New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-21
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OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE UNITED STATES
OFFICIAL JOURNAL Of new ORLEANS
Arendmeut tn the Stea mboat Law.

Amendment 10 inc Stc0mUOUt
The executive committee of the Naticna
Convention Of SteaUbOatmen have com
pleted the amendments they desire to the
last steamboat law, and submitted 1t to the
members Of the House committee on com
,nerce. The new bill is greatly praised by
several on the committee. and 1t Is believed
will be reported substantially as presented
to them. 1t has been prepared by practical
steambOatmen from all sections, represent
ing the vast lake and river interests. VI
the seventv-seveD sections in the old bill
thirty eight are amended. Six sections per
tain to the methods of manufacture and
system of stamps for boiler iron or steel.
The stamps on each plate to show how it
was made and it's strength, the figures to
lie in all cases far within the actual strength.
and penalties are provided to insure the
correctness Ut the representations made by
the stamps.
Penalties are prescribed IN case the boiler
makers use defective iron, and tor inspect
ors who knowingly pass defective sheet.
All boilers are to be tested before use by a
hndrOstratic test and allowed to carry
three-fOurths the test. The intention of all
the sections on boiler iron has been to in
sure higher standard of quality among the
manufacturers.
The bill abolishes the low water indi-
Gators, lock up safety gauges and according
is that these cOntrivances tend to make en-
gineers negligent
The number and kind of life boats, life
preservers and life-apparatus for each class
Of vessels is prescribed.
There is a section which defines the diner
ent classes of vessels. Passenger steamers
are those which carry any person other
than the officers and crew and other en-
ployes mot Owners) and their families and
servants, except ferryboats. Freight, tug.
towing aud rrybOts, yachts and canal
boats are clearly defined.
A passenger is defined to lie any person
carried on q steamer other than the officers
crew and other employees. owners and their
families and servants. The measurement,
under the bill, is held to be that Of the
customhOuse. The doors on steamers are
to be hung in such a manner as can be
readily lifted off, to serve as floats. The
water bulkheads must extend to the deck
above the line Of water when the boat is
loaded.
There are severe restrictions upon carry
ing infammable articles; crude petroleum.
camphene, benzole, nitro-glycerine and
similar articles are prohibited on passenger
steamers. All boats can carry refined
petroleum that will stand fire test OF one
hundred and ten degrees, but it must be
stored in such places as the local inspector
shall designate in writing. All who attempt
to ship prohibited articles are liable to
heavy penalty.
1t is proposed to have an inspector gen.
eral at the head of new bureau Of the
Treasury Department, but not to have him
meet with the board or have power to vote
upon measures. All rules of the board
which have been found to be practicable
are proposed as parts of the new law.
The number of watchMen is fixed on each |
class of vessels from sunset to sunrise, and |
the lights which must be carried are named. |
The license provision is retained for cap |
tains, engineers, mates or pilots, but the |
fees for the same are reduced one-half.
Under the present law the board must /
meet in Washington, but the amendment
proposes to have meetings in the various
ports of the country, AS the board itself may
determine
Stringent provisions are inserted looking
TO making each officer responsible for the
prompt discharge of his own peculiar duties.
Special care has been taken to prepare
bill that can be readily understood by all
and the result meets with warm
commentator from the committee. The
great trouble with the board OF inspectors
with the last law was its Obscurity.
The executive committee discussed the
of requiring all foreign vessels
avigating our harbOrs, lakes or rivers to
comply with the same regulations which
The government from which they come i'm
pose on American vessels; this, however. has
not yet been put into the bill.