Mine Safety Act of 1941

Mine Safety Act of 1941

Federal Mine Safety Act of 1941 passed into law following a string of terrible mining accidents, and an ever-escalating rate of individual or small group deaths which didn’t attract as much attention as the spectacular explosions. (1,388 miners died in 1940.) The FMSA gave the Bureau of Mines the power to perform “annual or necessary inspections and investigations.” But what progress the bill did make was undermined by the fact that no plans for a comprehensive federal enforcement program were included, nor was any mechanism to ensure compliance with the agency’s recommendations.

Cry Wolf Quotes

Unwise because it is an unnecessary extension of Federal power and would seem to be a step toward the deprecation of State sovereignty. I am one who still believes in the American system of Government the States have important functions and that State sovereignty is a fundamental and inherent principal of the American democracy.

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West Virginia’s Democratic Governor, Homer Holt, testimony, Subcommittee of the Committee on Mines and Mining.
06/11/1940 | Full Details | Law(s): Mine Safety Act of 1941

Federal policing of coal-mine operations, is wrong in principal; and if, as we believe it, it is certainly contrary to the spirit of our form of government and probably contrary to the letter of our constitution.

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John D. Battle, Executive Secretary of the National Coal Association, testimony, House Committee on Mines and Mining.
06/04/1940 | Full Details | Law(s): Mine Safety Act of 1941