New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-30
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
ovERCRowDED EXCURSION BOATS.

ovERCROwDED EXCURSION BOATS.
now VIOLATIONS OF LAW ARE TO BE PREVENTED
With every Summer come numerous COM
plants OF the overcrowdlug OF excursion boats We IN
many complaints believed to be usinape'
II stated that the protests very often are made oy N
steamboat companies u was noticed on sunday ias'
tat many Of the excursion boats laden with human
freight such extent 10 bring the guarus OF Tue
boats down to the surface OF the water.
II seems to DO the impression that the local inspectors
OF steamboats, responsible for not discovering any
violation OF the law but this the statutes show Is an
error The law says that :" II any passenger steamer
engages in excursions the INSPECTORS shall issue to such
special permit, in writing. for the OCCASION IN
which shall be stated the additional number
of passengers that may be carried, and the
number and kind OF lfe-saving appliances that
shall be provided for the safety OF such additional
passengers and they shall also, IN their dsereuoh'
Euit the and distance for such excursions ms
IL is claimed the extent OF their duties and the DIS
trcAttoney has al decided that any passenger fce
ing aggrieved OF any overcrowdng of any excursion
boat make the plant and thai the person max
ing such complaint must be able TO prove satisfactorily
the exact humber OF PASSENGERS III excess On 1--we 70
also deyoves upon ttOse enforcing me revenue ,aw
make complaints or arrests. This would hIlng IL un9er
the cognizance OF the Customs Department. Secton
446i OF the Revised statutes prescrloes that II sua
moi he lawful 10 take board OF any steamer greater
number OF passe myers than Is stated IN the cefncue
OF Inspection; and Tor every Vl0LaIloh OF TINS p,u
vision the master owner shall b. liable, u any
Of passage-money and $40 for each passenger
beyond the number allowed" Section 4,4s9
pres RIDES that 81" vessel propelled in whole or IN
part by steam navgated without complying with the
Of this title the owner shall be liable 10 the Untu
SIT in penalty of $500 Tor each ohense onena LOT
the of the informer. for which sum the vessel so
navigated shall he liable, and NAV he seized anu pro,
oeeded against 10y way OF lhe III any district court Q,
tie United states having Jurisdiction OF the oneuse
TIE also prescrbes that the excursion permit when
used must exposed 10 The view OF passengers, with tie
gazing in exrIrIons must carry in adj ition to their
regular lite-savn2 equipments, lie ptpse'Ntr or noi'
made IN accordance with rules OF the Board OF III
spectOrs, for cacn and every additional passenger
In rply TO recent letter OF the Supervising Inspector
OF tins district the Secretary o. the Treasury ASKING
for instructions with regard TO the standard oy which To
regulate TIL number OF passengers to excursion siet
Tribune Section 7S wisely leaves To each Inspector
tbe responsibility limiting the number Il passensers
the statute under when the III pcctol o.
hus Is appointed, which requires That lie shi De Iuly
cOmfetent make a trustworthy estimate OF tne
regtu seawOrtliness, aud other qualities oil tue nul,
OF steam vessels aud tncir equipment, de med essential
10 inc safety Of life III iavgd ION Tue ueIlt'nel' S
authority 10 relieve inspectors from STA OUNCE
tons 10 Ike rnles Tor their guidance, mat being
matter lrimary devolving upon the Board Oi upefNN
ing Inspectors subject however 10 ine approval We
Department Rule - having received such approval has
the force o; law, ANA tue Department WI Aac,
from ectJTs slct fidelity To the true INT III ahd
meaning that rule and The statute on winch II II
founded The duty eui ine1 iusl ecor Of frequent
visits sion st Is in order tO have personal
knOW DE of The fact that toe equipments arr KEEP up 10
the l1nal quiremens, and that the huu ana OoLes
aro entirely sale ,,., ,,
allowing "A proportion. o. number OF pa scng rs 10 ID
vessel IN accordance wt1 her tonnage bht Iit ne i'll
spectOIs governed by the strength of the vese
aud its appointments or peculiar construction IN.
Board of Supervisors iui discussed TINS question las
should be estDlished allowance, but al SUBS mems
meeting the suggestion was Withdrawn careful
hereafter and violations OF the law Will be referred to
the proper tribunal