The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-30
THE OCEAN STEERAGE ABUSES
Internation.l Co-operation required.

| Mr. McDonnels narrative OF his voyage from
London via Havre, in the steerage Of the steam
ship Erin, as detailed in yesterdays HERALD, ex-
poses condition Of the emigrant traffic which
calls for speedy and effective relief and trust
that you win not permit the subject to drop out OF
publicity until the rights Of the thousands of humble
but decent and deserving families who crowd the
steerages OF the Atlantic steamers are thoroughly
protected 1t may, perhaps, occur to many Of your
readers that speedy remedy for such abuses as
are detailed by Mr.. Mcdonnell is to be
found In Congressional legislation, and this
would be true il the offending ships were Ameri-
can vessels, subject to American laws but unfOr-
tunateIy we have no transatlantic steamers to
regulate. The emigrant business Is entirely In
the hands OF foreigners, and out of nearly three
hundred thousand passengers who landed In
New York last year more than ninety per cent
were brought In British and German steamships.
Over these ships we have no control until they
arrive in our own waters. Steamers that come
here with a large number Of passengers from
Great Britain and Ireland are fitted out under the
regulations of the British Passenger acts of 1855
and 1858, which are rgidly and impartialy en-
forced before the ship sails. They are very full
and complete; in fact, few and comparatively
unimportant amendments to those acts would Sc
cure full protection to the emigrant passenger.
provided Jurisdiction over the ships when at sea
can be procured by treaty, and an international
tribunal be created, with power TO punish VIOLA
lions OF the act during the voyage.
have copies OF the acts OF 1855 and 1858 before
me, and, with your permission, will quote some
OF the sections which guard against the abuses of
which Mr.. Mcdonnell specially complains.
DETENTION OF SHIP AFTER FIXED DAY OF DE-
PARTURE.
Section as provides that passengers shall be
and If detained longer than ten days the passenger
may recover back his passage money, with dam
ages not exceeding f10 each.
There shall not be more than two tiers Of berths
on any one deck, and the interval between. the
floor OF the berth and the deck beneath shall not
be less than six inches, nor the interval between
the tiers and between the upper tier and the deck
shall be securely constructed and shall not be
less than six feet in length and eighteen inches
wide for each statute adult ana shall be sunicient
the passengers. No berths occupied by passengers
during the voyage shall be taken down until forty
final port of discharge unless all the passengers
shall have voluntarily quilted the ship before the
expiration Of the time.
SEPARATION OF MALES AND FEMALES.
All the male passengers OF fourteen years ana
upwards who shall not occupy berths with their
wives shall be berthed in the forward part OF the
ship, in a compartment divided or from the space
appropriated to the other passengers. Not more
than one passenger, unless husband and wife or
femaesOr children, shall occupy one BERTH
WATER CLOSETS.
There shall be at least two. with two additional
closets for the exclusive use OF women and young
children All the closets shall be firmly constructed
and maintained in servceable and Clearly con-
dtiOn during the voyage and shall not be taken
down until fortyeght hours after the arrival OF the
ship.
No part OF the cargo or OF the passengers lug
gage or of the provisions water or stores whether
for the use OF the passengers or crew, shall be car
ried on the upper deck or on the passenger decks,
unless in the opinion OF the emigration officer 1t
shall be securely slowed and so placed not to in
terfere with the light or ventilation or with the
comfort OF passengers.
| The act provides an ample allowance Of bread
and biscuit, wheat -four, oatmeal rice, peas pota-
toes, beef, pork tea and coffee. sugar salt, mus
water daily to each statute adult exclusive OF the
quantity necessary for cooking the above-named
The act also provides for an efcient crew, boats.
life buoys, anchors, night signals, 1re engines,
light and ventilation &c. 1t prohibits the carriage
| the ship and all her appurtenances, water, pro-
visions, &C., shall be inspected BY the emigration
for medical attendance, hospitals and medicines;
| for forwarding passengers to their destination
case OF disaster lot the recovery IN British ana
| Now, II Mr. McD0nnell's statement is strictly
correct 1t Is plain that the Erin although British
ship, paid regard to the British Passenger act,
| and that II she had carried her passengers under
the act she would have violated many of Its most
British Court You may be surprised to learn that,
Notwithstanding her character as British ship.
she escaped all liability under the British Passenger
act by embarkng her passengers at foreign port
| (Havre). The Erin left England with only fifty
| passengers, including children, whereas q pas
| scnger ship under the act is "a ship proceeding
| from the United Kingdom to any port out of Eu-
rope, &C, &C. and carrying more than fifty statute
ute adult to every twenty tons register. II pro-
For any violations Of United States laws which
may have occurred on board the Erin after her
arrival in our harbOr her Off1cerS and owners may
OF course, be called to account; but for offences
| cd
as the laws OF the United States or the Passenger
| act OF Great Britain are concerned. And herein
exists state OF AFFAIRS which should be promptly
remedied through the agency OF an international
agreement which should bring all such cases as
that OF the Erin under the control OF
lection of emigrants sailing from British
ports, and providing court or mixed com.
| mission to sit in New York for the summary trial
and punishment of all violations OF the act upon
the voyage. SO long as we are without Ameri-
can steamships suited for the transportation OF
must we depend, as we are now doing, upon for
eign steamships, and our own laws are lnoper-
alive and powerless to protect the emigrant upon
the ocean. Next TO the establishment OF suitable
and well-cOnducted American steamship lines the
one remedy within our reach In favor OF the emf
time Powers under whose fags the ships SAIL espe-
| cfaly with Great Britain and Germany. II am
| not mfsinfOrmed each OF those governments Is
| ready to join the United States government in a
| convention for the better protection OF steeragc
| passengers at sea, but our government, for some
II 1t is not directly opposed to the negotiation 1t Is
languid and inert in its desire to bring 1t to salts
factory conclusion. ! am, &C., &C., OBSERVER
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