The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-12
British Treatment OF seamen-ships
Sent to Sea to Founder.

Sent to Sea to Founder.
Great Britain, boosted mistress of the ocean,
stands indicted of careless indifference to the
lives of those hardy seamen who have done so
much to lay the foundation of her glory. This
arraignment before the bar of public opinion
comes from no obscure source. It is the de-
iberate utterance of a member of her law
making power. MI. Plimsoll, junior member
of the House Of Commons from Derby, pub
lshed just at the recent converting of Parlia-
ment Blue Book detailing the infamous treat
ment of sailors by British merchants. He
distinctly charges that they systematically send
to sea ships which are unseaworthy, and
which the slightest stress of weather must
bury beneath the waves. Guilt like this
should, if proved, suffice to Danish the crimi-
nal from society or suspend him at the end
of halter. Not alone is this offence
charged against class of shipowners
generally; it is stated that one or more mem
bers of Parliament itself are in the list of cul-
prits. Allusion is made to one as notorious
for excessive and habitual overlooking, and a
reckless disregard for human life, who has
lost seven ocean-going steamers and drowned
more than hundred men in less than two
years" Credit Mobilier stock holding by
Washington patriots hardly comes up to this
in infamy. Impeachment Of the guilty men,
bers of the imperial legislature, whose wealth
is thus charged to be the price of sailors lives,
has not yet been suggested. On the contrary,
the author Of the accusation was recently chal-
lenged at the bar Of the House on question
of privilege, as having committed by this
publication an assault upon the dignity of that
had been guilty of an inadvertent abuse
Of his position in making o general and
vague mention of MEMBERS and set himself
right by asking the Houses pardon. No
retraction of the assertion of the criminality
was limited at 1t is said the members who
are pointed at have begun libel actions against
him. His main charge, and upon which he
asks o Royal Investigation Commission, is
that reckless haste for profit has induced a
wicked disregard of the life and comfort of the
seaman Ships are built for speed and stowage
solely. They are made of fimsy and defective
materials, fit only to 60 to pieces in moderate
gale Their copper plates have been found
fastened with "devils" sham bolts, having a
copper head and an inch Of copper shaft, the
rest being of iron. These coming in contact
with the copper, under the action of salt water,
turn it into substance like black lead, that
can be broken by the hand. In such devil
fastened vessels cargo is slowed almost enough
to sink them in the dock. A case is given in
which o steamer was laden with railroad iron
till her deck was two feet and ten inches below
the level of the water She was despatched
for the Baltic at stormy season Of the year
and foundered not score of miles off
the English coast Certain owners are
known to the underwriters as habitual
overloaders, so that brokers in effecting
insurance upon cargo have to stipulate that
it shall not be shipped in vessels owned by the
obnoxious men, Against the rapacity of such
rich and powerful merchants poor Jack has
little chance of redress. 1t is not safe for him
even to open his mouth. He is shipped for
voyage. Suppose on boarding his craft he
finds her one likely to bear him to watery
grave Should he attempt to desert the law
compels him to serve out his contract, OF, if the
ship has sailed, he goes to Jail. These charges
are made in spirit of fearless devotion to the
demands Of humanity which are credit to
their author. If they are true England owes
it to herself that the guilty should be exposed
in the fullest manner to the scorn and obloquy
of all men, and that legal action be taken
which shall at once and forever end this trade,
as shameless as African man-stealing, and as
full of horrors as the old time Middle Passage
from the Guinea coast to the shores of slave
holding America
Freedom OF the Press In New Jersey.
The recent attempts made by some legis-
lative wiseacres in New Jersey to have the
HERALD correspondent expelled from seat
in corner of the Senate chamber as .
means of frightening the HERALD out