New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-08-04

trslia At fret the shippers were paid for the mum
her Of persons put on board. vessels were over
c,ovrdeJ ,nd passengers neglected in the most reck-
loss manner; much go, tbnt for time nearly hiy
oen, Of those t,ken on board found graves in the
ocean during the voyage This dreadful waste OF NE
susdepl, and efectuslly stopped bya very simple
process Instead OF paying the contractor Tor 50
MANY put On board, be was paid only for those siie!
landed radical change in the condition OF the YES
sells took place IL became the interest OF the shipper
TO take the best Of Of Bis passengers Light sui
AR rood food water sud room for exercise, we're
proyded; skillful surgeons were employed, who
were pad Oh the same princPle-Accordng -
the number Of passengers in good health at the
end Of the voyage and no reasonable meas
pres were omitted 10 secure hcalth-aui passage
money. The result was almost miraculous. Ships
that had thrown overheard hundred on single yoy-
age now buried scarcely ten and so we'll has the sys-
ten worked that row, aided by modern improve
m.nts in ship-buding the ratio of mortality which
forty Years ago was often fifty per cent is only one
snd.s.half per cent which is less than the average
mortality of the same class OF people on shore. 10
spply this principle of setneres for the benefit OF
the emer4nt and of course Of the shippers, is the
radical change advised by the Committee. As our
law now is. there is an indirect premium offered to
the shipowDer for every passenger that dies at sea-
That is. the shipper gets deduction in the amount
of the head.money paid BY him on landing his cargo
pr1portiona;e to the number lCst. The mode OF APP
plyiDg a. principle recommended by the Committee
is the forfeiture of the amount of the passage
of each person dying at sea- and making the cia IN
case of refusal. lien on the vessel.
oh l.. IN
nisbipr and cooking provisions from the passengers
to the ship The Captain is to be responsible Tor the
cooking and distribution of the provisions at stated
hours and according TO rules established before the
VOYAGE In case of insufficient quantity or quality OF
provisions water, each passenger may recover -
per da, for such neglect Another important TEXTURE
is the strict regulation as to space The old tonnage
system is revived and applied vi IA the cubic-spa;e
system now in effect. Two pass, myers to every nye
tons in summer and to every three tons IN winter
is the new rate. No passengers are to be taken on
the orlop deck; and large space on the upper deck
to be reserved and kept clean where the passengers
can enjoy dir and exercise.
The details for the enforcement of these rules will
be seen more at length in the bill digest of which
we publish elsewhere OF course the bill is brought
forward too late in the session to be passed; though
We presume early it could be prepared 1t is in
the main good one aud in every way great i'm
provement upon existing laws. Still it may possibly
be iudciousy amended in of its details; but the
leading provisions will pretty surely accomplish great
good We will here sugl est the designation Of some
government officer entirely removed from the suspi-
cion of ol'usion with officers, who should
board every vessel bringing emgran's and hear from
the passengers themselves any complaints or state
nents touching their treatment the voyage So that
justice may be done simply and speedily. When
once ashore emgrants have no time, or II they have
both time and money, they know not where to go or
how TO proceed to get redress for any wrongs done to
them.
This act or sOEething like it, ought to pass
early next winter ii anything beyond intrigues and
corruption should distinguish that session. At the
same time the Legislature of this State ought to
enact such law will efectuay prevent the acts Of
audscOus imposition practsod upon the unfortunate
stranger while upon shore, especially in this City.
Such law eau be- enacted aud enforced il little deter
ninatoni manifested With these reforms, people
will escape much deserved censure and an untortu-
nate and almost epees class of strangers find that
friendly prOte elton which It should be the pride OF
free aud happy people TO extend at all times and on
oil occasions to those whom want oppression, or love
of liberty have impelled to seek these shores.