The Washington union., 1858-02-11
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another by the gentleman from California Mr. sccrr,
and referred also to the Gon,ee Commerce and the
srce bills had been taken and substitute agreed upon
which he od submit at the proper time lie trusted IL
Necessary him TO impress upon the House the
Importance OF further legislation upon this subject He
sought from what hey had already within the last
years and within the last two months they ad
monished the necessity of some action The recent ter
rible disaster the Central America which had ensile
80 and desolation called upon them loud
10 act this matter and cndeavor to have further
provision OF law by which these disasters be prevent
ed hereafter
Mr.. w. briefly alluded TO the provisions OF the bill
IL brought under the operation of law those steam Terry
boats, tugs and freight boats which not brought
within the law OF 1852 and upon which OF the most
terrible accidents had happened for the reason Oh 'helI
not being within the law and subject to the nsecoh on
supervisors Additional restrictions We're imposed or the
carrying of spirits of tupeatne and other like oombus
tibes Penalties provided against nscribns upon
steamers false Provision also made Tor the
complete inspection OF steamboat boilers, and for
the carrying of lights upon sailing vessels for compel
ling ocean going passengers TO put In atertght apart
ments aud for determining how they should be used
and Also limiting the number OF passengers ON board OF
these vessels for removing the panks OF vessels after
certain number OF years fof the purpose of discovering
whether not they rotten in of accident for
the making OF report to the first custom house officer
which should be reached, giving full and detailed
count Of it under oath, and which shall be matter of
record.
Mr. SCOTT, Of California, earnestly advocated the pas
sage Of this bill, contendng that it would meet the
wants on the country.
MIR, TAYLOR Of louisiana reviewed the laws passed
by Congress upon this subject contendng that their pro-
visions not enforced He moved to amend the sub
sttute by adding additional sections declaring that
policy of insurance shall be taken out upon the hull of
any steamboat upon passengers freight, unless the
had complied with the provisions of law in rela
ton To the build of the vessel lis machinery, aud
Also, that when an engineer has been in charge OF a
in the loss Of life pilot has been in charge when col
lision by which lives ase lost master has been
in charge when fire occasioning loss Of life that
in these instances steamboat shall be per
mitted TO employ that individual until jury has not
only excupaed him of all criminal Charge but has made
report in writing that he is free from all ccnsure and
making null and void any insurance effected by the
of such steamboat violating this provision These
provisions would bring into play the pccunay interests
Of and make him agent for the enforcement of
the law
Mr.. JOHN COCHRANE, Of New York, reviewed at
length the provisions Of the b dwelling with particu-
lar emphasis upon the precautionary proposed
which he argued would of themselves greatly increase the
safety OF passenges and olecng to the amendment of
Mr. TAYLOR the ground that II would withdraw the
Carrye1 Of freight from their business. In conclu-
son he hoped the bill would be passed. for time
that should be taken for the
life on board of steamboats,
Mr. CLARK, Of New York. proposed to send the bill
to the Committee of the Whole the state of the
Unon He opposed to the first section because it
proposed to extend the steamboat law of 1872 which
been found mpractcable and apply it to every ferry boat
across the rivers Of tho country There serious doubt
whether OF not that provision constitutional
The sixteenth section of the bill provided that no
passenger steamer shall be permitted to carry more
than one person to every tons of lawful
tonnage measurement and yet this bill, which, in his
Judgment would conscate ten millions of dollars the
property OF citizens of New York, to he hurried
through without full consideration He would submit to
the sober judgment Of the House whether this bill which
proposed to extend tho power of Congress the
mece of the country and to make these important nno-
yatons upon It's business should BIC passed hastily
and without that opportunity for the closest scrutiny
which was due to the subject.
Mr. LETCHER, of Virginia opposed the bill at length,
contcnding that nteered with the rights private cti-
and the rights Of the States 1t his opinion that
it the duty of the government let the private cit
alone II he chose to invest his capital in any bust
let him judge of the risk and compensation which
he shall receive He in favor of sending 1t to the
Committee of the Whole the state of the Union where
il could be fully considered
Mr. FLORENCE, of Pennsylvania, followed in opposi-
ton to the BILL arguing that in consequence Of the OBJ
jecons which had been urged against it, it should be
more fully considered than it had yet been
The SPEAKE ER laid before the House the statement of
the Treasury Department Of the receipts expenditures
and appropriations from 1859 to June 3O 1857 which
was laid ON the table and ordered to be printed
And then (at half past three o'clock p n.y. the House
adjourned.