New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-05
ANNUAL report on STEAM VESSELS.
A GRATIFYING REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF
ACCIDENTS AND LOSS OF LIFE-lNEQuALIrY IN

GRATIFYING REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF
ACCIDENTS AND LOSS OF LlFE-iNEQuALirY IN
sALArIrs-A CERTAIN TAX roo RICH.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 4.-Mr. James "A. Du-
mont, Supervising OF Steam Vessels
in dis annual report shows that durDg the astscai year
there were i2s9 steamers Inspected and losi2 officers
licensed. The total number OF lives lost by accidents
from various aggregates l77 fcryonr OF whieh
are not chargeabe accidents resulting from the use
Of steam IN navigation. Or the whole ndber OF lives
lost steamboats, during the year. foriysix were pas
sengers. General DumOnt
II Is gratifying fact that, notwithstanding IN in
OF AGO vessels 10 the steam merchant marine OF
the United Satea since the report FROM the fiscal year
endea Jane So 1875 there has bocn steady decrease
the nunber az fatal cas.Bluos, although the asse-
ger c0pac;y OF the steamers since built il much greater
illustrated In the difference between tho steamers
then running from New-lOIk 20 lspckaWar. Win an
aggregate capacity or about 500 PASSENGERS end hesr
now running npon tho same ione VITA I9a' eapac'
Of about 1000 passeagors The fatal c.Sua't;es
durln. The ts; Two wears. lnc!t lns inn-o k'- ~
1877. 22i ISIS, 2i2; aad l475 AZ 10 tue 1877
discpac ex rc4sec 10y tas service oyerae candnci %
TIE licensed officers of steam vessels Is no u""'l bVp
Que THIS exemption from disasters.
Especial attention is called 10 test OF local Boards
and u siatcmcot OF the amount OF WORK performed ny
EACH for the purpose OF showing tha Inequalities ~
salaries now paid in the hope that tho attention q" Con
gress Will be called the subject IN order that II may
remedy what in some cases inexcGsablo lhl'eo
particularly marked case of inequality IN salaries IN
comparson 10 the performed, found In cOapa-
ing Grand Haven Mich., which inspects lO2 vessels.
salary 5000 with Port Huron which inspeots only sixty
four vessels on salaries 600 per anpum; or Louis
yile KY which lDspects only fifty vessels annually.
salaries So COO with New London Conn. which nspocts
1876 vessels with salaries OF 81 900 per annnm.
In view OF an amendment to Section i53 OF the Re
ysed statutc contained Senate bill No lis, dated
March 81 1870 which, II passed, Will reduce the amount
Of foes collected for the maintenance OF tue service TO
about Sal 800 in round numbers less than It's actual
cost the Inspector General says:
deem Il Ely duty to call attention the fact that
there was june 30 last, report by the Register
OF the Treasury standing to the credit OF this sci
vice lor he 90 81 s" aae ana
$4,000 % Ia excess OF reeeDs during The past ns
year. would give total OF $40 )7O7 3D. sum sufficient
the deficiency. should occur through the re-
dueion proposed. for period OF eleven years or up
ton in needs OF the the result OF
taxes collected chiefly from masters. mates pilots ard
engineers II Is b. hoped that the dmeTt viii
pass and thus furnish the 60 restore tins large
OF money to the parties to whom II most properly
belongs.
Steamboat owners have very generally expressed
themselves as satisfied with the seamboatlaw Tho only
real objection to any part OF law is Ia that portion
which discrinnates against engaged in inland
navigation In the matter OF personal liability of the
owners thereof Why certain liabilities should be i'm
posed upon vessels navigating rivers or inland waters
which are placed upon those plying IN other waters
Is ncomprehensble aud the hope expressed that Con
grcss Will take action to redress what is claimed
by steam vessel owners be great wrong to them.
Attention is called the taxation for license fees for
small steam pleasure vessels yachts. though
they may he larcer than common soops yawlbOat.
compelled to pay the came ices Tor license as com
merca OF 100 tons burden, which excessive tax
has. many cases, actually prohU'td thelr use, as
own pleasure feel unwlDing Ia pay zee Oh 80 ltlS
inspection. In this connection Mr. Dumout recon-
inends hat the lax DC made y. lie Inns ns WI
great Industrial interest.