The Republican journal., 1884-12-25
Marine Matters.
RULES PROPOSED FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF
AVERAGES.

RULES PROPOSED FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF
AVERAGES.
At meeting of the association of average
adjusters of the United States last week, il
New York, a long discussion was held over the
following proposed rules:
Where the voyage is broken up by reason of
shlpWreck or condemnation of the ship, the
master shall be entitled to compensation from
the general interests for the time necessarily
occupied by him i'll transactng the business
growing out of the disaster until his departure
for the home port with proceeds, general ac-
counts and vouchers.
He Shall also be entitled to Il reasonable in
identification for necessary expenses and SER
vices IN returning 10 the home port, when
needed by the peculiar circumstances of a case
to justify his acts at the place of disaster, or to
give information. not otherwise afforded to
tnaily ADJUST and appOr ton the average charges
To be pald by the general or special interests
for whom such services are performed. to be
determined by the nature of the case.
These rules Shall apply whether the vessel be
i'm ballast or with cargo.
The rules were finally adopted subject to
confirmation by three-quarters of the III mbers
present al IA full meeting February l., 1880.
BURDENS OF AMERICAN SHIPPING.
Representative s. 5. Cox was present at the
meeting Of the House Committee on Shipping,
Thursday, to explain his amendment of the act
10 remove burdens from American shipping.
The amendment introduced IN the House Of
Representative last week. provides
That it shall be unlawful for any person, or
persons other than the Shipping Commissioner
to charge any seaman, directly or indirectly,
for procuring situation or berth on any YES
sci sailing from the United States, or any per-
son to attempt any evasion of the tenth sect II
in ca>hng seamen's notes at u>urious rates of
interest; aud any person SO offending shall be
deemed guilty Of misdemeauor and upon con-
\lclion Shall be punished by a fine Of not less
than 500, and be may al.o be imprisoned for IA
period not exceeding six months for each Of
fence at the discretion of the Court.
Mr.. Cox has received petition from Il num-
Der of merchants asking for such modification
as is proposed. He says the mischief which he
seeks to remedl is the wrong done to The sailor
through mddlemen or curbsone brokers. They
stand between the captain and the Shipping
Commissioner and are paid for selecting the
crew for the captain who then takes them be-
fore the Commissioner to sign the articles. 1t
Is this class OF people, Mr.. Cox says, which has
brought so much reproach upon the business OF
those who have legitimate claims for boarding
and clothing upon the sailor.
CONCERNING COLLISIONS.
The President has transmitted to the Senate
the report of the Secretary of State, showing
the necessity of immediate legislation for the
purpose Of bringing the statutes OF the United
States in conformity with the international reg
ulaions, preventing the collisions at sea- which
regulations have been adopted by all the lead
ing maratime powers except this country. In
the report the Secretary of State oncloses a
copy of the regulations which he received in a
note from the British minister, announcing their
adoption and says: ''As the statutes of the
United States, regulating the sailing of Ameri-
can vessels, conflict in important particulars
with the international regulations and now oh
served by all other civilized nations, there is
constant danger of a collision involving the loss
n "a htxrJn n fa IA
American ships are required by our statutes to
conform to the rules in conflict with those OBJ
served by ships of all other maratime powers
as it is understood, the regulations in question
are entirely acceptable to the American shin
owners. 1t is highly important that Congress
should, with as little delay possible, bring
the provisions of our statutes into conformity
with the international regulations"