The New York herald., 1879-02-07
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CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

DISCUSSION ON THE YORK-ANTwERP RULES
THE BOARD OF HEALTH DROPS THE sUGAI
ADULTERATIoN INVESTIGATION.
For years past such numerous assemblage
Of members appeared at monthly meeting as was
present yesterday afternoon at the Chamber of Com
merce. which convened at o'clock. with Alr.
Samuel ID. Babcock. the president. in the chair The
reason of this multfarious gathering was attrbuta-
BILE to the fact that the vexed York-Antwerp rules
to be finally acted upon and disposed of. These
rules for the guidance of shippers, shipowners
and underwriters, and naturally many of the mer-
chants belonging to the Chamber are deeply inter.
ested. After the adoption Of the minutes of the
previous meeting Messrs. julius Bunzl T. L. Collins
Richard j. Cortis, agent of the White Star Line
NJ H. Levin, Benjamin Perkins Isaac Rosenwald
c. H. Spitzer Casimr Lag and G. f. Fay, elected
members.
Tho Executive Committee reported that the invita-
ton Of Commodore Nicholson to visit the receiving
ship Minnesota at the Brooklyn Navy Yard had beer
accepted, and that the LIST day of March had beer
fixed upon for the official visit.
THE SUGAR QUESTION
lengthy communication was received from the
Board of Health on the alleged sugar adulteratons
in which the Board states that there is
any alarm account Of deleterious substances be
ing contained IN rcnned sugars.
Mr. Cowdin read letter from the Board of Health
dated Jan uary Is. 1872 in which 1t stated that the
"report which was forwarded December &c. 1878, in
respect the adulteraton Of sugars did not embrace
the names OF reiners whose sugars were examined.
and until this department has itself had samples of
whose source and history there be question it
is not deemed wise for tho Board either to ask or
publish the names upon the samples of sugar ana
lyzed by DIR. Ricketts,
In the opinion Of the Board there is not at present
sufficient to justify apprehension on the part
of the public of i'll effects from the of refined
sugars and il does not appear to be necessary TO dis
criminste between raw and refined sugars. for both
wholesome articles OF food
Mr.. Theodore a. Havemcyer sent letter to tho
Chamber of Commerce. enclosing check for $500,
to he devoted anayzing sugar. suggesting Profess
sor Chandler as the chemist but as the sugar qucs-
ton had been settled. far as the Board oi Health
and Chamber of Commerce were concerned. resolu-
ton to return Mr.. Havemeycr's check prevailed.
THE YoRK-ANTwERP RULES
The great question OF the day came up on a motion
alton of the majority report the second, fifth and
ninth sections of tho rules, relating to
general average.
President Babcock announced that Mr.. Frederick
r. Coudert, the delegate who represented the Cham
Der at the International Convention had been invited
and was present to address the Chamber.
Mr.. Coudert, in opening. alluded to the high char
acter, intelligence and capacity OF the gentlemen
who had framed and passed these rules at York and
subsequently confirmed them at Antwerp He called
attention to the singular and anomalous position
that American interests would be placed in IL the
rules adopted abroad and not adopted here. IL
the provisions Incorporating tho York and Antwerp
regulations embodied in all the foreign bills OF
lading all adjustments made in this'country would
have to be made according to these rules. whereas
the rules would not apply to American ships and
cargoes where the bills OF ading did not contain it
consequently would have all the disadvantages
and none of the advantages OF the new system.
As to tho clause which was most objected to. as
excluding the principle that voluntary stranding
should be allowed in general average, Mr.. Coudert
showed that the principle was not aDandoned-on
the contrary, sanctioned. An exception, was, how
ever, introduced where tho vessel sinking or
being driven on rocks-i c., where she was IA ex-
trcmis. There IL apparent that the master in
stranding his vessel was making sacrice guided
by no choice and only yielding to the natural and
irresistible impulse for self-preservation.
MIR. Higgins closed the debate, aud in a brilliant
manner reviewed the other side of the After q
tedious session Of nearly three hours the report of
the majority was adoptcdby four majority, and the
Chamber adjourned.