New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-25
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

The House proceeded at once to-day to the
consideration of the bill amending the laws concerning
commerce aud vgation and the regulation of steam
vessels.
Mr. TOWNSEND tRep n. " moved to strike out the
section which provides that whenever damage Is sns-
tanned by any passenger steamer, through fire. en-
posion or other cause such casualty occurring without
the fault or knowledge Of the owner OF the vessel suc
owner shall only be liable to the extent OF s Interest III
such vessel Mr. Townsend said that under that section
he might DO roasted alive. on the Hudson River, III q
steamboat owned by Vanderbilt. who was worth bis mil
lions and yet that gentleman could only be hcd liable TO
the extent Of the value OF the hull Of the vessel
Mr.. BEEBE DEM n. u offered an amendment pro
yiding that any person sustaining loss through tdc
cafeessness or wllful misconduct OF the mate, engineer
pilot light the owner OF the vcshei fnr dhHstS
lie said that according 10 the prov slOs OF te Dill me
Of the value OF the hull while 1t allows the agents OF inc
owner 10 he sued for an unlimited amount.
After further discussion. tho amendment proposed bS
Mr. Beebe was rejected yeas 81, nays I62
Nj. FIELD (ep, MasS) moved 10 ainepd the para
graph by inserting The lords on inac,n y, al" COZ
Mr.. HOOKER Dem. Mlssl moved to strike ont OF me
occur without the fault, niutyy or knowiedge ct lhe
owner owners his or their total Liability shall not GX
coed The value his their interest such weasel
long discussion ensaed on this proposition, which WAS
finally rejected x,, A.,
entre paragraph Ia relation to liaoiiiiy OF owners
lOsl-leas, 81 ; Nays, lJI.
Tie raeraph us amended. Is as follows:
SECTION L. a93-vhenevcr damage IS sustained by any
senger In person or property from Do n fon or
oil
shaU De iaDlo 10
ard every pefsDn injured full amount 81 damage. II
m happes through ans neglect or failure TO comply win @
proTisions Of ihs @ through defects impefect,ons Of
Inc seamng apparatus Of tho vessels winch Ou nr'
been detected ahi provided against ~lh care @
II such explosion Ere collision casualty shal occur WIN
out negligence, fault. pTiy or Rnowlge Of tc oN
o. total ab, OF soch owner o. owners sss1ae
vey shall Ia exceed amount equal 10 W.
or value his their interest III sucl vessel ~ uo
commencement OF the voyage IMP and any person sustain
ing injury Aforesaid without guilt or negligence on
through careossDes. negligence @iuhi
conduct Of any MASTER mate engineer or pilot or ms
neglect OF refusal to obey The Laws governing ,ho ",
such. steames may sue such master mate ehghet W
ot damages for such injury caused bY any
surh inry caused MASTER engineer Or
tOt and officer indictment and conviction Of suc
.areessness negligence, Wnl misconduct neglect or Ie
fusa may also be Imprisoned not exceeding three years
Mr. LOCKWOOD Dem, y. ". moved an amendment
IN the sccton fixing the salaries OF Steamboat lnspec
tots classifying them from S1.700 year at New-Iork
aud New Orleans down 10 900 at Pusets SOUND Apa-
lachtcoia, Oswego, etc.
Pending the discussion OF tins amendment the Honse
aaying disposed OF all but the last paragraph III the
billl adjourned at 4:45 y. IN.