania.

COMMISSION FOR REVISION OF ANTHRACITE LAWS.

LAWS 1911, P. 920.

JUNE 14, 1911.

AN ACT authorizing the appointment of a commission to revise and codify the present anthracite mining laws; defining its powers and duties, and making an appropriation to defray the expenses of said commission.

SEC. 1. Be it enacted, etc.:

That the governor of the Commonwealth be, and he is hereby, authorized to appoint a commission to revise and codify the present anthracite mining laws of Pennsylvania; said commission to be composed of nine members, three of whom shall be selected from among the operators, managers, and superintendents of the anthracite region, three from among the mine workers of the anthracite region, one shall be a member of the senate of the session of 1911, one shall be a member of the house of representatives of the session of 1911, and one shall be a person versed in the art of mining and who has no pecuniary interest in the operation of any coal mine in Pennsylvania.

SEC. 2. The chairman of said commission shall be designated by the governor. The commission shall have power to employ such legal counsel and other officers and employees as it may deem necessary to properly perform its duties. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be allowed their actual traveling and other necessary expenses while in attendance upon their duties as authorized by this act. The salary of any other person employed by the commission shall be fixed by it.

SEC. 3. The said commission shall hold its meetings in Wilkes-Barre, where all persons who are interested in the revision and codification of the said anthracite mining laws may appear and give expression to their views. The said commission shall have the right to call into consultation any persons who, in its opinion, may be able to give information that will assist in the work of revision. Said commission shall make a full report in writing of its deliberations, together with such recommendations as it may deem proper, to the next general assembly, which shall convene in January, 1913.

SEC. 4. The sum of $5,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated for the expenses of the said commission; the said expenses shall be paid on warrant duly signed by the chairman of the commission.

MINING LEASES.

MINERALS IN FOREST RESERVATION.

LAWS 1901, P. 11.

FEBRUARY 25, 1901.

AN ACT to establish a department of forestry, to provide for its proper administration, to regulate the acquisition of land for the Commonwealth, and to provide for the control, protection, and maintenance of forestry reservations by the department of forestry.

SEC. 1. Be it enacted, etc.:

That there be and is hereby established a department of forestry, to consist of the commissioner of forestry and four other citizens of the Commonwealth, who together shall constitute the State forestry reservation commission; each of whom shall be appointed and commissioned by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate; and said commission

is hereby empowered to make and execute contracts or leases, in the name of the Commonwealth, for the mining or removal of any valuable minerals that may be found in said forestry reservations, whenever it shall appear to the satisfaction of the commission that it would be for the best interests of the State to make such disposition of said minerals; and, provided, that such contracts or leases shall also be approved by the governor of the Commonwealth after the proposed said contracts or leases shall have been duly advertised in at least three newspapers published nearest the reservation designated for one month in advance of said contract or lease, and the contracts or leases shall be awarded to the highest bidder, and he or they shall have given such bond as the commission shall designate for the performance of his or their part of the contract, and the said bond shall have been approved by the court of the county wherein the contracts or leases are made: Provided, however, That when, by virtue of leases or contracts for removal of minerals and sale of timber from any lands purchased by the State for forestry reservations, there comes a net revenue to the State, one-half of said net revenue derived from lands situate in any township shall be paid by the State treasurer to the treasurer of such township, for application to township purposes and reduction of local tax levies in such township: Provided, That there shall not be paid to any one township, during any year, more than twice the amount of taxes that would be received by such township from said lands if they were owned by individuals.

SEC. 9. The commissioner of forestry shall receive the moneys to which the State may be entitled by virtue of the sale of any timber, or by virtue of any leases or contracts relating to the disposition of minerals, as hereinbefore provided, and he shall immediately pay the same over to the State treasurer as a part of the revenue of the Commonwealth.

COMMISSION MAY LEASE COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTE.

The forestry commission under this act is empowered to execute leases for the mining, or removal of any valuable minerals in any forest reservation.