The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-08
UNITED STATES STEAMBOAT SERVICE.

THE SALIENT FEATURES OF THE NEW BILL IN
coNGREss-ALL FOREIGN sTEAArERs TO BE
UNDER UNITED STATES INSPECTION WHILE IN
AMERICAN WATERS
The following proposed amendments to the laws
governing the United States steamboat service will be
read with interest by all connected with shipping mat
tiers. They are embodied in bill introduced in the
House by Representative Reagan and which has been
read twice, to amend certain sections OF tho existing
law concerning commerce and navigation aud the regu-
aton OF vessels The BILL If passed, will bring
all foreign steamers excepting vessels Of war; under
United States inspection while in waters. Another
interesting amendment is that concerning the personal
liability OF owners.
Unfortunately there Is amendment forbddng
passenger steamships to carry petroleum and like in
dammabe articles the fearful warning OF the City
OF Waco appears TO have gone UNDECIDED.
The existing awin reference 10 prevention Of col.
lsions reads:-
SECTION 4. 233-The following rules for preventing
collisions the shall be followed in the nayiga
ton OF vessels of the navy and OF the mercantile
rine Of the United States.
The amendment adds to ths-"And by all foreign
vessels within the jurisdiction Of tho United States"
FOG SIGNALS.
Under the amendments said vessels shall sound .
fog signal thick weather at intervals OF not
than Steam vessels and sail vessels shall
sound bell at not less than two minutes interval.
(The existing law Is I'VE minutes
srR1RiSG AND SAILING
Rule IL is slightly amended to read as follows:--
When two sail vessels are crossing so as to involve
ent sides, tho vessel with the wind the port side
shall keep out OF the course Of The vessel with the
the vessel with the wind on the port side is close
hauled and the other vessel Free In which
close nauled; but II they have the wind on the Same
side, or II one OF them has the wind att, tho vessel
of tho vessel which is TO the lceward
In the two following clauses the word 'course' Is
substituted for the word ''way' in the amendmcnts:
RuLK lA--lftwo vessels under steam crossing
involve risk OF collision the vessel which has the
other her starboard sdc shall keep out Of the
way Of the other.
RuLE 20-If two vessels one Of which Is sail vessel
and the other steam vessel are proceeding in such
directions TO involve risk OF collision the steam
sci shall keep out Of the way OF the sail vessel
INSPECTION OF STEAM VESSELS
Tho following Is ono OF the most important amend
mcnts The hrst given paragraph Is the existing law
and the following the ameudment:-
SECTION 4,400-Al steam vessels navigating any
Ways OF commerce, or open to general competitive
navigation, excepting public vessels OF the United
States OF other countries and boats propelled
In whole part by steam for navigating canals,
shall be subject TO the provisions Of this title
AMENDMENT
SECTION 4. 10Q-A steam vessels navigating any
OF the United States excepting public tho
United States other countres shall be subject
to tho provisions Of this title Steam vessels OF other
the provisions of this title far relates equip
ment outfits and navigating and the transportation OF
dangerous articles as freight or stores.
SECTION 4, 4o3 Whenever damage sustained by any
passenger or his baggage from explosion, lire, col
such vessel either thcm and the vessel shall DO
liable to each aud every person so injured 70 the tul
amount OF damage II u happens through any neglect
or failure to comply with tho provisions OF this title.
REDUCTION
reduction Of fees from $40 to IS and S. TO "a is
among the amendments and reads as olows:-"Each
MASTER chief engineer and first class pilot licensed
herein provided, shall pay every certificate granted
by any inspector or inspectors the sum OF s.; and
every chief mate engineer and pilot Of an inferior
grade shall pay for every certificate granted the
sum OF 81 such tees shall be paid over TO the chief
officer Of the customs IN such manner and under such
regulations as shall DO prescribed by tho Sccre-
tary OF the Treasury
LYf-sxvIxo APPARATUS
The follow ing Is the section from which the amend
mcnt given below has been rcmodcIled -
SECTION 4,49L-No kind OF instrument, machine OF
equipment Tor the better security life, provided Tor by
tins title, shall be used any steam vessel which shall
not first DO approved By the Board OF Supervising In
spectors and also by the Secretary OF the Treasury
AMENDMENT.
Section A. ol Is amended ioows:-"No kind OF
security OF life provided for by this title shall be used
any vessel which shall be disapprovcd by the
Board Of Supervising Inspectors And the Board OF
OF any appliances for the safety OF ie IN addition
those provided Tor by thus titc alter such appliance
shall have been FULLY tested Tor six months in actual
practice at least three steamers and approved by
said Board and by the Secretary Of the Treasury"
LIABILITY MASTER AND OWNERS.
This amendment Is an Important one as defining the
question OF personal liability.
The following Is the existing clause this SUBJECT
while below it will be found tho text OF the amend
ment:-
rnI AMENDMENT.
whenever damage IS sustained by any passenger TO
himself or 20 hrs baggage, or by any person, 10 any
freight shipped any vessel used TO navigate tho
rivers great northern lakes other inland waters OF
the United States from explosion, IRE, collision,
bezzlement, loss destruction other through
tho w1l misconduct neglect OF any master, mate or
engineer every such shall be liable to the per-
son so injured - the iu amount OF the damage so
Incurred and the vessel shall be liable 10 the full
amount OF the damages incurred.
rHE LIMIT LfABLIry.
and in all other In which . carrier would at
common law, DO liable for damages, the owner
owners OF such vessel shall be liable TO the person
persons 50 damaged individually. equally ana ratably,
and not one Tor another, TO amount equal TO tho
value OF ms interest IN such vessel and the freight
then pending
Twill be remarked that In the original section no
locality Is mentioned, while 10 II IN the amendment