Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-08-13
nr. PIimsoII and his shipping Bill.

, forts to protect the lives of English sailors
who are sent to ses in unseaworthy vessels.
1t might be supposed that the interests OF
property owners would prevent the sending
of valuable property, if not Of valuable lives,
, in rotten hulks. But such, under the now
universal system of marine insurance, Is not
the case. The ship owner insures his vessel
70 its full value or more. The shipper, in
like manner, insures the cargo. 1t isa MAJ
ter Of Indifference TO them accordingly, as q
matter Of business, whether the ship sinks
or swims The insurance companies charge
enough for their risks to make it worth
while for them to insure vessels, which,
though really unseaworthy, may by good for
tune make many a successful voyage. The
only sufferer accordingly is Jack Tar, who,
after he has shipped on vessel, compelled
to sail under penalty Of Imprisonment,
though he may find that the hull to which
he trusts his life Is rotten and overloaded.
IN his protest" alluded TO in the letter be-
low, Mr. Plimsoll declares that there are
now 2 ,654 unseaworthy British ships aaoat.
A shipping Bill containing provisions re
lating to the sesworthiness Of ships and re-
sponsibilities Of ship owners A4l been intro
duced in the House Of Commons and was ex-
pected TO come up. when, on the 22d of
July last, Mr. Disraeli announced that it
would he dropped by the Government. The
scene which followed is thus described by
the London correspondent Of the New York
inns
\ rough, hoarse, trem ul0us voice was
heard from the bar-''Mr. Speaker All
eyes turned 10 the bar, and there was seen
M. Plimsoll, who has led the popular agita
ton about the ships
4 glance at his face was enough 10 show
that he was laboring under great excitement
Ordinarily a rather purple-faced man, he was
ashy pale, his lips quiyered, and his voice
struggled with emotion as he said "Sir,
/ | earnestly entreat the right honorable gen
tleman at the head Of the Government not 10
consign some thousands Of living human be-
/ ings 10 a miserable death He SPOKE amid
/ hush Of perfect stiffness, and kind Of
thrill went through the assembly. although |
it Is usually one Of the coolest and most
phlegmatic in the world. Bot the effect /
Of this solemn and pathetic appeal was II /
resistibe A. Mr. Plimsol went on to |
speak Of the ''ship-0wners Of murderous ten /
denotes outside OF the House, - and their |
coniederates within, he became more and |
more excited He shouted, or rather shrek
ed, rolled his head, and flung his arm.
Ok. H.. Il
consciously shutting along the open floor. in
the centre of the House, 80 that, before he
was done, he had got right into the middle
Of it, and in front Of the Clerk table. on a
raised seat at the end Of which the Speak
er sits. lie referred TO a decision which has
lust been given by a Scotch Judge, strongly
condemnlng the condition in which ships
were sent 10 sea, and quoted the statement
Of the Secretary Of "Lloyd's," that be did
not know ola single wOrn-out ship that had
been broken up Voluntarily by the owners.
"Shils. he went on, pass from hand TO
hand until they are bought W by reckles,
spectators, and then they are sent T. sea
with precious human lives No fewer than
2,t54 out Of 900 ships on Lloyd register
have gone of their class and forfeited their
position, and what are the consequences ?
Why, continually, every winter hundreds
and hundreds Of brave men are sent t. death.
and their wives made widows and their
children fatherless, 50 that few speculative
scoundrels. in whose hearts there j, neither !
the love Of God nor fear Of man, may make
unhaliowed gains
There had been some murmurs when be
first spoke Of "Inurderous ship-0wuers. tIt /
his simple earnestness and intensity carried
the audience along with him, and there were 0
loud and significant cheers o. be uttered
these last words. Ii he had stopped here be ]
would have had the House altogether with 7
him but, unfortunately. be vas CROWN. L
continually more excited, as could De gath j
cred from the Increasing violence and gus q
tines Of bis manner. and soon lost contrl, /
over himself, and probably even q conscious !
hess Of where he was " hen checked hv the v
Speaker, who told him be was going beyond 4
the limits Of a motion for adjournment. he @
gave notice Of a question 10 De put 10 the D
President Of the Board of Trade whether a
Edward Bates, the owner Of four vessels lost {,
with eighty-seyen live. IN 1874, and TWO ].
'thers fand0ned NJ sea, was the member for p
7 lymOuth. And, Sir.' be went on. Il f
hal ask some questions about other mem Il
,ers, too. ! an determined 10 unmask the -
illlans who send these sailors 10 death ia
nd a. he SAID -, he shook his cenched hst is
q the air. There was great uproar at
his, and, as soon a. he could make himself az
card, the Speaker, who remained wonder OF
aly quiet AID collected. said he
oped that the word "viilain" was not
pp.ied to any member Of the House bat Vi
r. PlimsoN b.untly replied that il was. !"
nd that he could not and would not with Nv
raw IT, Upon which the speaker said in "
i b.andest tone that he must leave the mat r.,
= to the Judgment Of the House Then -
II. Disraeli-who was almost as white in -
le face as Mr.. P.ims0ll, and looked rather
arvous and alarmed, Ike man who fan ".
g be has iGst seen q gh0st-rose and 30
mp-y moved, as with deep pain, that the ~.
lending member should be rerrimanded ''
: his violent and offensive conduct. Wv
such conduct, he said, rs unparalleled. " '
AnG SO, -" retorted Mr. Plimsoll, from the l-'
her side Of the table. Is the conduct of IA, H-
c Government, and again be shook bis fst ~.
the Premier, at the Speaker, and indeed '-
round. Then, on an order from the chair, '--'
hastily quilted the House In the lobby
: voice was heard for some time afterwarj. i
Wing ont Thousands Will die for this ''' his
Thousands viii die i0r this ,'' Several not
ends went out with him and tried to rea- I'M
J with him and induce him to be calm iall
1 he declared he would never give in, cut
] always returned to the refrain, Thou bod
ID will die for this" His friends at last rep
him ont into the cool air on the river be
race, and walked him gently up and bad
VI, and his fury gradually abated y
IN the suggestion OF Lord Harrington. Il
: agreed that Mr.. Plimsoll should not be mol
led upon to receive the reprimand till to /
lrsday next. 1t Is understood that be law
then admit that he rather forgot him s.bf
in his manner OF addressing the House,
will hold TO the substance Of what be
|. Before be left the House he gave in a cont
test, beginning, Il protest, in the name tow
God, against any further delay in pre- froa
ling with the Shipping Bill = and which. Of Il
r declaring that the Government was "a;
7ing into the hands Of maritime mur- -,
rs inside the House and outside it, II
on TO lay upon the head of the Prime soag
lister and his fellows the blood of all the ;bes
who shall perish next winter from pre- uisb
able causes and to "denounce against
and against them the wrath of God. " 49,.
this protest was prepared BY Mr. Rem
lsoll before he came into the House. Called
clear that what he had to say was not f fs.tS
,ether unprecedented. Franz
tran
il COMMODORE AND NEW YORK CENTRAL. n I'M
New York Central be worth the price 9 SI.. a
: been selling al for some time mast | wash
in thunder and the name of Il most IN " nd.
Congress does it drop several Tot,
ent on the mere rumor Of Commodore Tbi
ierblt's illness? lfit drop so on the a qua
r of his DEATH rumor so oft repeated cent
the thing has become monotOnOus, o On,