The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-13
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
SENATE.
FGiDAY. March Il. 1892.

|
FRIDAY, March IL. 1852
| iHsrEcrlos or STEAMBOATS,.
Mr.. HAMLiN. from the Committee on Com
merce, asked the unanimous consent of the Senate
TO make an explanation. In the early port of this
session, he said, sundry memorials referred
to the Committee on Commerce, relating to the
act q to provide for the better security of the
lives OF passengers on board vessels propelled
whole or IN part, by steam" The subject was
referred by the Committee on Commerce to A sub
| committee, consisting Of the Senator from Nassa-
chusetts, [Mr. DAyIs,l and on the 18th of Feb
ruary that Senator reported the i'll which he held
| IN his hand. The subject as originally presented
10 the Committee on Commercs, embraced the
subjects Of steam boilers, safety boats, >pumps,
and various other apparatus connected with steam
vessels. On day subsequent to that when the
| original papers were presented to the committee
his colleague introduced resolution calling the
attention Of the Committee on Commerce to an
other branch connected with this, to wit: the sub
ject of disasters and calamitIes growing out Of the
over-burdened steamboats, plying between New
| York and California On the presentation Of that
resolution. and other papers and memorials relating
to the same subject, the committee Immediately
gave the SUBJECT an attent We pnsideratiOn. After
the Senator from Massachusetts reported his bill,
two other bills were referred to the committee
relating to California steamers. On the first of
March he submitteda full report upon the subject
and asked to be discharged from various memori-
ais &c , which had been referred to them the
subject having already been provided for in the
bill reported by the Senator from Massachusetts
Since that report was made he had received nu-
merous memorials and letters from various parts
| OF New England, complaining that the committee
having asked to be discharged, had refused to pro-
vide the remedies called for, and the legislature Of
Maine had passed resolution to that effect. This
was all mistake and he would take this oppor-
tunity to say that the reason why the committee
asked to be discharged from those memorials
was simply because the subject had already been
reported upon.
| He asked to explain,-very briefly, the provi-
sions Of the bill 1t provided for the appointment
of two inspectors of steam vessels in each coIlec
ton district. Such appointments to be subject to
the approval of the President of the United States
denomInated ''inspectOr Of huls, f" to estimate
the strength, sea worthiness and qualities of the
hulls of st amers and their equipments the other
the "inspector Of boilers, " to examine and test
the strength of boilers and the machinery general
| ly-the inspection to be made at least once
| in every six months and certificates to be given
accordingly. THE bill further provides that the
inspectors shall appoint and classify all engineers
and pilots and determine how many are necessary
| for each steamer. 1t also provides for the APP
| pointment by the President, by and with the adj
vice OF the Senate of four supervising inspectors
who are to reside at i'm portant points in dIferent
parts of the country and examine and confer to-
L
provides heavy fines and penalties for the viola
ton of the provisions Of the bill
With regard to limiting the number of passen-
gers, it had been suggested that the same rules
which apply to sailing vessels, should also be APP
piled to steamboats,; but those rules, the commit
tee deemed, were not applicable, owing to the diff
ferent mode Of constructing the two classes of
boats, and the committee believed that the APP
pontment Of skilful man, by an Inspector Of the
boats, would better determine the number than
the committee.
1t was proposed to have another section insert
ed, requiring sufficient quantity and suitable
quality of food, and it was thought that hese two
provisions would remedy all the evils which had
been complained of.
The bill was drawn up by the Senator from
Massachusetts, and he felt bound to say that that
Senator had manifested great ability and industry
in compiling it. And he was very certain that
when examined by the Senate it would meet their
hearty approval.
If additional provisions should be thought neces
sary to secure the proper ventilati Of boats, he
would only say that there a concurrent sent-
ment in the committee to add all the provisions
which were necessary to meet all the evils which
were found to exist.
Mr.. BRADBURY said he had received numer-
gu, uiem orielc of Il Character similar those to
which his colleague had referred, complaining of
remsness on the part Of the committee, and he
was glad to hear o. the remedies which were pro-
posed to be made
PRIVATE BILLS.
Mr.. RHETI moved to postpone the considera-
ton ofprivate bills for half an hour to allow the
presentation of petitions, &c.
The motion being disagreed to-
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of
private bills upon the calendar when the following
were ordered to be engrossed for third reading:
Bill to grant the right Of pre- emption to settlers
on the public land known as the Maison Rouge
grant.
Bill for the relief of the securities of Elijah J
Weed late quarermaster of Marines deceased
Bill for the relief of Nancy Wright
Bill for the relief of Robert Jemison and Benz
Williamson.
Bill for the relief of Nathaniel KuykendalI.
Bill for the relief of Wilam A. Christian
Bill to provide compensation to William Wood
bridge and Henry Chapman, for services in adj
justing titles to land in Michigan, and for other
purposes.
Bill for the relief Of Sarah Finn.
Bill for the relief of David Osborn
Bill for the relief of Thomas D. Jennings
Bill for the relief of John McReynods; of De-
troit, in the State of Michigan.
Bill for the relief of Samuel Bray
Bill for the relief of Thomas Rhodes
The following bills from the House were
passed.
An act for the relief of James Ferguson, survi
wing partner of the firm OF Ferguson q Milhado.
An act for the relief of Philip Miller
An act for the relief of Williams, Staples and
Williams.
LAND CLAIMS IN CALIFORNIA.
MIR. UNDERWOOD, by leave, reported, with
several amendments, the bill relative to the ascer-
tainment and settlement of private land claims in
California; which amendments were ordered to be
printed.
On motion the Senate adjourned until Monday
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
FRIDAY, March ~, 1852.