New-York tribune., 1877-09-03
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBUSEl

TlON.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuSE.l
WAsHNGTON, Sept. 2.-1he National Ass0-
citation of Steamboat Owners which meets IN Pittsburg
this week. viii probably upon some plan for secur
n prpper recognition OF their interests BY Congress
during coming For four years the owners oil
steamboats, have been trying 10 secure revision OF te
laws governing steam navigation, but thus far without
success. Twice. at least their bill ha5 passed the
House Of Representatives, and each time the
Congress has expired before vote upon IL
was reached in the Senate. At the last ses-
sion of the XLiIId Congress Senator Conkling
repeatedly placed himself like lion in its pathway ana
finally defeated it, In the XLIVth Congress he agreed 10
let be taken upon IT, if 1t was reached III the regu
lar order OF business but the excitement over the count
ing of the Electoral fatal to the Steamboat b'
as il was TO hundreds of other Tlree things
the owners of steam vessels ask OF Congress aud these
are:
Fi,st-To make the certificate OF the Government In
spectors prma lce evidence in case OF accident that
the vessel its boilers and machinery in good condi-
ton when leaving port, and that its officers were com
peent thus throwing the burden Of proof of the con-
verse of this proposition upon any person sttuuhS
n SUIT for damages arising from the accident
The owners OF steam vessels say that until
this principle recognized, the Government Inspection
and certificate Is not worth 10 them the paper on wich
il printed. BY the present laws every steam vessel
has officially inspected every year, and Yer this eX-
pay fee of S25. They are also required to post
copies Of the certificate in four public places
on the vessel All the responsible officers 0f
every such vessel-the captain aud mate, the
two pilots and the engineers, required to obtain
Government licenses and to report any defect
Of tho vessel machinery at the first port entered
after It's discovery Failing do this they liable to
arres, and punishment Besides this, the Government
Inspectors have right examine the vessel any Time
and any changes repairs that may be necessary 10 in
sure the safety Of passengers and freight OF these regu
lations The steamboat say they DO not complain
They are willing TO be subjected 70 any reasonable
regulations for the protection OF the lives and prop
erty of their patrons; but having complied with
the law aud having received the certificate OF the Cow
ernment officer that they have done they lc tllt
that certificate ought 10 serve protection 20 tac
Al present docs not. Ia defending them y.- at
prind focie evidence that they nave rrHp.i
with the law, and that their vessel ana its rt-
chucrv iu good condition; but U..F ar"
required % prove 10 aifuativcy which De- often aHel.t
destroyed Tucy ask Congress 20 TIE Govern
mont certificate klI tc received us DltHg ttfi.
dcnre ANA That the burlon Of proof shall b. thrown upon
Sec,Hd-The owners ~ river steamboats, desire that the
SO amended To limit hc amount To Poe recovered m any
case 90 tie value Oi tI" vessel doing The damage.
81, I'M regard to ocean aud ,c era r. and
the owners nf boat, reason why they sA0Jll
be subjected 70 amy greater liability II an ocean or lake
ANA i'm case Judgment against her is O1tliurd the
olt that II recoveIe is limited by tie mount OF
Inc bond. Iut j. steamer rams down Mother yc--
SCI not only mag the yaueOf tho boat d1n tc damage he
recovered but any other property Ot IT. owners uay De
levied upon satisfy iudgm ut. The result Of this law
5 that wealthy mcH cannot AFFORD % incur the risk
tcudant the ownership OF steamboat property; if
they do they ut their other property ont ~ their hands.
one way which The iaT is cvagcd ls ly INCORPORATING
steamboat conf anes; uut Judge Mler Of the Supreme
Court. iu Late opinion, made AN identical remark
which throws dpuD ou IA. question whether this
viii protect the individual property of owners of steam
boats from iiniity from ddtuasc done hy Fcir boats.
The river uuatWeu say hai u the Law OF limited l!abii
iy good for the Of ocean ana lake
ought 90 he good for tl.em.
Ihtrd-Iue owners of steamboats, desire change In
the act u regard go thc USE OF patent appliances Under
The present tIc Board Ol steamboat inspectors.
TIM ln Washington select the patent appliances that
must be used; and if their selection Is approved by
the Secretary OF the Treasury IL has the bind
ing f0Ice of law. The owners OF steamboats,
saw tl.t many OF tue patent appliances thus selected
nave prov ed trial 20 De worthless aud the steamboat
owners have been subject 10 needless expense. They
now ask that tncy bc required 10 place no patented
niianre on their vessels until 10 mas been thoroughly
tested by the Board OF Steamboat Inspectors and found
10 he valuable. The owners Of patents have sicHuOusy
ol,uOsed this amendment