The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-01-08

n
msnt of the accounts of othccrs OF tne A-
navy. ~ D.n,.
Be i enacted by the Senate and H ,ss@fcg IL, ton
oress tssenbsd That the act to sutnS , .
of the accounts of the ohrJ e1nbtssn bnDjrad
sba c1nfinue and be in force for two
yrs I'm inns wrnty-third, eighteen hundred and
sevcnsy-t 0, sud no no i3 q ELAINE
Speaker Of The House Of Rcprescntasives.
SCHUYLER COIAFAX,
yycs- President Of the United States and Presiden
u the Senate
s. GRANT.
Approved, June 7, 1872.
GENERAL NATURE-No. 1141
AN ACT authorize the appointment of shipping
com nissones by the several circuit courts of the
UnlEed States to superinfend the shipping and dis
chTse Of seamen engaged merchant ships be-
longing to the United States and for the further
projection of seImen.
Be IL enacted BY the Senate and House Of Repre-
fentaiegs Of he United States of 4DaericG in Con-
eress assembled, That the several circuit conrts OF
the u Dite1 ia es, in which circuits there is
port or seapor for which there is collector Of Gus
toms, OF in which there is port Of entry, sall ap-
ponJ commissioner for such seaport within their
respective circuits in their judgment may require
Inc same, and which shall alsh be ports Of ocean nav
igatiln such lnmissioneTs to be termed shipping
commissioner and may, from time to time, re-
move from pfice any of the said commissioners whom
II may have reason to believe does not properly per-
form his duties and shall provide for the proper per-
Torrance OF such du is until another pers is duly
appointed in lis place; shall regulate the mode OF
conducting business in the shipping-ofces to be es-
tabisaed by The shipping -commissiopers as herein
after provided; IN shailhv full and complete COZ
troi over he same, subject TO the provisions nsi
contained.
SIS. = That every shi,png-commissioner so ap-
pointed shall INTO bonds to the United oSts,
tiJnei for the faithful pc formance q INC Iues %
rsqaled in his oice for SUM in me tbnSsand do
the circuit judge Of not less tban nv ~,
lars. with Two good aud sufficient secui es tnerel
to be appaoyed by said judge ana .nsn lake ana t
du les Of his ollce: II do sllomny swear Cor affirm,
as the Sc nay be) that will support the CoDstiu-
-rr-.a 'c+,f hat Twill trt,lv and
tliGAfuly Discharge tie dates Of shipping commits
81 ,u.r to The Of my ability, and according to
law" aid oath shall be ind 9lsed on the commssi
certificate of app ointment and sgnei by him and
ce.ti Il ~ the oincer bel ne VIII m such oath
nrmlton shall have been taken.
Sso. g. hat any shipping mgnissioner may en-
ga clerk ii cierSs TO assist him in the TRANSACTION
OF the business Of the shipping Office ut his
pr, sar cost, aud may, in case of necessity, deputs
such clerk efks t. Tor him in his official ca
pa y; bat tn sii 3pn ssioner shall be held
responsible for the acts IF every such clerk or eputy
2nl will be personally liable for any penalties snch
clerk Or deputy may incur by the violation of any OF
the provisions of this act; and all ac done by
clerk. as such depaty, shall be as valid ami binding
as II tome oy tne silpplng-conmissi'ner tach snip
pingc mmssi her shall provide seal with which he
sla au hen cace all lis official acts, on which seal
shall be engraved the of the United States and
ana Inc mime OF the SEAPORT or district for which he
is commits ioned Any instrument, either printed Or
witten, purportne TO be the Official ct OF ship
pag-conniss)ner ami purportng to be under the
seal AMI signature of such saippng-con missioner,
nan be received AS prna-facie evidence of the Off
Gu chirac5er Of such instrument and Of the truth
OF the flctS therein Set nth.
SEC. 4. That every shipping-commissione shall
le.tsJ eut procure at mis- cost, suitable prem
Tor the trausl lion of business, and for the pre-
scrvaion # the b ,oks and other documents connect
ell Herewith, and which premises shall be styled 1.-THE
slr OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES office" And the general
business Of shi commissioner shall be- first, to
lister of aeir names ami characters; secondly to SUI
pesinten their engagements and discharge in man
nsr hereinafter menoned; thirdly, to provide means
for securing the presence on board at the proper
times>of men who eng ged; fourthly, to facl-
itate the making of spprenticeships to the seaser
vice; AMI to perform such other dnties relating
merchant seanen an merchant ships as are hereby
may hereafter under the powers herein contained.
be comniitte to him.
SEC. 5. That such fees not exceeding the sumo
specified in the table marked "A in the scheduls
heretofore annexed shall be payable upon all engage
Inens and discharges effected before shipping
missionsrs as hereinafter mentioned, and such
shipping-commiss ners shall Cause scale OF the
fees payable to be prepared, and to be cons icu-
ously placed in the shipping office; and the shipping
commissioner may refuse to proceed with any engage
neuC discharge unless the fees payable thereon
are first pail.
SEC. g.. That every owner, consignee, agent, or
master of ship engaging or dscharging any seamen
men or seaman in a shipling-othce, or be-
IRE shipping commissioner, shall pay to the
snlpping -commissoner the whole Of the fees here
by male payable in respect of such engagement or
discharge and may, for the purpose of in part rem
bursting himself deduct in respect of each such en-
glgsment discharge from he wages of all persons
except apprentices) 81 engaged or discharged and
retin any sums MT exceeding the sums specified in
thar behalf in the table marked "B' in the schedule
ere'o annexed.
SEC. /. That any shopping commissioners or any
clerk or employee in any sliippng-oiice, who shall
denand OF receive any remuneration whatever. either
directly or in ireerly, for bring supplying any
seaman for any merchant ships excepting the lawful
fees payable under this act, shall. for every such Of
dollars.
ssg. 8. That in tire case of any place or port in
which no shipping commissioner shall have been APP
pointed thea tie whole or any part If the business
of shipping-c ammisSioner shall be conducted by
the collector or depnt collector of customs of such
piace port and in respect of such business such
custom-house shall be deemed shipping-office and
the caileeor or deputy COLLECTOR customs to whom
such business shah be committed shall for all purpos-
es be deemed shipping commssi pner within the
meaning of this act; nj any person other than a
commiss ,ner under this act who shall perform, or
attmrt to perform, either directly indirectly he
duties which are by this act set forth pertaining
shipping )m missioner" shall incur penalty not
exceeding five hun ired dollars: Prooided, That
n)lhing IN this act shall be construed to prevent
the owner or consignee, or masier of any slip, ex-
eept such are described in section twelve of this
act from perfDrning himself 50 far as the said ships
are clneerIled the duties of ship commissioner
SEC. 5. That. every shpping-commission APP
poinred under this act shall, if applied to for the
purpose OF appreht,ing boys to the i-seIvice by
any masters or owners of ships, by any person or
pes>ns legally qualified, give such assistance as Is in
Their wer for facilitating the making of such APP
prentioeships; but the shipping shall
ascertain that the boy has voluntarily consented to
be bound ami that the parents or gu rdian of said
by have consented 10 said apprenticeship and has
attained The age " twelve years. and is of sufficient
health ami strength, and that the master to whom
purpose: Proridsd, That sail apprenticeship sha4I
terminate when the apprentice becomes eighteen
receive floin the persons awaiting themf Of such
assistance t'e fees contained in table "C'' in the
schedule hereto apnexed. And tie slipping COM
missi ner Shall keep register of all nGentllres of
aapren ioeshiD made before hin.
SEC. 10. That The master of every foreign going
ship shah. Oct ne carrying any apprentice to from
any place in the United States, cause such appren-
tco to appear before the shippin gcommssiJ be-
fore whom The crew is eng1gei and shall produce to
him he indenture by Which such apprentice is
boun |, AMI The assignment or assignments thereof
Of any } an the name of said apprentice with the
date If the nlenture AM the sigument or assign
msns thereof if any shall be entered On the agree
ment; and no sIch assignment shall be made with
out TIE "prrJyal ofa commissioner, the apprentice
his parents or his guariitn. And for any default in
obeyng the provisions of tits section, the mastef
stli for eacn lfanse, incur penalty not exceeding
SEC. II. That if any person shall demand or re-
ceive, either directly OF Indirectly, from any seaman
seeking empi yment as q seaman. or from any other
person seeking employment as a seaman or from any
person, his behalf, amy renunerati1n whatever,
other tn n the lees hereby at horized for providing
him with employment, he SHALL for every such
ofense, incur penllty not exceeding one hundred
dollars.
SEC. Il. That the master of every ship bound
from port in The United States to any foreign port
OF of any ship Of the burden of seyentv-ii e tons
or upward, BOUND from port on the Atlantic to a
port the Pacific, or vice versa, shall before he
proceeds on such voyage, make an agreement,
in wiling or in print, with every seaman
whom lie carries to one Of the crew in the
hereinafter nentioaed; and every such
as herennto in table 3D. in he schedule annexed
and sin ii BE- dated at the time OF the first signature
there f. and shall be signed py the master before any
seaman signs the same, and shall contain the follow
ing par GdaTs. that is TO say First he nature and
as far prac icible the duration of the inten ed
voyage or engagement AM the port OF country at
whicl the voyage is to terminae secondly the uun-
Der and description of the crew, specifying their re-
specive emVloymenis; thirdly, the time at which
each is 10 be on board to begin work; fourth
w. the capacity in which each seaman is to serve;
ffshly, Iii amount of wages each seaman is to re-
ceiye sxthly, scale Of The proYisi which are to
be furnished to each seamen; seventhy, any regula-
tons rs to con uct ~ board, and fines, short
allowance of proyisi MS other lawful puniSlments
for inscon uct may be sanctioned by Congress as
egllttions proper TO be adopted, and which the
parles agree adopt eighthly, any stipulatons in
reference to advance and allotment of wages other
Mates noL contrary to law: Prooided, That when
ever the master IF any vessel shall engage his crew,
or any part Of the same, in any customs district
whe e no shippn reconnaissance shall have been
appointed under section of this act he may per-
form for hiniseIffhe duties of such commissioner in
like nncr as is provided by the provso of section
egnt of lhis Pro0ided further, That this sec
Ilon snail MT apply of vessels where the
saun aae by custom agreement entitled TO par
sne profits result of cru Sc or voyage
o ~; , ot - u caastwse to masters OF lake
,e bs ro ouch at foreign ports; but seamen
= a. - ,;tIa IN nv serve board such vessels a
oe ,va wt H me return Of any vessel an
~ AZ ne payment Of additional fees
n r SSt"AN-