Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-03
ARMY PROMOTIONS.
MRS. NrILLER's CAPTAINCY.
FOlger Directs that She be Licensed if
She is Competent.

Al
She is Competent.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.-Secretary Fol-
ger has to-day written to the Supervising
Inspector General of Steam Vessels as
follows in regard to the application of
Mrs. Mary A. Miller, of New Orleans, for
license as master of steamboat plying
on the Ouachita river: GA woman, Mary
A..Miller by name, seeks to be licensed as
master Of a steam vessel on the inland
waters of the United States. 1 know
OF nothing Imperative in the
law, in public policy, or in
good morals, why woman, if she is
skilled, honest, intelligent, hardy and
prudent enough may not have command
of steamer and navigate it, and manage
and conduct the business carried on with
it. To do that is to be master of steam
vessel. There is, however, statute law
on the subject. The United States re-
vised statutes, section 4438, says that the
board of local inspectors of steam yes-
sells shall license and classify the masters
of all steam vessels, and thatit is unlaw-
full for any person to serve as
master on any steamer who is
not thus licensed. Section 4439 SAYS that
whenever any person applies to be licens-
inspectors shall diligently inquire as to
his character, and examine the proofs
which he presents, and if they are salts
fed as to bis character, ETC., shall grant
him license to serve as master. Doubt
less these sections speak in the masculine
gender. If it be said that therefore they
do not contemplate the licensing of a
person of the feminine gender it is
no more technical and close to
reply that they are statutes in dero-
cation of the common law by which,
or not in cOntravention of which any per-
son, whether female or male, may paddle
her or his own canoe, or steer or con her
or his own vessel. under sail or driven by
steam. Being in derogation of the com
mon law, these statutes are to be strictly
construed. If, then, power to license
being cOuched in the masculine gen.
der, they do not permit the
licensing of a person of the feminine
gender, so the prohibition against serving
as master being cOuched in the masculine
gender does not inhibit a person Of the
feminine gender; but am not crowded as
close to the wall as that. 1t has been
held by the courts that statutes which
speak of males as of peers, and confer
personal privileges, includes females as
peeresses, though only males are men
toned. The Countess of PortIand'S case,
Moore 769, 2 Coke 81; the Duchess of
KingstOn's case, 11th trials, 'Hargrove's
4th edition. 263. But still nearer to the
heart of the matter, the United States
Reviseds Statutes, Section 1, gives defni-
tiOns and says that words imputing mas
culine gender may be applied to females,
so that section 443S, when it says that it
is unlawful for any person to serve as
master of any steamer who is not Ii
censed, means and says that it is as
unlawful for woman as man
70
inasmuch as its language is negative it
is quick with the implication that
woman, as we'll as man, who is licensed
may thus serve, and section 4439, when il
speaks that whenever any person applies
to be licensed the Inspectors shall dill
gently Inquire as to his character st,..
means anv persoh, female or male, and
ser as well as his character, etc. l see
no reason, then, in unwritten or written
law why Mrs. Miller may not lawfully de-
mand an examination, and if she prove
herself duly qualified have a license to
serve as the master of a steam vessel,
nor is there need Of talk pro or con on the
social status or "wOman's rights" so
called. Having been put on Gods foot
stool by Him, she has the right to earn her
bread in any moral, decent way which IS
open to any of His tOiling creatures. She
chooses to do so as master of a steam
vessel II 10 an HOnest calling. Ii sne
is fitted for it, though clothed in skirts
rather than breeches, she has the right TO
follow it, and no man should say
to her nay. Let the local inspectors,
putting behind them all thought
of her sex, without antagonism, and with
out partiality, make diligent inquiry as to
her character, carefully examine her and
the proofs she offers, and if they are
satisfied that her capacity, her expert
ence, her habits of life and character
warrant a belief that she can be safely
intrusted with the duties and RESPONSE
bIlities of the master of a steam vessel,
let them grant her license according to
section 4439."