ALLEGANY COUNTY. 485

fund; prohibiting assignments of claims for relief money and
assignments of claims for injuries, disability or death against
parties complying with this Act; exempting parties comply-
ing with this Act from suits for injuries, disability and
death sustained by their employees, when relief has been
accepted or sued for under this Act; and to add a chapter
to the Public Local Laws of Allegany and Garrett Counties
under the title of "Miners and Operators Co-Operative
Relief Fund," and repealing Chapter 412 of the Acts of the
General Assembly of Maryland in the year 1902, in relation
to the accidents in mining.

Whereas, it is the duty of the Government to provide suste-
nance in the case of helpless indigence to those who are or
may become paupers and charges upon the public and is the
settled practice of Governments to do so; and

Whereas, experience has shown that the occupation of coal and
clay mining in Allegany and Garrett Counties is attended
with peril peculiar to the occupation itself, and that a great
number of employees in the mines, without estates and hav-
ing large families and dependents are annually disabled or
killed in consequence of injuries sustained in their employ-
ment and they and their families become objects of charity
and charges upon the public authorities, and their infant
children are unable to secure the proper support and educa-
tion; and

Whereas, it appears that such injuries, disabilities and death
occur with such regularity as to be susceptible of approxi-
mation in advance and are inherent in the occupation and
a part of the business itself and the monetary loss therefrom
ought to be charged up to the occupation and business; and

Whereas, sound policy requires that some provisions be made
for the sustenance of the family and dependents of such
injured or disabled employee and the widows and infant
children and dependents of such employee when death re-
sults from such injuries; therefore,

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That there be and is hereby added to the. Code of Public
Local Laws, title "Allegany County," Article One, and title
"Garrett "County," Article Twelve, a new sub-title to be desig-
nated "Miners and Operators Co-Operative Relief Fund," to
take the place of Chapter 412 of the Acts of the General Assem-
bly of Maryland of the year 1902 (which last-named Act is
hereby repealed), such sub-title to be and to read as follows:

SEC. 2. The word "operator" as herein used shall include
every corporation, person, partnership or association engaged