Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-09-18
PROJECTION TO LIFE ON STEAMBOATS,.
In SENATE, August 90, 1852.

In SENATE, August 28, 1852.
Mr.. DAVIS. ! am instructed by the Committee on
Commerce to report back to the Senate bill 10 amend
the entitled An act for the better OF the
lives of passengers board vessels propelled in whole
in part by steam :; and am instructed by that COM
mttee the Senate agree to the numer
amendments made by the House Of Representatives
Although the committee do not think that the bill has
been@improved by these amendments In many respects
yet this late stage of the session. they think best to
concur in them hope the bill will be taken up,
and will follow that action the part Of the Senate by
moving vote of concurrence in all the amendments with
out reading them.
Mr.. GWIN. hope the Senate viii adopt the sugges
tons of the Senator from Massachusetts, The amend
very numerous, and their reading would cause
great delay.
The motion to take up the bill agreed to.
Mr.. DAVIS. l now move to concur in the amendments
made by the House of Representatives.
Mr.. PRATT. There somewhat more than one hun
bred and fifty amendments reported by the House of Re-
representatives. to that BILL and asked, as un-
dersand for of concurrence in them without
hearing them read. hold in my hand representation
from the steamboat interests of the State of Maryland in
direct opposition to this bill and believe that feeling
is shared by the interest along the whole Of the At
lantc seaboard They state that if the bill should pass
it viii break up the steamers they have runnng that
the bill is unnecessarily severe far they
cerned and that it would be completely runous TO their
interests As represent those interests this aoor
cannot permit this motion TO pass without making q
solemn protest against it. The Senator who has made 1t
asks this body and asks me- to vote in favor of the adop
ber least in despite of the remontrance presented
by the whole of the steamboat interests of my State
without even knowing what the effect of of those
amendments may be- do it, SIR and shall ask
for the yeas and nays on the motion.
The PRESIDENT. The Senator from Maryland has it
in his power to the question 10 be taken the
amendments separately.
Mr.. GWIN. / wish to make appeal to the Senator
from Maryland.
Mr.. PRATT. am DESTROYS that the bill should not
pass and therefore there is in making the appeal
because it will only be made to induce to agree 10
these amendments to facilitate the passage of the bill
cannot in such step, for the that have
satedthat the whole Of the steamboat interests OPP
posed to the In addition to what have already
said, beg to mention TO the Senate that have in
my possession resolution suggested By the steamboat
owners which will submit for consideration. Their OBJ
lection is not much the amendments the BILL
To that they object toto. They do not object to the
amendments specifically The object and the scope of
those amendments unknown TO them Possibly they
still more Objectionable than the bill itself.
Mr.. JONES, Of Iowa. Why do they object to the
amendments if they do not understand them
Mr.. PRATT. viii now offer, as substitute for the
report Of the committee, the resolution to which have
alluded Its effect is to convey instruction to the
Committee on Commerce to sit during the recess and in
qulre into this question thoroughly so far regards
steamboat navigation in other sections of the country than
the Western waters and that the committee do report
such bill at the next session of Congress may afford
adequate protection travellers without destroying the
steamboat interests on the Atlantic sea-board
The PRESIDENT. 1sitoered substitute for the bill
Mr.. PRATT. Yes, sir. Allow me to say that during
the last forty not single accident has occurred
the Chesapeake bay which would render the passage Of
such bill that present under consideration necessa
ry 1t is inexpeden them pass this bill but if il
be made to apply solely that section Of country where
Legislation 10 psravey demanded hove objection
to its passage together with all the amendments just
they came from the House Of Representatives.
The PRESIDENT. The gentleman must eonfne him
self to the consideration Of those amendments. The
subject-matter of the bill is before the Senate
Mr. GWIN. believe this bill to be very defective.
believe with the Senator from Maryland (Ar. PRATT
that will serious injury to the steamboat interests
In his State and in mine also. have been notified that
it viii serious embarrassment the steamboat
in my State; but Notwithstanding that, think
should have some security for fe such as this bill
proposes As it does not go into operation before next
March, and Congress will be in session months
before that time, then amend it, if,
consideration, amendment appears TO be advisable. In
the time most anxious that this bill should
pass is evident that something Of the kind is
tial and appeal to the Senator from Maryland (Mr
PRATT persist in his opposition the
in the amendments.
Mr.. DAVIS | wish to say few words in reply to
the Senator from Maryland. This bill has been a long
time under the consideration Of the House Of Representa-
tiyes IL passed this body by great majority indicating
great unanimity; and il passed because it
understood that there other interests than those Of
steamboat owners concerned was very wei known what
feelings many those persons entertained this subject
that they much preferred the law Of discretion any
actment that Congress could make that they des
OF having TINS SUBJECT entirety under their own con-
troll 20 in what manner they pleased with reck-
less disregard for human e rather than have any egs
lation whatever The bill, after much consideration,
the House Of Representatives many weeks ago,
and il has pursued thher by Of the steamboat
gentlemen, who, to my certain knowledge, have been
treated with the consideration and the greatest
respect paid Is their wishes far they
able The consequence Is that the character and tone
Of the bill have been 50 much lowered by amendments
adopted by the House Of Representatives that il has lost
much Of its efficiency and fear il will not the
purpose for which il designed 1t is not sufficiently
stringent as ii has been returned TO u.s. for the protec
ton Of life and property. The foundations Of the bill
have not been disturbed it is true but the have
been altered and the tone abated to such degree as
very much to impair my judgment its useful sharae
That change has been made concession those
interests which the Senator from Maryland Mr. PRATT
represents Yet after all these concessions have been
made and they these remonstrants are no
more disposed accept the bill than they we're at
first The consderae willing accept III but
there some-I hope not many-uerly opposed to il
in every shape and appear desire law but the law
Of discretion which Is the right to expose life mmi-
nent peril and often to destruction. II the Senate Is
willing TO permit such state Of things 70 exist be il
Ny own opinion is that had better adopt the bill
came from the House Of Representatives and it doe;
take effect until next March, can amend il during
theapproachng session Of Congress If IL should appear
be stringent in regard to the property Of steamboa
owners
In this connexion will say, in justice to the commit
tees the Senate and Of the House Of Representatives
that every STEP and under all circumstances they pa
the crupulous regard the rights Of property
This point never lost sight Of for moment an
Of the provisions complained Of adopted re
lieve property from burdens as far possible. Tn
various forms in which boats and machinery are con
structed make large discretion in the inspectors neces
sary 10 meet each and 70 prevent sacrifice OF pro
nv he Of conforning