IN COAL MINES

HEARINGS

BEFORE A

SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE

COMMITTEE ON MINES AND MINING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEVENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS

THIRD SESSION

ON

S. 2420

A BILL RELATING TO CERTAIN INSPECTIONS AND
INVESTIGATIONS IN COAL MINES FOR THE PUR-
POSE OF OBTAINING INFORMATION RELATING
TO HEALTH AND SAFETY CONDITIONS,
ACCIDENTS, AND OCCUPATIONAL
DISEASES THEREIN, AND FOR

OTHER PURPOSES

́MAY 16, 17, 21, 23, 24, 28, 31, AND JUNE 4, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 1940

Printed for the use of the Committee on Mines and Mining

INSPECTIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS IN COAL MINES

THURSDAY, MAY 16, 1940

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON MINES AND MINING,

Washington, D. C.

The subcommittee of the Committee on Mines and Mining met in the committee room, 1401 New House Office Building, at 10 a. m., Hon. Andrew L. Somers (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Other members present: Hon. J. Hardin Peterson, Hon. Fadjo Cravens, and Hon. Fred Bradley of the subcommittee; and Hon. Ivor D. Fenton of the full committee.

Also present: Mr. J. J. Forbes, supervising engineer; Mr. M. J. Ankeny, mining engineer; and Mr. E. J. Gleim, electrical engineer, all of the Bureau of Mines, Department of the Interior, Pittsburgh, Pa.; David Speck, Esq., Assistant Solicitor, Department of the Interior. Mr. SOMERS. Gentlemen, the Committee will please come to order. I will present for your consideration S. 2420,"An Act relating to certain inspections and investigations in coal mines for the purpose of obtaining information relating to health and safety conditions, accidents, and occupational diseases therein, and for other purposes.

This bill was introduced in the House by our colleague, Mr. Keller of Illinois.

The act reads as follows [reading]:

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and empowered to make our cause to be made annual inspections and investigations in coal mines the products of which regularly enter commerce or the operations of which substantially affect commerce

(a) For the purpose of obtaining information relating to health and safety conditions in such mines, the causes of accidents involving bodily injury or loss of life in such mines, or the causes of occupational diseases originating in such mines, whenever such health or safety conditions, accidents, or occupational diseases burden or obstruct commerce or threaten so to do;

(b) For the purpose of obtaining information relating to health and safety conditions in such mines, the causes of accidents involving bodily injury or loss of life in such mines, or the causes of occupational diseases originating in such mines, as a basis for determining the most effective manner in which the public funds made available for the protection or advancement of health or safety in coal mines, and for the prevention or relief of accidents or occupational diseases therein may be expended for the accomplishment of such objects;

(c) For the purpose of obtaining information relating to health and safety conditions in such mines, the causes of accidents involving bodily injury or loss of life in such mines, or the causes of occupational diseases originating in such mines. as a basis for the preparation and dissemination of reports, studies, statistics, and other educational materials pertaining to the protection or advancement of health or safety in coal mines and to the prevention or relief of accidents or occupational diseases in coal mines;