Pennsylvania Act 1875-45 — MINERS - WAGES CALCULATED

Act text

MINERS, WAGES CALCULATED
                  Act of Mar. 30, 1875, P.L. 38, No. 45               Cl. 52
                                  AN ACT

     Fixing a common basis from which to calculate the earnings of
        miners or persons working in coal mines.

        Section 1.  Weighing of coal for purpose of ascertaining
     compensation of miners
        All persons, partnerships, associations and corporations
     engaged in the Mining of Anthracite Coal in this Commonwealth
     shall provide and erect, at each of their coal mines or
     collieries, standard and lawful scales for weighing the coal
     mined therein; and each and every miner's coal shall be
     separately and accurately weighed on said scale before said coal
     is dumped and taken from the car on which said miner loaded it
     in the said mine or colliery, and a separate and an accurate
     account shall be kept by all said persons, partnerships,
     associations and corporations of the number of pounds of coal
     mined by each miner as aforesaid; and the miners in each mine
     shall have the right to employ, at their own expense, and keep a
     weigh master at each of said scales to inspect said scales, and
     also keep an account of the number of pounds of coal mined by
     each miner; and the miners at each mine or colliery shall be
     paid at the rate of so much per pound for amount of coal mined
     by them, and the pound weight shall be the basis from which to
     calculate the earnings at all mines or collieries:  provided,
     that the provisions of this act shall apply only to mines or
     collieries in which the coal mined has heretofore been paid for
     by the car, and that this act shall not go into effect until
     sixty days after its approval by the Governor: And provided
     further, That if any of said persons, partnerships, associations
     or corporations shall neglect or refuse to comply with the
     provisions of this act, he or they so neglecting or refusing
     shall forfeit and pay, for every day of said neglect or refusal
     after said sixty days, to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the
     sum of one hundred dollars, the same to be sued for and
     recovered in an action of debt in the court of common pleas
     having jurisdiction of the territory in which said mines or
     collieries may be situate, the writs in said action to be served
     on the said persons, partnership, association or corporation, or
     the superintendents, agents or clerks of said persons,
     partnerships, associations or corporations resident within the
     jurisdiction of said court: And provided further, That the
     provisions of this act shall not apply to or embrace any
     persons, partnerships, associations or corporations that may or
     shall by any contract agree with his or their miners in any of
     said mines or collieries, otherwise than as is provided in this
     act, for the compensation of mining the same, and no penalty
     provided therein shall apply to such persons, partnerships,
     associations or corporations so contracting or agreeing.  1875,
     March 30, P.L. 38, Sec. 1.