New-York tribune., 1884-01-25
A"FEMALEo AS MASTER OF A VESSEL.

VIEWS OF THE SOLICITOR OF THE TREASURY ON
MRS. MILLERs APPLICATION FOR LICENSE
WASHINGTON. Jan. 24.-The Solicitor of the
Treasury has submitted the Secretary opinion on De
question of the legality of issuing to female certn
cate of license as master of steam vessel having refer
ence particularly to the case OF Mrs. Mary a.
Miller of Louisiana. He says in part: 81 admit
there ls no express provision in the law to pre-
vent O wOman's commanding a steamer as master;
neither is there anything in the Constitution 10 pre-
vent a woman being elected to COngress or being
elected as PRESIDENT is there any provision OF law
forbidding woman from commanding ship OF war OF
commanding the Army in time of As to the right OF
woman to receive a license to command a steamboat
the law is silent As matter of 'prop1ety,
do not think such a thing should be done.
Thcre are n the diversified relations and pursuits OF
life many kinds Of labor for which women may je spec
Tally suited But these enable woman TO preserve her
social and exclusive character woman They do not
involve ASSOCIATIONS with the ron h ana RAIDER portions o
the opposite that inevitable in their character
1t is known to every one acquainted with Mississippi
steamboat navigation that there IS no business plrsmt
recurring more o. contact with the rough and-tumoe o.
life than this does While women are to be honorad fo
engaging in such industrial pursuits OF honest labor as
nature has adapted them TO- cannot but think thit ther
engagement in caln-s peculiarly suited ~ nea calc
lated - lessen ana lower ta. chiydluc dcV0doh 70 A5
sex that has peculiarly marked American civilization
"It seems to me the. object desired in obtlinins a
masters license for Mrs. Miller can DC
easily attained without her having such
license II the purpOSe is 10 let her have ana eNer-
else the entire control and management OF me Doal why
not allow the clerk any else on board 10 be the
master nnminav she retaining all powers 10 herself ana
ordering and controlling everything 70 sulJ hersei IN IN
stead OF Deng the master merely In name while some one
else VIII and must perform the duties OF MASTER why may
sbe not let some else be master IN name ana sac
ordering directing and controlling what Is To be done!
That will virtually be The case, she were licensed rs
master If licensed she would not stand he regulr
watch al night In stOru and snow and cod Shc "0uu
moi 20 tluigng through mud and mire, hjn -inc Tor
hands To recruit her She would not IN person en-
force thar rigid and almost dpspoc discipline necessary
on Mississippi steamers. She would not a. soon as the
boat lands trImDug 30 the counting houses o. shippers
and c1usyIeCs. She would not sulerntend the general
police Of the boat, going into every part OF H. 20 see mat
convenience consulted for delivering the proper freight
nj every landing. In OF disaster from IRE. coou
or explosion would not give order ana direction lor
saving life enforcing cOmpOslre and being the Idst 10
leave a burning sinking wreck. cOuid cnunrIajea
hundred other duties that apperlan 10 tough chllhS
and weaheYbeaeu sailor. II Is great mistake 10 sup
posc that the master Of steamboat mas nothing 10 90
but To sit III his Office, give gave general directions sgh
his name and occasionally promenade Inc hurricane DECK
lie must be instant I'm ana Out OF season. IN sn-
lners heat and winters cold He must he the firs on
baud at the cry danger and the last to thn OF MS own
personal discomfort danger. AS 10 thOSe parts on
masters duties which a perform she can dis-
charge them lust well by the moral power OF her pres
ence f she prefers being ON board while another may 90
master nOalually.
All he flle-faddle OF the day that we hear about
wors rights is calculated TO degrade instead OF ele
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