Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-03-12
STEAMBOATS,.
Brief Synopsis Of Bill to Provide for the
Better Security of Life.
Captains and Mates as we'll as Pilots and
Engineers TO be hereafter
Examined and Licensed.

I
Devereaux, Chief of the Board o
Steamboat Inspectors, presented re
Gently through the Secretary OF th'
Treasury to both Houses Of Congress
to-day we present a synopsis of th'
bill, based upon that report, which
will take the place Of all existing en-
actments for the better security o
life:
The first section makes no chang,
in the operation of the present laws.
Section two requires pipes to be at
tached to the boilers to convey steam
into the hold of the vessel in case o
fire.
Amendments are proposed in sec
ton three.
Section four is a substit4RN for see
tiOn seven of the act Of 1852
That act prohibits but one dangerous
article (IOOse hemp from being car
ried on passenger steamers. 1t Is pro
posed by this section to add the follow,
ing to the prohibited articles, viz
Loose hay, loose cotton, camphene
nitro-glycerine, naptha, benZine, ben
Zole, coal-Oil, crude petroleum, refined
petroleum that will not stand 'firt
test" of one hundred and ten degree,
of the Fahrenheit thermometer, and
other like explosive fluids, and Other
like dangerous articles. These arti-
cles, under the provisions of the bill,
must not be carried Is freight nor used
as stores on any steamer carrying pas
sengers.
Section five embraces section eight
of the act of 1852, amended by adding
10 it other dangerous articles named,
and not cOnfining the shipment to be
" on board of any steam vessel carry.
ing passengers, - as in the act of 1852
Section six. Keeping watch at night
Is new provision, and OF its prOpTi'
etv and usefulness there can be nc
question.
Section seven provides for life-boats
for river steamers, substantially the
same as section four OF the act of 1872
provides for the same class OF steam
ers, with an amendment requiring
other steamers than those carrying
passengers, and which are more than
fifty tons burden, TO carry at least one
good boat, always ready for immedi-
ate use.
IL section eight it is proposed to
require q sufficient number of lie
preseryers Rnd floats to be kept on
board for the use of all persons, in
case Of accident, including passengers
of all kinds, and also the officers and
crew.
Barrels or tanks are required, in
addition to the buckets now provided
A.
extinguishing fire. and the number Of
buckets and axes in proportion 10 the
tonnage Of the vessel, is more definite
IN stated than they are in the present
laws. and 50 as 10 be easily under
stood.
section nine is the same as section
six, of the act OF 1852, so far as pro-
viding for the escape Of passengers
from the lower to me upper deck n
case of accident, with amendment re-
quiring that, in the stOWag6 OF Freight
on decks where passengers are carrisd,
passsge-ways shall be open both fore
and aft, and also to the guards on
each side Of the vessel, for the accom-
mOdatiOn Of such passengers, so as to
afford means for their escape in case
of accident to the vessel; also, that
such passengers shall have a proper
space assigned them on such deck
when they take their passage, which
they shall not be deprived OF after
ward.
Section ten proposes to add wire
tiller ropes, which have been eXteu-
sively used on western steamers, and
their efficiency, in case of fire, salts
factOrily proven. Wire bell-pulls,
from the pilot to the engineer, are
also required to take the place of bell
ropes, which, in case of fire, soon
burn of; and are also at any time
liable TO break, when the signal
would not reach the engineer, there
Dy endangering the safety Of the YES
sci.
Section eleven is drawn with the
Intention OF leaving the present local
boards OF inspectors undistTbed. The
designating officers are termed by this
bill "a board OF designators, and the
major part thereof can make a desig-
nation.
Sections twelve and thirteen relate
to the inspection of hulls and boilers,
and the testing Of boilers, and the man.
neF OF carrying gunpOwder.
Section fourteen is composed of
clauses seven and ten of section nine,
OF the act Of lS52, with amendments
requiring that captains and fist mates
shah be licensed, as well as engineers
and pilots; also, upon all steamers
carrying passengers there shall be
fuiI complement of officers and crew
sufficient at all times TO manage the
yesseI. ard q full complement Of watch
men.
Section fifteen is a new section. The
inspectors are required TO examine
the proofs which the applicant shall
offer, and satisfy themselves as to his
character and ability TO perform the
duties of q captain OF steam vessels;
and if they ind him competent to
navigate such vessels in the service
for which he designs to be employed,
they shall grant him a license to that
effect: "but such license shall be sus-
pended or revoked upon satisfactory
proof OF bad conduct, intemperate
habits, inattentiOn to his duties, or
the willful violation Of any provision
Of this act"
Section sixteen, for Licensing chief
mates, is a new section. The inspec-
tOrs are required TO have satisfactory
evidence of the knowledge, expert
ence and skill OF the applicant in
ladlng cargo, handling and stOwage
Of freight, navigating and managing
Of vessels, and all other duties per-
tanning to his station, and, il salts
fed of his qualifications and good |
they shall grant him a Ii |
Iense. But such license shall be suS- /
PENDED or revoked for bad conduct, 4
Inten Derate habits, uuskillfHlneSs, or 4
want of knowledge Of the duties Of 1
ais station, or the willtul violation OF 1
any provision of this act.
Section seventeen, for licensing pi- I
lots, is clause eight Of section nine, Of /
The act Of 1852, with amendments, re-
luiring the license of an engineer TO /
be suspended or revoked for the Will /
ful violation Of the provisions OF this /
act, and also, il, by his negligence or /
want Of skill, he has permitted his |
boilers or machinery to become in bad /
his license shall be revoked, |
AID he shall be assigned to lower |
grade of engineers, if fitted therefor.
Section eighteen is clause nine of /
section nine, of the act of lo52, b.
little changed in phrase0lOgy ire '
that act, except that the license shan I
be suspended or revoked for causes /
The same as other licensed officers be- |
fore named.
From section eighteen to thirty-hVe /
the duties of supervising inspectors |
are defined, and the penalties for /
breaches Of the law are defined.
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