The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-06
NEW ENGLAND SHIP OWN
ERS.
Their Meeting i'm BossOn-The Dingiey
shipping Bill Iudorseds

BOSTON, Feb. ga meeting of the New
England Ship Owners Association was held
this afternoon at the office of the Pilot Com
missioners, Merchants Exchange building, to
consider the shipping bill presented in Con-
gress by Representative Dingley of Maine,
with a view to taking action to secure the pas
sage of the bill.
Mr.. w. II. Lincoln, of the firm of Thayer 81
Lincoln, presided, and spoke of ex-Gov. Ding
ley's interest in American shipping, and of a
similar bill presented by him last year, which
was defeated. He thought that the time had
now come when something should be done to
further and build up the shipping of the coun-
try.
A committee appointed at a previous meet
ing presented the following resolutions:
Whereas, The shipping interests of the country
have been in most deplorable and depressed con-
dition for the past twenty years, SO that our ship
yards have in many cases passed out of existence
and Others have become comparatively idle, and our
flag upon the great highways of commerce, in the
principal commercial ports of the world is rarely to
be seen; and
Whereas, During this long period of decline not
measure of relief has been passed by the govern
ment, though the desired legislation has constantly
been urged upon Congress; and
Whereas, Representative Dingley of Maine has
prepared bill, entitled "a bill to remove certain
Burdens on the American Merchant Marine, and to
Encourage the American Carrying Trade;' there
fore,
We, the New England Ship Owners Association,
and all of those who this day unite with us in the
resolve that the thanks of this association due
to Mr.. Dingley for the Introduction of the bill
Resolved, That this meeting hereby approves and
indorses said bill in its main features; that section
TO- however, re- ating to advance wages to seamen,
should limit the application Of the section to ports
OF the United States.
Resolved, That the liability of owners Of vessels
should be limited to the proportion of their inter-
est, SO that one owner shall not become liable on
the obligations of others.
Resolved, That we urge upon Congress the pas
sage OF these measures, and that copy of this pre-
amble and resolutions be sent to Congressman
Dingley and to the members of Congress from this
State.
Capt. G. g. Goss, of Bath, Me-, said that the
bill, as far as it goes, is WE'LL The burden
must be so placed that capital will be willing
to invest in shipping, he considered that the
limited liability act had much to do in fright
ening off capitalists.
Mr.. d. d. Kelly, Of East Boston, explained
at length the bill of Mr.. Dingley, whose pro-
visions he believed would result in benefit
alike to the owner and the sailor; the only
trouble is that it does not go far enough, but
the owners should be thankful for at least
little. II you can do one little thing to stimu-
late our declining commerce, it is the duty of
every man who ever had an interest in ship
to do it. He did not believe in any subsidies;
ioe otory eup staHu on lts oWH poIloulS Salu ne,
and if we can't that, why then let us sink.
Our principle should be to get all we can, ask
for all that we want and take as much of it as
we can get.
Mr.. J. e. Burtt fully indorsed the BILL ex-
cept that portion relating to advance wages,
and spoke strongly against the existing laws on
the liability of owners.
The resolutions were then passed by a unan-
imous vote, and the meeting adjourned after a
short explanation by Mr.. Horace e. Morse of
what State legislation was desired for the pro-
lection of sailors.