Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-10-18
international Marine Conference.
"a, taieorarb IA The Disnatch.1

ifY Telegraph 10 tLlo blopatgu-l
WAsHINGroN, October 17.-The members
Of the international Marine Conference,
upon assembling for business to-day, were
found 10 have discarded their gold lace.
epauletts, and decorations. and were clad
in the more sOmbre garb OF the CIVILIAN.
The gssemblage had the general appear
ance of meeting OF busiDess-men VINO
were Gathered for a purpose which they
knew how to secure. IL was soon mani
tested that the two talking members OF the
conference were MeSsrs. Goodrich. OF the
United States delegation, and HAL,
of fhe British. Both are leading adj
miralty LAWYERS. and fully Informed OF
the subject in hand. The British dele
gates. except Mr. Hall, maintained perfect
silence. He j. their authorized spokes-
man. and while he Is present they have
nothing to say. Mr.. Goodrich's col
leagues. however, occasionally found 1t
desirable to supplement his efforts by re-
marks Of their own.
The delegates from Norway ana SWe-
den promise to become important mem.
hers of the Congress To-day they labored
under the disadvantage of having no IN
terprcter. but that Will be remedied to-
morrow. il is promised. The discussion
today wa based upon the revised inter
national rules and regulations Tor pre-:
venting collisions at sea- contained
in circular issued by the United
States Treasury Department IN sep
tembcr. 1897. This was adopted at
the suggestion of the American delegates
rs basis for action. because II was IN con-
yenient shape and afforded "A good starting
point Tho votes upon the suggestions OF
PROPOSITIONS of change are seldom taken,
Tor the reason that after regulations snail
have been thoroughly discussed they Will
Ic put into shape for final acceptance by
the committees appointed Tor that pur-
pose and who Will be guided ~ Their work
by the EXPRESSION Of the conference. ~ Is
the opinion Of the delegates that the con
ference will not be able to consider all the
questions proposed in the programme III
the time 10 which its existence Is limited
bv the act authorizing it. lieutenant Cott-
man. OF the United States navy. was to-day
elected principal secretary, and Messrs;
Rice English, Vibiere (French). and
Blaess German We're appointed additional
secretaries. Mr.. Hall English stated that
the English delegates had beeninstrncted;
that the programme mapped out by the
American delegates was too Comprehensive
for the time Of the duration Of the con-
ference. and he had. therefore. to in
form the conference that he and his col
leagues thought it best TO confine the DIS
cussiOn Of the conference to DIVISIONS !
and ofthe programme. General DIVISION
No. 1 refers to marine signals or other
means Of plainly indicating the direction
in which the vessels are moving in fog.
mist. falling snow. and thick weather and
at night and the rules for the prevention
of collisions and the rules of the road. d.
vision No. refers to the draft TO which
vessels should be restricted when loaded.
Mr.. Hall further stated that her Majesty,,s
Government would not consider AZ bind
ingany of the regulations or conclusions
adopted by the conference.