HEARINGS BEFORE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR UNITED STATES SENATE SEVENTY-FOURTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON S. Con. Res. 34 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO CREATE A JOINT APRIL 1 AND 2, 1936 Printed for the use of the Committee on Education and Labor Copy of the resolution, S. Con. Res. 34, to create a joint committee to Statement of Senator James E. Murray-- Statement of Daniel Harrington, Chief of the Health and Safety Branch, The Bureau of Mines, United States Department of the Interior__ Statement of Dr. R. R. Sayers, of the United States Public Health Service_ Legal opinion on possible action by the Federal Government in dealing with the problem of silicosis in metaliferous mining, by Gerard D. Tri-State Miners Union No. 15, I. U M. M. and S. W., Picher, Okla___ Tri-State Miners Union No. 33, I. U. M. M. and S. W., Jardine, Page 12 III SILICOSIS AND METAL-MINING CONDITIONS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1926 UNITED STATES SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE OF COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR, Washington, D. C. A subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Education and Labor, composed of Senators David I. Walsh (chairman), James E. Murray, and James J. Davis, was appointed by Senator Walsh to consider S. Con. Res. 34, introduced by Senator Murray. The subcommittee met pursuant to call in the Education and Labor Committee room in the Capitol, at 2:30 p. m., Senator David I. Walsh, chairman, presiding. Present: Senators Walsh (chairman) and Murray. The CHAIRMAN. The subcommittee, consisting of myself and Senators Murray and Davis, will come to order. We will now hear the evidence on S. Con. Res. 34, introduced by Mr. Murray, of Montana, referred to the Committee on Education and Labor on calendar day, March 2, 1936. The concurrent resolution will be printed in the record. (S. Con. Res. 34 is as follows:) [S. Con. Res. 34, 74th Cong., 2D Sess.] CONCURRENT RESOLUTION Whereas the metal miners' occupation, under present conditions, exposes them to rock dust, powder fumes, foul air, and extreme heat, which conditions make it certain that, sooner or later, they will contract silicosis or tuberculosis, or both, complicated with heart and stomach trouble; and Whereas it is well known that the average useful and total lifetime of metal miners is far shorter than that of persons engaged in other occupations and that the latter days of such miners are generally spent in terrible agony from the above-mentioned diseases and complications of diseases as a result of the prevailing conditions of their employment; and Whereas the conditions which bring about this shortening of life and awful suffering can be in part eliminated; and Whereas the corporations which control metalliferous mining have not made an earnest and concerted effort to eliminate and alleviate such conditions in the metal mines of this Nation: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That there is hereby established a joint congressional committee to be composed of five Senators of whom three shall be from the majority political party and two shall be from the minority political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate, and five Members of the House of Representatives, of whom three shall be from the majority political party and two shall be from the minority political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The committee is authorized and directed to make a full and complete investigation of the conditions in such mines and to report to the Congress, as soon as practicable, the results of its investigations, together with its recommendations, if any, for necessary legislation. For the purposes of this resolution the committee, or any duly authorized subcommittee thereof, is authorized to hold such hearings, to sit and 1 |