The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-15


not intro patented articles into this bill at all 10
compel anybody TO take them.
But my friend says how does happen that you have
adopted Just the dimensions OF Mr Franciss e- boai
Why sir II this is true, am not indebted 10 Mr. Fran
CTS Tor those dimensions. obtained them than year
ago from distinguished officer in The navy, 10 whom
addressed letter asking him TO give me suitable ana
proper dimensions. These dimensions came from that
officer whe is at the head OF Of the bureaus IN this
city. They were adopted by me, depending upon his
judgment as better than my own.
And allow me TO say, there great advantages IN a
boat OF considerable size IL is much certain 10
perform the Offices required in rough weather than small
boats II is well known that smaller boats 10 many s''-
uaons and conditions only inefficient but they are
dangerous and thought il best that should adopt
boat which, in the Judgment OF able and experienced
seaman should be deemed OF the adequate dimensions.
The senator says may be nconvenient Tor some boats
upon rivers and nlets to carry boats OF the dimensions
prescribed. ! have provided for that. have provided
for all boats navigating tvers and interior still waters,
by leaving at the discretion OF the Inspectors 10 require
but one OF these life boatshat be such boat will
in their Judgment be OF suitable dimensions and form for
The service in which II is engaged only that il shall be
Mi HALE. In what section Is it
Mr. DAVIS. In the same section. And also TO AZ
low a.s--.- ..s,s ony - aas hui one n w (,
metal" thought had avoided all the conditions which
wantedtha in regard TO all the smaclass steam
ers III had allowed the inspectors discretionary power,
I in their judgments the other preparations Tor The secu
ry and safety OF human life were answered
And this point allow me TO say another word. |
put il TO you Mr. President, and TO the senate, wheter
suitable and adequate provisions are made for the pres
etvaon OF life by any measures which have hitherto been
adopted Look into the statistics which have been fnr.
nished US from the Treasury Department and see what
immense sacrifice OF life there has been where boats
have been wrecked in rivers by snags, rocks and other
causes. Where they destroyed BY fire the sacrifice
of life is GENERALLY enbtrhous and in almost all these
cases. far able 10 trace the particulars OF The
history OF the DISASTER il has been owing TO want OF
suitable and proper TO transport the parties TO the
shore. being within few hundred yards OF the shore
itself Ii is only short time since steamer was de-
s,royed in Lake Erie, when she was not only in sight
but very the shore She actually run aground,
and than Two hundred and fifty persons perlshed ior
want Of sufficient means TO transport them to me shore
provide All our experience proves that in rivers and
narrow waters some legal provision is necessary TO re-
cure the ADEQUATE tieans TO transport e paesenges TO
the shore, however near il may be. That is all wish TO
secure. The last thought in my head is to cucumber The
commerce OF the country or do anything 10 incur unne-
cessaTy expenditure Inconvenience 10 the transaction
of business Hence | induced, after the bull was
drawn up, 10 make notifications in IT, and leave n
discretionary power in the inspectors in regard 10 river
boats requiring them 10 carry but one boat aud that
And have stated 10 the Senate my reasons for re-
quiring metallic boat In the first place, il is boat
that endures In the second place It never leaks IL II u
well-made boat In the last place, IL is ncombustibe
in its character and most adapted TO those contingencies
which spring up when escape from lire is necessary
have left TO the Inspectors 10 furnish the gdnwaes OF
these boats such floats as they IT. L. from The spp
cation of Mr. Stanton's vucansed foat, he calls it,,
suitable boat ran be turned into life boat the inspect
may adopt H. He says that any vessel can be larned
into life BOAT with hs floats Well, II metallic boat
of any structure, and sustained by these hoats WILL in
the Judgment OF The Inspectors, answer the purpose, then
they will pass it; il il does not in their JUDGMENT make
good life. boat, then they will not pass it. had rather
settle This question so than undertake 10 settle these
plicaled questions about which gentlemen dispute IN the
Senate hope therefore, that the bill will stand as 1t Is
hs w@Ie N s @
Tor which made tins amendment; and that wasJ 10 leave
this question open. And would also remark, befufe
that honorable senator leaves his seat, that was little
surprised thai he should speak to about taking
pans enough acquire information about this subject
Now il that honorable senator had not had corps Of
men constantly communicating with hun, hardly think
be would have been quite well informed as he now Ia.
Mir. DAVIS. 10y not paleniees.
Mr.. HALE. did not say they were paieniees1l did
not say whether they were paeniees or not nor did the
honorable senator say But the honoable senator has
mol wered the objection which raised which IS this
be has described boat metallic e,b boat, so many ieel
long many feet and inches wde and so many feet and
inches deep. Now, am told, that by reference 10 the
Patent Oce il Will be found that there Is there the de-
scnp,oo OF Just exactly such boat as that, metallic
fire proof leboa twenty-five feet long, SIX feet and six
inches wide, and two feet deep hat Is the description
upon the files of the Patent Office OF patented metallic
te- boat Now, the OF the honorable senator to
that is that he did 20 there Tor this description, but
got from officer OF the navy some Time ago. do not
Know as TO that but being told by the honorable
alor it is enough. have no doubt II is fact Well.
SIR IL IL is so, then you compel these gentlemen to get
metallic llfe Doa answefinB w efeiy esFr. NAV ueP,
width length, TO Franciss ie-boaL Now, il must
be life boat Wha makes il lfeboat' There is but
one metallic life boat and that has air chambers in Il, and
that IT is which gives II the character OF life boat and
this section as u now stands will compel them to get
this particular life boat Now, what do propose TO do
want TO strike thus description out, and leave TO The
steam and verybody else, an opportunity TO
get the best boats Now, do not want TO give them
Hobson's choice-that nothing do not want 10 cgs
late for ybody in particular Now, why should this
objection be made 10 my proposition by the honorable
Mr. Il he ~
shown that he has given description that will compel
these gentlemen TO get this Francss lie boat do not
want IL stuck TO and adhered to- but want 10 strike
out and let them have for boats the best That can be
found-nade oi metals other material, Whatever the
inspectors may think best; and II the metallic boats are
the best, they can say SO
But this bill, in its present condition, IS liable TO be
charged with another nhimiiy Onc OF these boats may
not be bigger than the bull OF an acorn The section
reads
That every such vessel carrying passengers shall have
least boats supplied with oars in good condition
all tunes for service, Of oheh boats shall be metallic
boat proof OF approved model less Than 2S fee
long. D icet inches wide, and feet deep, &c.
And there is description at all given OF what the
other boat shall be- even II IL be OF the character which
have intmaled. Now the section amended as propose
will read
"Tnst every such vessel carrying passengers shall have
least boats supplied with in good condition
all times for service and In all respects good substantial
safe seabos, capable OF sustaining inside and outside
fly PERSONS with lielines attached TO the gunwae al
suitable distances"
Now, IL the Senate see ct TO adopt this amendment, j
will throw this whole matter open; Il will give the IN
specors or whoever has the control OF this subject The
power and discretion take the best boats which