The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-20
Chamber OF ComSnerce.

Inc Chamber OF Commerce met yesterdAy-P rerm N
the chair.
ROGERS
CHARLES II. MARSHALL called tho attention OF the Cham
Der 70 the facts connected with Rogers sgOss which
were approved OF by the Chamber come years snce
last year bill introduced into Congress making II
obligatory on the mercantile marine 10 use them, under
severe penalties This created dissatisfaction among the
merchants and remonstrsnces sentjn 70 Congress-
and the progress OF the bill stopped for tme Re-
Gently the matter has revived and Mr. John Coch
ranc had introduced a similar bill this session. To pre-
vent its passage
Mr. MARSHALL introduced the following Us expressive Of
the sense of the meeting
Whereas is understood tina, efforts being made TO
procure the passage by Congress OF bill to provide FOR
the general and compulsory by shpowrers OF the
by Henry Rose ms snS ss
Signals together with books ecessary for their explsna
ton and under heavy penalties for emitting to adopt
them, being the bill in substance which has been
before Congress- at two former sessions and whereas
the adoption of this any other private invention as
national cote Of signals in such manner to be compu
sorry upon shpowners is not required by any existing
cessy and would subject shpowners and others engaged
In commerce to great and useless for the
benefit Of private persons and not for the public good
and Whereas at the last session of Congress renon
sraDces addressed to the House Of Representatives
by shpcwners of this city and also Of the cities of Boston
Portland Philadelphia, Charleston and New Orleans, in
opposition the passage of the sad bill and TO the scheme
of private aegrandzement which it designed 70 fur
Their and praying that much Of the bill made the
proposed code OF signals compulsory might be stricken
Resolved, That iu the opinion of this Chamber il is
wholly unnecessary provide by law fer the adoption Of
any code or system 0, marine signals in the manner pro
or any other similar bill would impose needless tax and
burden commerce.
Resolved That however ingenious and practicable the
system Of signals invented by Professor Rogers may DO
would be unjust and nexpedent for Congress to grant
him. in addition TO the patent right which he has obtained
therefor, such monopoly and privilege as would be con
ferred by requiring the shipping Of the country
and pay for his books and signals
Resolved That in the resolution Of approval and recon-
nendston CT the Rogers signals passed by the Chamber
the fourth day of January 1856 the intention Of
this Chamber to express favorable opinion of the merits
of the invention and to recommend TO the shpowners
and masters leaving TO be tested by experiment. 10 the
same manner any other invention, but not TO aid
countenance any attempt To compel it's by act OF Con-
grtss or TO impose penalties upon these who might not
desire TO It,
Resolved, That a copy Of these resolutions together
with copy Of the "Remonsrance of the Shpowners and
Masters OF this PORT presented to Congress at the last
session. he forwarded to the Hon. John Cochrane chair
man of the Committee Of Commerce of the House Of
Representatives, certified under the seal Of this Chamber
Mr. MARSHALL sad that another code of signals in
and the introduction of the code would produce
confusion The speaker read letter from Mr. Cochrane,
in which he admitted he was imposed upon with regard to
these signals.
Mr.. MOSES H. GRrSSxILwss glad Mr.. Marshall had al
luded TO that Mr. Cochrane had been imposed upon He
had no doubt Of the matter. Mr. g. had two years ago
stated that the merchants in favor OF those sig
mails, yet they wanted no compulsory law on the sub
edition Of the code Of ssns s and srea.
against receiving these signals that the English ma
rne and great part of the American marine as well -
the marines OF almost every other nation used Marryaus
signals - he had no objection to give Mr. Rogers the
benefit invention, provided the compulsory law in
Hictpe p4haes for the non-use OF these signals be
The Chairman about to put the resolutions, when
Mr. lEIFs thought that the matter should be first rec
ferred TO committee, according TO the by laws OF the
Chsnbar.
The CHAIR explained that was not new matter hav
ing been passed upon before.
The question then put, and the resolutions
carried-Mr. Phelps only voting "No."
motion To forward these resolutions was also passed.
and Mr. PERT publicly rendered his Acknowledgements 70
Mr. Cochrane Cor sending those papers TO the Chamber
COLLISION AT sEA-cAT OF THE ApRiAHc
Mr.. JoHS II. BRowRR then read the following state
ment:-
There is not, perhaps subject of importance to
of all nations than that which relates N
the collision of ships at sea- To the consideration of IT,
desire to call the attention OF this Chamber.
and ninety two vessels sunk or injured by collisions dur
ing the three first months Of the year 1874 And cores
pending to the increase Of the intercommuncaton and
trade Of the world the number and size Of sea going
vessels have increased those propelled by steam, which
comparatively but few since scarcely known
10 the highways Of maritime commerce, course their
way through every sea, and with velocity formerly
known navigation adverse winds seldom them
to deva'e and taking the most direct nes rom poI. 70
port the risk OF collision greatly enhanced by their
crossing the same track In opposite directions, as well a.
by accumulated Plumbers Of sailing ships making the face
Of the ocean almost 10 compare with busy mart The
disastrous consequences OF collisions at sea are equally
enhanced because OF the larger amounts involved and
the future of commerce shall still be progressive, we
admonshed OF corresponding increase Of this class
OF maritime risks.
Formerly believe principle OF maritime law bound
the insurer rot only To indemnity for the damage sus
tanned by the ship injured by him, but also for he da
TO the other provided the fault Of collision was
cbageable 10 his nsuredthe rule being that the Insurer
included the risks he assumed those Of the master and
mariners pertaining to collisions But recently, by
underwater Ia not held To be liable beyond damage
to the vessel insured under his immediate policy.
believe the rules which govern cases Of collision gen
orally In the Admiralty Courts OF the United States, are
that the ship at fault binds herso and her owners 70
full coupena alton TO thu unoending party, 70 he paid
out Of all the property her owners, for all damages
when both parties are 10 blame the loss Ia equally d.
party PAYING one n sns bo 0Ss sue DC
damage OF 600 the owners OF the 0rst would have
to respond to damage q Which n her under
When fault not imputable TO either party each must
bear his own loss.
makes exception limiting the liability OF owners, so
that shall the amount OF value OF their
pecye interests In the ship or vessel and her freight then
pending II such Hner shall transfer his or
their interest In such vessel or freight 10 trustee TO DO
appointed by Court Of competent Jurisdiction, for the
benefit Of claimants who may prove 70 oe legally entitled
thereto.
In this particular the English Admiralty Courts, be.
leve, are governed bya similar Limitation, and IN some
other respects their rules nearly sssmlate TO our own
But In most other countries there are different rules OF
liability, and much more onerous But, under this limts
Uon, let W suppre ulai wv NtSsc5 .o'nc W
that the fault suffers damage 10 large amount and
that she damages the other 10 equal amount the Of
fender would receive from his insurers cover for his direct
loss but he would be bound 10 pay over 10 the other
party equal amount, and thus be the loser, as his
vessel had met disaster in some other way and WIN
out insurance.
In view Of all this single misfortune at may bank
rup, shpowners, wealthy, and prostrste them at
the feet Of their creditors
Without knowing anything Of the pecuniary crcumstan
Of the OF the American bark Adratc, brief
reference TO the consequences Of her collision with the
ale hc n
OF the general objection to the present various modes OF
Admiralty adjudication in this class Of This COLI
zion occurred the night OF Sept 1856 distant about
sixty miles northward from Nantucket Shoals Light Tho
steamer totally lost with many lives, while the bark
sustained very little damage The Adrisuc pursued her
voyage 20 ia termination In Massachusetts, Bay, and ne
time afterward, Capt Durham tho same master with tho
bark, made voyage TO Msrseics, France, whero
the owners Of the Lyonnas becd the Adriauc under
claim for damages the resulted in her favor, but
upon a appeal, the higher court reversed the
decision OF the court below, found the Adristic