The Portland daily press., 1883-01-16
The Shipping Bill.

The shipping bill which has passed the
House by so large majority, and which has
fair promise of passing the Senate, consider
ably relieves our ocean commerce from the
burdens placed upon it by unwise legislation
years ago-years before the war-and will
command the hearty commendation of the
ship-bu ilding interest. II owes its success
chiefly to Maine men. Mr. Dingley has de-
voted much time and labor to the bill, and
What the Boston Advertiser justly calls ''the
common sense amendment of Mr. Reed"
relieved the measure from the Objectionable
features with which it was loaded.
As the bill now sands it provides in brief,
as follows:
Vessels duly registered, except coasting
vessels, are to be deemed vessels of the
United States so long as they shall be Who'll
ly owned by citizens of the United States
and commanded by citizen of the United
States; any vessel, any officer of which shall
not be a citizen of the United States, shall
pay q tax of so cents a ton; the payment of
three months extra wages to a seaman upon
his discharge in foreign port is no longer
to be required; but if seaman is discharged
on account of injuries received on ship
board, of illness caused by fault or neglect
of the master or owner of a vessel, he must
be properly cared for by the master until he
is cured, dies or is brought home. In cases
of violation of the contract with seaman
by circumstances within the control of the
master the later shall pay him enc month'a
extra wages. The same shall be required
upon the sale of an American vessel in
foreign port and the consequent discharge
of her crew. Or, in either case, the seaman
shall be furnished with suitable employ
ment which he shall accept or be forwarded
to the port for which he originally shipped.
or returned to the port at which he shipped.
Section makes it the duty of consular Of
ficers to reclaim deserters; if it shall be
found that their desertion was caused by
unusual or crnel treatment they shall be
discharged, and shall receive the one
months extra wages, or one of the other
conditions before described shall be fulfilled.
Sections and s make consular officers ac-
countable to seamen for extra wages and
charges collected for them. but provide that
expenses incurred by seamen after discharge
fer board. ETC.. shall be paid therefrom.
Section 8 compels masters of American
vessels to take on board and transport to
any port of the United States to which they
may be bound, destitute American seamen
on such terms not exceeding $40 each as
may be agreed upon. Not exceeding thirty
cents per day additional may be exacted for
such service in exceptional cases. Refusal of
master to take such passengers, not ex-
seeding two for each 100 tons burden of his
ship, shall render him liable 10 a fine of
800 for each person so refused.
Section 10 abolishes all-consular fees,
Section II prohibits the payment of ad-
vance wages to seamen except on whalers.
provided that seaman may give an order
for wages earned in favor of a father or 9th
er relatives, or of savings bank, but not in
favor of any other person or corporation.
Section II requires that every vessel shall
caro- supply of extra clothing, blankets
and other articles necessary for the wear of
seamen, and supply of tobacco, all
such articles to be sold at profit not ex-
ceeding rs per cent of their wholesale value
at the port where the voyage began.
At American ports The duties now per-
formed by Shipping Commissioners are to
be performed by or under the direction Of |
the Collectors of said ports without fees.
In lieu of all tonnage dues and light mon |
ey the tonnage tax shall be 6 cents per ton
for each entry of a vessel engaged in trade
with the West Indies, or any port south of
Mexico, including Aspinwal and Panama,
and 12 cents on all vessels engaged in trade |
with other foreign ports, except ports in
Mexico and Canada.
The assessment on account of the Marine |
Hospital Service on wages of seamen in the |
foreign trade is reduced from 30 cents 10 20 |
cents per month.
Section II limits the individual liability of |
aship owner to his proportionate share in |
the vessel.