The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1879-01-08
WEDNESDAY JAN. 5. 1879.
Three Months Extra Wages.


We fnl the following Interesting article in
the New York Maritime Register, Of Nov. 9Th.
As it relates TO sueiees upon which both ship
owners, shipnas:ers and seanoa are concerned,
We deem il prudent to re-pghlish il;
There are several questions which ship-owners
should snds4vor 70 have settled this winter.
Not lea<i S1oac then IS Thai relating ~ the
three mouths extra wages 10 Seznen. Although
ihis law has been OF the statute books for some
time, efforts s0Esr5s its rsPeSl are Of recent
dale Nov. however. that such $ movement
has connected, al Tie information possible
Concerning the working o. this lss should be
collected and placed before Congress. Ship
owners should move at once 10 TIE matter. II
they expect 10 have Congress give any decision
o. the subject durias iAiS session
IL Is not strange IbsI protests we're not made
long ago against this la~. The explanation Is
methods Of business, and the sailors il affected
were a. class different from those aow employ
ed Like many Other laws rssAung 10 shipping
that bad served then purpose. II Was no longer
needed. boz had Vet become soch custom that
people almost imagined u necessary. Shipping
increased, methods Of bnSlneSS changed, fewer
American sailors were employed. yet The law re-
NAMED the sane Then the prosperity and sac
cess Of The merchant marble developed amazing
IL. Every enemy was 50 directed toszr1s
extending and improving this rapidly growing
industry, that kiIle attention was gwen TO laws.
the severity OF which was scarcely besdei IN
saeh prosperous hines Thus the beginning Of
the lAIs sar lOooa this lz~ unchanged and =
merchant marine - large and prosperous, that it
did uOl know the burdens il carried. But the
Ii, 81 E-E -, - r.a-
once proud commercial nzvy. During the war
other nations had secured most Of The earring
uads. There was nothing left for our ship
owners TO do, bot 10 bald up the merchant
marine again. Bat az the very outset Of their
lzbOCs they we're met By competition. 50 keen,
and obstacles 50 CREST, that The t4sk seemed al
uOSI hopeless. kSsH sitter the Gust o. ships Eas
reduced and money became cheaper. II was syi-
dent thsi there were additional causes which
prevented them frOn becoming Successful con-
pstlI0os- The disbursements OF The ship Eere
more closely scratnIzed 20 see Il The cause ex-
listed there Then II was found. that expenses
and RESTRICTIONS which were 50 lightly borne %
better times, lad DoS become heavy bauieas-
The question naturally sross= Gan Oct these
burdens be removed. Investigation zsceriziued
Fhieh we're just Or unnecessary Among
these. Was ci&S>s6 the lsE concerning the three
mouths extra pay 10 ssznso. Complaint there.
upon followed.
al.e tie ship-oEuer nsy desire the repeal
OF Ihis lSE, Tie sailor NAV thiak il quite Just
Bat ihis il Is DoL The interests Of The snip
osoer and the sailor are aimoSt ideuIic4l. and IS
one Is 50 dependent upon the OIhrr. The law
SAjch places burden rpoo oae-ls EeFy apt ID
Dc mi si 20 both. ksea ua5sr tie .s~ IN eees-
lion, al toe extra wages co %: 90 TO the sea
man. One third Of The amount Is retained by
the government for fund, OF Of which dis.
ueSsed ul2riuers are sent home. Yet ships
whenever called upon 10 Go 50, zre compelled L
transport The distressed sailor 81 5 merely nomi
la sun Tor passage money. Ship-oEoeTs srs
obliged 70 eo1tr.hc.e 10 passage money fund
s1d YET carry m4n home for an zUoa0t which
vii uol psy 70: the food which be CONSUMES OF
the voy2se. This. if nothing else stamps The
law $ unjust Il provides, indeed, for ex.rs
wages IN case the sailor Is sGmmzrliy discharged
oy The master IL ioreiga port But the gov
srnme0t embraces the opportunity 10 eo1pel Ihc
ship-0SDer 10 oouIribate money for another PER
pose The sailor is paid The snoani IL osdel
that be uAy reach the United States again Yei
the sane object could Dc sIiaiued 10 s less arb
Izry nznner- Mach also depends upon The con
sgls- Yet, il their decisions. lhey freocenlly
allow their sympathy TO bias Their judgneot
This lzE Is not 80 framed that II will i1sars
the sailor the protection intended, for il Iast;
I too much to the judgment Of the c0oS1ls. and i
czn sometimes be evs5e3 By tie ship-oSner
Tbus lis poSeS 70 have the sailor returned to ID;
Z United States Is Weakened Through it, ths
/ ship-oSuer Is compelled 10 contribute money tC
I Purposes for which be ought not in Justice Il
! PSF He may b made lisbls for heavy expense:
ihroogh izlse charges hs, a. much IS the sailor
: subject TO srbit@ry and unjust decisions on ID;
I part OF consals- Il rilgaIss, too. against hiu
| N competing With foreign ship-oEners. In 81
/ ihsss EAFs- Il opposes him without benefinns
/ the sailor N any spprecizbls degree
Althoagh 5 lsE msy have much in It's favor
yei when il fails fully 10 meet the object in
tended and becomes oppressive, It should Be re
+ pesle6. The Law mentioned above has uoV
I cone 20 that pass. Is csa hardly be said, ihs
il Itself this isE is a. obstacle 10 the groEth O
| the merchant marine. bat it Is one Of seyera
obstacles, Which together. are re.sril1g thu
/ growth The complaint Of tie shiD-oEusr.
I sgziss; this lzE has much juslioe The las fan.
Z OF its purposs. and therefore, no class would b
injured BY is repeal Shoui5 however, that eu.
Z Dc attained, DeE lsS should be made. or saci
I measures taken as would insure the Tulsllmen
I Of SA ooo.rzets between The sailor aod bis EN-.
! plo!er. These changes cannot be brough
s6Oai without 6IiscuIiY Wheeler thew ar
usce- depends in g great measure upon h
efforts Of ship-oEusrs. They ask relief from III
/ 0ar6sns which tie present lsz lsys upon then
/ Conscious Of ihi=. and oesllug Only such nez
s0res IS vii be Just to the sailor and to then
E selves EithOut beng burdeusome, they should 5
Y Congress, they vii have accomplished their OF