The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-25

Oxr WasAangtsn OsrrsspsaAsaee.
WASHINGTON, JAY ID, l062
Safely IN Steam Nacigation-Ihe Nzs Bin Bso,
Co~gress.
The bill for the better preservation Of the safst
and lives Of passengers in steam vessels, has q
length BEEN sent from the Senate, and referred, b.
the House Of Representatives, to tho Committee Of
Commerce, and viii probably be reported upol
during the present week.
By this BILL it is provided that NO collector shall
grant register or license to any vessel propelled
by steam, which shall not have complied with it
requirements; and any vessel contravening its pro
Visions shall DO subject to all the penalties oft
second section Of former act, of which this is on
amendment. It directs that inspectors shall be ap
pointed 10 examine steam vessels before receiving
register, and twice year afterwards, who shall SOC
that proper precautions have been adopted to pre-
rent accidents from fire or otherwise.
1t also provides that steam vessels shall have .
certain number OF forcing pumps and proper sup
ply Of hose. and that every vessel carrying pas
sengers shall have two boats-one a metallic lifo-
boat, capable Of carrying fifty passengers. She mus
also have life preserver made Of "copper" or othe
suitable material. and floats for each passenger an
person on board, TO be placed in conspicuous par
of the vessel ready for use, with proper number
FIRE buckets, and means of escape from the main an
lever to the upper deck; she is not permitted &,
have curtains made ofootton, except In state room
where 0lights are allowed, and shall not take o
board hemp, unless properly packed and covere
substances, without license, under penalty
one hundred dollarsf for each offence.
Pilots and engineers arc to be designated by q
Board of Trade, or Chamber Of Commerce, in GER
tain enumerated ports, who shall be of good charac
tai and suitable abilities. Steam vessels, besides
guage cocks, are to be provided with alleged mo
tails, to be placed on the outside fues, which
will be fusible by the heat Of the boiler when
the steam is raised ton pounds beyond the autho-
rzed working pressure The inspectors are to
the hydrostatic pressure on high pressure boilers,
at one hundred and ton pound+ to the square inch,
that being the maximum pressure allowed as work
diameter; and on all other boilers, whether old or
new, according to this standard.
In low pressure boilers, the inspectors are to as
sumo fifty pounds pressure to the square inch the
othcr boilers whether old or new according to this
standard; and no valve is to be loaded. or SO ma
naged to subject the boiler to greater pressure.
Any pilot or engineer acting without license,
is to forfeit one hundred dollars for each offence,
unless in case of accident on the passage; and the
Board of Inspectors, constituted under this law,
may summon witnesses, and examine them on oath,
touching the performance Of their duty by pilots,
who are to report to the chief officer of customs.
Il is declared unlawful to take on board steamer
creator number of passengers than are permitted
by the inspectors certificate; the master so offend
ing to forfeit the passage money, and ten dollars for
each passenger; nor can craft or barges be taken
in tow without the consent Of the passengers Any
master who shall load or obstrruot the machinery
or ntelfere with the safety to produce extra
pressure, ID to forfeit two hundred dollars and be
imprisoned mot exceeding eighteen months.
In case q deficiency Of water unless from inev
designated point. the master engineer, and other
persons whose duty 1t Is to keep supply Of water,
are to be fined ono hundred dollars and II acoi-
dent should happen in consequence, shall DO i'm
prisOned not less than six nor exceeding eighteen
months All boilers that are hereafter constructed,
shall bemade of plates that have been inspected and
marked Of one fourth of IN inch In thickness for q
boiler of inches diameter, and in that pro-
Of best wrought iron-fve cents to DO paid for i'm
specting and marking each plato. Any person using
iron that has not been inspected in the construction
of boilers to forfeit five hundred dollars for each
offence, and be imprisoned two years; and II using
the marks of others, to be answerable for all tho
damage accruing therefrOm.
The President Of tho United States is authorized
to appoint board Of nine supervising inspectors,
per annum, with reasonable travelling expenses, to
DO paid from the treasury Of the United States-as
are the inspectors Of boiler iron and when super
vising inspector ascertans that any master or en-
Is to report the same to the board Of his dstrct Or
he deem it necessary, to prosecute the offending
parties; and the board are to report such failure TO
the Secretary Of the Treasury who is toinvestgate
the same
1t is made the duty Of the collectors Of customs to
report the names Of pilots and engineers who have
been rejected appointed who are also to enforce
the law. and, neglectng to do So are to be removed
from Office, and are also subjected to penalty Of
one hundred dollars. They are to furnish the cap
tain of steam vessel with two copies Of the inspec-
tors certificate. to be placed in conspicuous place
on board such vessel and any person carrying pas
seDgers without such certificate, or eombustible OF
explosive materials without license, shall forfeit
one hundred dollars for every offence; and any in
spector who shall certify falsely is to be fined five
hundred dollars, suffer imprisonment not oxcocd-
six months.
If the hull and machinery Of steam vessel are
not conformable to the inspectors certificate, the
master or commander ia to forfeit not exceed
ing one hundred dollars, or to be imprisoned two
months. The act provides for steamboats, meeting
on rivers, and In case of fog, arrangement OF ma
chnery, or stress Of weather; and owners and YES
sells liable for injury to persons and property for
the full amount Of damage sustained :.
Tho following sums are to be paid annually to
the inspectors Of districts, from tho public trea-
sury Portland, $500; Boston and Chsrlestown,
$500; New London, $500; New York, $4,000; Phila-
delphia, $1,000; Norfolk, $500; Charleston. s. @,
800; Savannah, 300; Mobile, 81 1000; New Or
leans, $4,000 Galveston, $500; st: Lonis 81 800;
Nashville, 800; Louisville, 200; Cincinnati,
1880; Wheeling, $500; Baltimore, 81 900; Pitts
burg, 81 500; Chicago. $500; Detroit $500; Cleve-
land, $500; Buffalo, 81 200; Oswego, $500; Ver-
mont, $500; San Francisco, 81 800.
The masters of steam vessels arc to keep correct
account Of passengers, stating where received and
whore left; TO provide themselves each with ton
copies Of the act which is to be exhibited TO passen-
gers when required. Inspectors to make oath as
to the faithful performance Of their duty; and when
guilty of taking fee, shall forfeit Office, and pay
fine not exceeding Ave hundred dollars, OF suffer i'm
prisonment not exceeding six months, or both.
The Board of Supervising Inspectors are TO re-
ceve, in writing. information from qualified persons,
and suggestions as to what Legislation is necessary
to render the law effeotuaI and the Secretary
of the Treasury Is to prepare and publish interroga-
tories, and report the result to Congress The Las
section provides that the act shall come into opera
ton on the LIST Of November, with the exception O.
those provisions which rotate to pumps, hose, ana
life boats which are to take effect from the Let o.
January next. W.