Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-03-29
BY AUTHORITY.
LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Public s5.l
AN ACT to regulate the carriage passengers In steam
ships and other vessels.

Re II enacfed Bg the Senate and House Of Representa-
tires Of the United states Of America in CoRgess
sembled, That master Of any vessel owned in whole
or in part by citizen of the United States, or by citizen
Of any foreign country shall take board such vessel
any foreign port place, other than foreign eoniigu
Gus territory Of United States, greater number Of
passengers than in proportion ofOne Ia every two tons Of
vessel not including children under the age OF one
year la the computation, and computing two children
over and und eight years age one passenger
That the spaces appropriated for the use Of such passen
and which shall not be occupied by stores or other
goods not the personal baggage Of such passengers shall
be in the following proportions, viz On the main ahd
poop decks platforms and In the deck houses II here
be any passenger for each sixteen clear snpSrhea
feet of deck THE height distance between the decks
or platform shall be less than six ieet and on the lower
deck mot being orloop deek II any one passenger
for eighteen such clear superficial feet, IL the height or
distance between the decks platforms shall not b. less
than six feet but that passenger shall be carried
ON any deck or platform nor upon deck where the
height distance between decks Is less than SIX feet,
with intent 10 bring such passenger 10 the united Sales
and shall leave such port or place and bring the same or
any number thereof within the jurisdiction OF the United
States; if any such master OF any vessel shall take on
board his vessel, at any port or place within the ursdic
ton of the United States any greater number OF seh-
gers than in the proportion aforesaid to the space aore
said or 10 the tonnage aforesaid with intent 10 carry the
any foreign port or place other than foreign con
teous aforesaid such master shall be
deemed guilty OF misdemeanor, and upon conviction
thereof before any circuit district court OF the United
States, shall for each passenger taken on board beyond
the limit aforesaid be fined in the sum OF hfty dollars,
and NAV also Imprisoned the discretion of the judge
before whom the penalty shall be recovered not exceed
or of the vessel that portion of her ear
70 or any other articles article should be placed
or stored in any of the decks cabins, or other places a
prOpriated 10 the Of passengers the same may be
placed lockers enclosures prepared for the purpose
eXterir surface mpervous 10 te wave capable OF
being ceansed in like manner as he decks or platforms
of the vessel In ease, however Shall the places thus
provided b. deemed TO b. part Of the space allowable
for the Of passengers, but he same shall De deducted
therefro and n all where prepared or used, the
upper surface said lockers enclosed spaces shall be
deemed and taken To be the deck or platform from which
hall h. mad AL
act Il provided that one hospital la the spaces
appropriated 10 passengers, and separate thererom 10y
an appropriate PARTITION and when used, may be ncln-
de ia the space allowable for passengers, but the same
shall not occupy than hundred superficial feet
OF deck or platform; Proridef, That ON board two
deck ships, where the height between the decks Is
and half feet fourteen clear superb
feet Of deck shall be the proportion required for each
passenger.
Src , 4nd Be IL further ENACTED, That such ves-
sci shall have than two tiers OF ber and the IN
terya between the lowest part thereof and ie deck OF
plaorm beneath shall not be less than nine inches, and
The berts shall b well constructed parallel with the
sides of the vessel, and separated from each other by
partitions berhs ordinarily are Separated and shall
be AT least length and at least two foot In width,
and each berth shalt be occupied 10y no more than one
passenger but doubly behs Of twice the above width
may be eOnstrnete each berth To be occupied by no
MORE aud other, than two women, or by one woman
and children under the OF eight years, or by hus-
band and wife, or by and two of his own children,
under the aye OF eight years. by two men, members OF
the same family and if there shall be any violation OF
hi ron in any of is provisional then The master Of
the vessel and the thereof shall scveray forfeit
and nav the sum of five dollars for each passenger on
board such vessel such voyage, To be recovered by
the United States n any port where such vessel may ar
rive depart.
whether Of the United States any foreign bounry nav
ing sufficient capacity space according to law for my
or passengers (other than cabin passengers SHALL
when employed in transporatng such passengers be-
tween the United States and Europe have, the upper
deck for the use of such passengers, house the
passage way leadiig to the apartments allotted To such
passengers below deck, firmly secured TO the deck OF
el.n ~ -. n
shall least foot above the deck constructed
that one door window in such house may AT all times
be len open for ventilation; and all vessels employed
and having the capacity to carry hundred and fifty
such passengers mOre shall have two such houses
and the stairs ladder leading down To the aforesaid
apartment shall be furnished with handra OF wood O
srohg rope but BOBBY matches may be substituted fol
Src. 4. Ard be II further enacted That every sucl
vessel 50 employed and having The legal capacity fo
more than one hundred such passengers, shall have a
least two ventilaors 10 purify the apartment or apart
ments occupied by such passengers one of which shall
inserted in the after part of the apartment or apart
men and the other shall BE- placed la the forward
ton OF The apartment or apartments, and one Of then
shall have an exhausting cap to carry of The foul air
the other receiving cap Ia carry down the rresi ais
which said yentilaors shall have capacity proporone'
10 the size OF the apartment and apartments 10 be pures
namely IL the apartment apartments will lawfully
authorize the reception of two hundred such
the CAPACITY of such yenators shall each be equal 20
tube OF twelve inches diameter In the clear, and pro
portion for larger smaller apartments; and all sa
ventatOrs shall rise at least four feet six inches abOv
,
proved form and construction; but if IL shall appea
the report be made and approved, hereinae
provided, that such vessel Is equally well ventilated b.
any other means such other means Of ventilation shall
be deemed and held to be compliance with the provi
sions ofthis section.
SECS. And be II further enacted That every vesse
carr.ng more fhah fifty such passengers shall have 70
their deck, housed and conveniently arranged
least cambOose cooking range, the dimensions
which shall be equal 10 four feet long and one foot 81
inches wide for every two hundred passenger and pro
vision shall be made ia the aforesaid in this at
Ior ni"ed 6II ,ng r 5 I'm, y, "u mn
arrangements for cooking between decks II that shall
5 deemed desirable.
Sac. q. ind be a. further enacted That all vessel
employed aforesaid shall have board, for the
such passengers al The time Of leaving the last POI
whence such vessel shalt sail. well secured under decl
for each passenger at twenty pounds Of good navy breaa
fifteen pounds Of rice, ifleen pounds of oatmeal lie
pounds of wheat -four, fifteen pounds Of peas and bean:
twenty pounds of potatoes, pint Of vinegar sixty ga
Ions Of fresh water ten pounds of salt beef free of bon,
all 20 be Of good quality but at places where either rice
oatmeal, wheat Hour, or peas and beans cannot be pre-
Cured 0f good quality and on reasonable TERMS IN
quantity either Of OF the other last named article
may be increased and substituted there and in
taioes cannot be procured reasonable terms, on
> pound OF either Of said articles may be substituted
lieu Of five pounds Of potatoes: and the captains of
vessels shall deliver to each passenger at least oneent
part of the aforesaid provisions weekly, commencing o
, the day Of sailing, and at least three quarts of da
y and fthe passengers board OF any such vessel
. which the provisions, and water herein required sha
> have been provided aforesaid, shall any time
put short allowance during any voyage, the master
owner ofany such vessel shall pay TO each and
passenger who shall have been put short allowance
the Of three dollars for each and every day they
have been put short allowance, the of three do
lara fer each and every day they may have been put
Short allowance 70 he recovered in the circuit disi
n court Of the United States and IL shall be the dnty
the captains master Of every such ship or vessel
the food and provisions of all the passenger Ia
q well and properly cooked daily and TO be
distributed To them at regular and stated hours by mes
S in such other manner as shall be deemed best
conducive to the health and comfort Of such passel
gers Of which hours and manner Of distribution. du
and sufficient notice shall be given. If the captain
" master Of any such ship vessel shall wilfuy fail
furnish and distribute such provisions cooked as aor
,, said LG shall be deemed guilty OF msdemeanOr an
)f upon conviction hereQfbeore any circuit district
Of the United States shall DO aned not more than OF
, thousand dollars and shall be imprisoned for Term M
v exceeding one years Pr0rided, That the enforcement
this penalty shall not effect the civil responsibility OF a
captain master and owners, TO such passengers ma
have suffered from said default.
sec. T. And be IL further enacted That the capita
Of any such vessel employed is hereby authorized
N maintain good discipline and such habits OF ceanne
among such passengers will tend 10 the preservaiiC
and promotion Of health; and that he shall eau
such regulations he may adopt for this purpose
" posted up before sailing board such vessel pla,
accessible TO such passengers and shall keep the
y pOstsd up during the voyage and il Is hereby made u
duty 0f said captain 10 the apartments occupied
such passengers 70 be kept at all times in clean,
poyed required TO consruel iha decks and all par
u OF said apartments, that il can be thoroughly
and they shall also provide safe, convenient priyy
waterelosset for the exclusive Of every hundrt
IL such passengers. And when the weather is such IN
10 said passengers cannot be mustered deck with the
bedding, shall he the duty OF the captain Of every s,
vessel the deck occupied by such passengers
be eleansed with chloride of ime other equal
efficient disinieetng agent and also al such other tim
| as said Captain may deem necessary.
LKc, q, find be az further enacted, That the mast
apd owner or owners of any such vessel 50 employee
N which shall not b. provided with the house hous
the passage prescribed IN the third sectiO
Of this chapter with Yenta prescribed in u
N fourth section Of this chapter, with the eamboQ56s
cooking ranges, with the houses them, prescribe
In the h section of this chapter, shall severy forte
IS and pay TO the United States the Of hundre
dollars each and eyery violation Of neglect
form 10, the provisions of each Of said sections and n
dollars for each and every neglect violation any
the provisions of the seventh section OF this chapter,
10 be recovered by suit ia any circuit district
u the United States, within the jurisdiction Of which n
said vessel may arrive, or from which she may b. abo
To depart. at any place within the jurisdiction
courts, wherever the owner orqwners or captain
/ vessel may be found
SEC 9. find be further enacted That the eolects
Of the customs at port of the United States While
any vessel employed shall arrive, from which az
such vessel shall be about To depart shall appoint an
direct more of the inspectors Of the customs {,
y such port TO examine such vessel, and report in wrtiu
10 such collector, whether the requirements OF law
been complied with IN respect to such vessel; and
such shall stale such COMPLIANCE. and shall