National Republican., 1883-07-14
INSPECTION OF BRITISH STEAM.
SHIPS.
Letter from the English Minister 10 the
Secretary OF State Upon tho subject.

Letter from the English Minister 10 the
Secretary OF State Upon tho subject.
Hon. i. s. Sackville West, the British min
lister, has addressed letter to the secretary
of state in regard to the complaints of the
owners of British steamships carrying emil
grant passengers between the United Kingdom
and this country in connection with the in
spection and survey of vessels. He says that
a representation has been made by the trans
atlantic traffic conference to the board of
trade in England respecting the inconven-
ience of certain regulations connected with
the inspection service, in which tits set forth
that the inspection made in the United States is
made with two objects. First, to ascertain that
the provisions of the law relating to the berth
ing accommodations and sanitary arrange
ments for food of the passengers have been
observed and whether any disease has broken
out during tho voyage, and If SO, its causes,
nature, and effect and second, to ascertain
whether the hull of the ship and her equip
ments, boilers, and machinery are sufficient
for the service intended, and in good condi-
tion.
ftAIr. West says as regards the first of thesa
objects the board of trade have no, observa-
tions to make at present, excepting to state
that in their opinion it would be very useful,
and is for many purposes desirable, that in
the event of anything being found amiss in
these respects, or in the event of any disease
having broken out in any case copy of the
report made by the inspecting officers in the
United States should be forwarded to the
British consul general in New York, to be
sent to England for the information of her
majesty's government. AS regards the Sec
ond object of the inspection, the board of
trade points out that steamships carrying pas
sengers to the United States are surveyed
xyitb
United Kingdom, and they are not allowed
to leave unless the hull, boilers, ma
chinery, and equipments are in
every respect sufficient for the
service intended and in good condition, nor
until q certificate has been issued by the
board of trade to that effect After referring
to the thoroughness of this examination, the
letter says besides the British ships hailing
from the United Kingdom there are certain
ships which also carry passengers across the
Atlantic, and under section 10 of the mer-
chants shipping act of 1876 the hulls of these
vessels, equipments, &C., are exempted from
survey in England when by survey made and
certificate granted in the United States their
fitness and seaworthiness have been estab-
lished. This exemption was, he says, granted
upon the application of the Liverpool agents
of the American Steamship company of
| Philadelphia, and it referred to the
ships, boilers, machinery, and equip
| ments and docking for examination
The inspection of provisions, passenger 40
commodations, and sanitary arrangements,
&C., are continued as before. The board Of
trade, however, reserved to themselves the
right of withdrawing the exemption granted
should they at any future time deem it right
| to do so. Mr.. West incloses q copy of the cor
respondence which took place between the
agents of the America line of steamships and
the board of trade on this subject, and says
that Earl Granville has in consequence in.
structed him to urge upon the government OF
the United States repcirocal treatment in thi
respect, so that arrangements may be made
whereby the hull, boilers machinery, and
equipments of British ships which have been
surveyed at Great Britain and certified By
the board of trade should Except in the case
of casualty or damage affecting their fitnes;
after the date of the boards certifcate) b.
exempted from survey in the United States