The New York herald., 1870-03-14
PROTECTION TO IMMIGRANTS.
Proposed Convention Between the United States
and European T0WsrS
New Regulations for the Better Protection Of
stserage Passengers Whole Matter TO
be Regulated by Special coavea-
ton Between Governments,


force In foreign ports and cannot change the laws
ana regulations OF foreign governments and for these
reasons the laws referred to failed TO have the
desired effect. Mr.. Fish, even while IN Congress,
took great interest In the protection OF emigrant
passengers. ana finding congressional action too in
effective, IL Ia now proposed 70 reach the desired
result through International conventions. draft
OF convention between the United States or Amer.
lea and such European Powers from whose ports
emlgrants embark for America, has been prepared
by Messrs. Kapp and UGorman, Of the Board OF
Commissioners Of Emigration OF this city. Several
weeks ago it was submitted to Mr. Fish and was by
lnpim communicated to the representatives. OF such
European governments with whom 1t would be
desirable conclude treaty or convention on this
subject As this would introduce marked innova-
ton IN the carrying Of steerage passengers, con-
else abstract OF tns "draft will be OF interest ali
the readers Of the HERALD.
| IL is entitled "A draft OF convention Detween
the United states OF America aud for the better
protection OF steersge passengers between the
United states and --n the Introduction contains
the usual clause announcing plenlpotentiaries
FOR the high contracting Powers" Mr.. Hamilton
| Fish for the Unitee States and - for -.
Article one confines the provisions OF the TO emil
grant passengers II also limits the number or sacn
passengers to be carried as rolows:-One to every
two tons Of vessel, not inCiuuing children under
sr aga Years as ns Also
senger for every 100 cubic feet OF clear space be.
| tween the hoor OF the deck and the deck
above; but in no case shall there DC more
| inan one passenger for each sixteen clear
! superficial feet OF deck. No public panper, or
pauper mnatc, or idiot or any person convicted OF
CRIME or accused and NOT acquitted shall be carried
TO this country. There if no reservatton however,
and this is great fault IN not excepting persons
cused OF political CRIMES The upper deck or YES
sci shall Gt all times dnng the voyage be kept clear
from cargo other encunoraDce, that the passen-
luuA n N
To the non-observance OF these provisions various
penalties are attached, in whlcn the master OF the
Court" provided for III article twenty-three.
Article TWO prohibits the carrying of passengers
on an orlOp or temporary deck, nor on any other
| deck when IL not six feet high in the clear.
Article three compels the providing Of bertiis six
feet In length and eighteen inches IN width for each
person. Water closets shah not be less than eign
teen inches from Tie oerilis aud but TWO ilers OF
berths shall be built. Each deck is TO be divided
into three separate compartments, one Ior single
male passengers for families aud one for single
Article tour obiiges steam vessels TO have separate
hospitals with bed places containing not less than
eighteen clear superficial, feet for every hfy passen-
gers THIS was inserted to obviate late decision
Of the Court OF Hamturg III u case against IL. "A.
SomaD, 10 the eject that although the iay OF Ham
burg provided for hospital room IT was silent about
beds and no penalty attached to not furnishing
Article Ave describes the means OF communca-
tiyn with the upper deck by means Of proper stair
ways with handrals; the means OF giving light, pro-
tecfon from the weather. and also provides Tor
Artcle Six compels every vessel TO have safely
lamps between decks W be lighted at dusk and Kept
flgnted throughout the night
Article seven makes u obligatory for each vessel
to have boats for the first 200 tons OF tonnage
and one additional Tor each additional 200 tons,
boats One cbronoIncter three sailing conlpasses,
four life puoys means for signaling IN fogs and not
less than three bower anchors must also be on
board.
In article eight sufficient cooking apparatus and
proper supply OF iuei. adequate Tor the intended
r.tnrpv "A FIR
Article nlne speaks OF the allowance OF pure water
and sweet ana wholesome provisions OF good
sions are To be surveyed at the port OF departure,
and may be condemned T NOT found pure and whole
some.
In article ten three meals are ordered for each
day, and special food for nfaDts II desired by The
parents. scnedule OF such iood Is attached.
According TO article eleven at least one COOK IL to
be employed on every vessel and II the number OF
passengers exceed $50 there must be two cooks but
the Immigrant Court" at the port Of departure may
order the employ ment or additional cooks.
Articles twelve, thirteen fourteen, fifteen, SIX
teen seventeen, eighteen nineteen, twenty, twen-
ty.one and twentyJwo contain detailed provi-
slOns upon the following metters:-rhe appointment
OF steward, TO preserve order and OF stewardess,
To have the care OF the female passengers: police
rules Tor the government OF the passengers;
ordering the appointment OF person trained
matters Of hygiene, medicine and surgery and the
providing Of supply OF mediclnes. medical COM
fOrts and surgical instruments, full and minute
schedule of al OF winch is added to this proposed
convention; inat vessel shah leave port with
emgrant passengers before being inspected and sur
veyed by duly qualified physician; that no gun
powder naphtha, benzine petroleum. nltrOglycerine
lucler matches unless packed in tin cases., nor any
other explosive article Or articles which ignite
by. tricion, guaDo or green or s2lted hides, nor
any other articles likely 10 endanger the health,
coinfort safety OF the passengers, shall be
or seaman shall visit or frequent any part OF the
ship assigned to passengers, except on duty BY per-
mission OF the master: that proper manilcsts, desg
mating tine age, SEX occupation and destination Of
the Passengers snail be prepared. One section the
ninetcentn, defines the liability Of the vessel for lug
gage the twentieth provides for u survey of the
ships at the port o arrival ana the tWcntyrst Tor
posting, In . conspicuous place: SYNOPSIS OF the
provisions OF this convention IN English and foreign
languages, on board ship. The tweDty.second de-
Gnes tue meaning, for The purposes OF TINS conyen
ton oil the several words and phrases used In tine
various sections, 10 leave no doubt LOT legal con-
struction.
| Article twenty-three is, to a certain extent the
most important OF ali Il creates emgrant courts
which snail have the exclusive jurisdiction for en-
forcing the provisions of the convention, and inpos
ing penalties for their nlractlon; but II such penal
ties against any one vessel or her master exced the
sum or $4,000, an appeal may be had TO the highest
appellate court OF the country where SUCH penalties
were imposed. the United States these emigrant
courts 80 be located in New YORK. Boston, Phia-
delphia Baltimore, Charleston. Mobile, New Or
| leans and Galveston, and IN lOreigD countries
sent sent to nave them. The court court shall only
| to which vessel 10 be acted upon belongs, ana
| such consul snail constitute one member OF the
court for the case IN hand. The court Is given
ordinate otccrs TO issue process, administer oaths,
perpetuate testimony and hear and deterlnine all
issues coming before them and growing out OF any
OF the DIVISIONS OF this convention and TO enforce
Its Judgment. Tine President agrees to suggest 10
Congress the pr0priety OF such legislation as VIII
enable the carrying out the provisions OF the cOnven
| ton in tue United States. The fines aud penalties
collected to be exclusively used to pay the ex.
| penses or these 'Emlgrant Courts.o
Article twenty-IOur eXcmpts all vessels OF the
''hgh contracting partles'' rom the operations Of
any statute law now existing for the projection OF
passengers and article twenty-five provides for the
exchange Of the Ratification OF the convention AZ
| Washington within nine months after It's cOnfrma-
ti0n ty The Senate OF the United states THIS artl-
Gle also stipulates that the duration OF the coDven-
tion snail not be limited, but 1t may be terminated
between the United states ana any one government
after six months notice by either party.
There are three appendices attached, one tA1 de-
scribing the method OF determining TIE carrying
} capacity ol u vessel; the secOnu tBI giving the
dietary schedule detail ana the third 81 prescr
bnv minutey the contents Of the medicine chest
u Is not known whether any foreign government
has yet assented TO this proposed convention.
PECULIAR CASE OF ALLEGED GRAND lAsCEkY.
n.atx.