Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-25
THE SHIPPING BILL.
The House Committee Finally Consider
1t and Instruct Mr.. Diasley to Report
it to the House.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %.

The shipping committee of the House to-
dav finally considered Mr.. Dingley's bill to
abolish certain fees for oficisls services TO
American vessels and for other purpose. The
bill was considerably amended, and Mr..
Dingley vas instructed TO report il to the
House and secure action upon il At the ear
liest opportunity. The bill as agreed upon by
the committee is substantially as follows:
Section one abolishes July l, 1886. the fol-
lowing fees to collectors or other officers of
customs, inspectors of steam vessels and
shipping commissioners for services to ves-
sells of the L nited States, to Wit: Measure.
ment of toDsge and certifying the same is
SUNG OF licenses or granting certificates for
registry; records of enrolment, including all
Endorsements on the same and bond and oath
indOrsement Of change of master; certifying
and receiving manifest, including master $
oath; granting permits; granting certificate
OF payment of tonnage dues; recording bill
of sale, mortgage, hypothecation or convey
ance, or the discharge of such mortgage or
hypothecstion; furnishing the crew list, in
cluding bond; furnishing certi6cston of title :;
certificate of protection 10 seamen: bill of
health, shipping and discharge of seamen. az
provided by section SO, Revised Statutes, and
section / OF the same; apprenticing boys to
the merchant service; inspecting, examining
and licensing steam vessels, includipg in-
spectlng Of certificate and copies thereof, and
licensing of master, engineer, pilot or mate
of vessel. (The fees amount to about
$500, Ii is provided that these officers
shall make return TO the secretary of the
treasury of their services performed, and
where paid, wholly or in part, by fees; that
the secretary shall grant them compensation
from the treasury so as to make their com
pensation What is would have been before the
passage Of the act.
Section two authorizes shipping commits
sionvra to ship and discharge seamen for the
coastvise trade.
Section three amends section ten of the
shipping act of 1880, 50 As to authorize the
payment Of advance wages to liquidate any
just debt tor board or clothing contracted
prior to the shipping. not to exceed two
months wages.
Section four extends the provisions of the
limited liability section Of the shipping act
of 1884, so as to cover all vessels in the in
land trade, excepting canal boats, lighters
and bsrges.
Sections five, six and seven substitute
small penalties for certain violations
OF the navigation acts where now forfeiture
OF the vessel 10 involved.
Section eight provides that foreign vessels
found transporting passengers between places
or ports IN the United States, when such pas
sengers have been taken on board in the
United States, shall De liable to fine Of one
dollars for each passenger landed.
Section nine empowers the secretary of
the treasury to remit the fines provided in the
previous sections hen the offences are not
wilfully committed.
Section ten construes the provision of law
allowing drawback on btuminous coal used
As fuel by steam vessels and to vessels of
foreign countries - to allow = similar draw
back to vessels Of the United States.
Section eleven amends the tonnage tax
section Of the shipping act of 1884, which
authorizes the president to suspend the col
lection of the tonnage du:y on vessels enter
ing from anv foreign port in North and Cen
ual America. etc, Ihst had abolished similar
taxes on American vessels entering their
ports
Section twelve directs the president to
cause this tender to be known to foreign gov
ernments