The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1873-01-11
SALVAGE.

so0 Iosk0 auCu0So0 VI tCSSuAASs0o WINCH 0Sve
occurred during the last eight months,
lead to considerations OF the means now
In force to reduce and mitigate their se-
verify to the COMMUNITY, amongst which
the question Of salvage stands presmi-
nsnt. In early times, when ssthey should
take who had the power, and they might
keep who can" salvage was simply gov
erned BY the wreckers' law, aud what
ever may have been the theory, practically
property, wsecked or abandoned, passed
Into the absolute possession of the fader.
That such . course demoralixed tbs sea-
faring population can be readily UNDER
stoad ; snd that the law should step in
TO enforce tho rights Of owners and as
sursrs was the natural consequence. The
existing law was. in fac., as greatly
against the sailor as the practice was
in hi1 favor (; for voluntary service in re-
covering property could only clsim fair
wages, and such amount as was repre-
sented BY money out Of pocket. That
difficult and frequently hazardous SER
vices should rank only with ordinary
labor, would, however, have. been both
unjust and impol;tic, and therefore the
decision Of the Admiralty and other
courts have never shown the strictuess
such view would require. In course
Of time the practice became common
Of dividing the proceeds between the ow-
neI and the salvor; = course equitable
srough at that time, although somewhat
crude, as much smaller values were i'm
perilied than at present, but the amour,
of property now carried in vessels has
20 enormously increased - TO make such
awards entirely disproportioned to the
service rendered, and to lead to the
consideration Of each case upon it's mer-
ito. Legal decisions being thus, from
the nature Of the case, Of endless variety
i will BE- useful to examine the leading
principles that should govern them, q
that tho conflict OF interests which crises
may b % directed - that just result
may b attained. Il seems to us that thu
value Of salvage service should have
for its basis the amount Of labor per.
formed and the money expended !. bu
should not stop there, but b supple
mented with such 90 addition % iiou
its liberality shall create in the minds O.
not only the immediate salvoss, but ais,
the whole sea-hring population, the as
surance that it will be in their interes
to assist vessels in dist sss, and 10 say.
ing property imperilled, and lhus to of
er . stimulus to jealous and active exer
tion. When gentlemap gave . sailo
sixpence for saving his lie, he not onl
laid himself open to the rstort that
must best know what il was worth, bu
placed the act Of humanity at 80 low
figure IS Ito use . commercial expressio
to take large amount Of life-preserviu
power out Of tie market. Il is precisel
the same with salvage service, which,
acknowledged with niegard hand, TAX,
from those concerned the interest whic
. more liberal policy would establish al
increase at the Same time to pay q
monstrous sums which the greed Of = h,
! We may call professional wreckers d.
. mands. is not only unjust to the Owner
. Of property, but is prom ting . custn
Of extorton that will grow viii lis exc
else. We believe thst, il Tho .einc,p'
l Of Iiberality for meri.orious se, vi6s we
, promptly acted up to BY underwrts,
: but few cases would find their way
the law courts, especially il soms ln,ar
could be devised to keep such cases o
Of the hands of the men aptly dsnomia
: ted land sharks-ths ses lawyers.