The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-25
ening the liability clause, relating TO owners

ening the liability clause. relating to owners
Messrs. Townsend Of Now York, and Bragg.
OF WISCONSIN. advocated the striking out of the
liabilities section because 1t failed to hold the
owners and really responsible parties Tor dam
Mr. Bragg especially contended that the sec
tton was framed In the interest OF boards of
trade. and the onlr remedy was against mas
ters,. pilots or mates, who, as rule. had moth
ing from which recovery could be made.
Mr.. Reagan dented that the section was par
capital. II Was in the interest OF commerce and
navigation. The section was necessary. be-
cause, under the commerce law soctri ne Of un-
limited liability OF owners. the Interests Of COM
merce suffered.
Mr.. Townsend. Of Now York. commended, thet
t1 9wners shoqd e. held te strict and
fortunes which owners had built up on the Had
son and other rivers. and 1t was time. now for
Congress to take such action as would tend to
make owners more careful to preserve human
life. "
Mr.. Beebe, Of New York, In the course Of his
OF vessels responsible, intimated that Mr.. Rea-
gan, who had charge Of the bill, was acting in
the interest OF property md q against the people
ranted. He was born in poverty, and reared IN
poverty. and his whole life was q repudiation Of
the ides that he would act against the interest
OF the people. But he would not play the dema-
go9ue by injuring property and capital. at the
Mr., Saylor OF Ohio, argued that tho egisla-
ton now proposed was In a direct line with the
policy Of all commercial nations. none of which
enforce the unlimlted liability clause, Of the
common law. This legislation proposed TO put
vessels navigating rivers on the same footing as
those on the ocean
On Mr.. Beebs's amendment, making owners
the and nays wes
162.
Mr.. Hooker. of Mississippi moved to strike
out 80 much of the section rs limited the re-
sponsibilities of owner or owners to the amount
or value of their interest in the vessel that
may be destroyed. The amendment was re-
Mr.. Townsend. OF New York. after some fur
ther discussion. moved to strike out the whole
section. and the motion was reiected-yeas "a.
The section. as finally amended and adopted
was made 70 read as follows:
Sec. 81. That section 4ta3 Of the Revised
Statutes Of the United States shall be 80 amend
cd as to read as follows:
SEC. 4tsa. Whenever damage is sustained by
any passenger, In person or property. from eI- o.
negligence does not contribute, the master
or the owner Of such vessel, or either
of them, and their vessel. shall be lia-
the full amount. Of damage which happens
through any neglect or failure to comply with
imperfeotons Of The eteaming apparatus r or OF OF
the vessel. which could have been detected by
reasonable care. But 4 such explosion. fire,
negligence. fault or knowledge of the owner
or owners the total liability Of such owner
or owners respectively shall In no case exceed
an amount equal to the amount or value of his
or their interest In such vessel Mt the com
mencement of the voyage or trip. ana freight
then n pending. and any person sustaining loss
gence on his part, through carelessness. negi-
gence or wilful misconduct OF any master. mate.
engineer, or pilot. or. his neglect or refusal to
obey the laws governing the navigation of suoh
may. In addition. sue such master,
mate, engineer or pilot and receive damages
for any such injury caused by any such master.
mate, engineer or pilot; and such officer. upon
negligence. willful misconduct or neglect, or
REFUSAL may also be imprisoned not exceeding
three years."
Mr.. lockwood, OF New York offered an
amendment to the next section, revising the
salaries. etc. of inspectors Of hulls and boilers.
and pending its consideration the House. at 40
D. m.. adjourned.