The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-10-29
SOUNDS LIKE A RIDDLE.
When Is a steamship Not Steam
ship?


WASHINGTON, October 2S.-Promptly at
II o'clock this morning the international
Marine Conference resumed its sessions at
the Wallach Building. being called to order
by Rear Admiral Franklin, president OF the
conference Nearly all the delegates were
In attendance. Admiral Bowdin-Smith OF
Great Britain, from the committee lon devic-
es, asked that no further papers relating TO
subjects being con sidered by his committee
be referred to the committee, as 1t would
never be able to report them, having its
hands already full There wa, some objec-
tion to this, one of the delegates saying that
longer time should be given to matter Oh
this importance. 1t was suggested that the
time be limited to Wednesday, and II all pa
papers were not presented by that time they
would not be considered by the commit
tee.
The request, as amended. was adopted and
later the same action was taken with regard
to the three special committees, viz; signals
lights and devices. On motion Of Rear Ad-
miral Oscar Viel and other delegates reso;;
luton was adopted providing that the hnal
regulations and agreements, etc., agreed up
on by the conference be published In the
English, French and Spanish languages;
ted States, gave notice that when Article 10
of the sailing rules OF the United States
shall come up for consideration ne would
move to eliminate the whole article. This ar
ticle reads: EVERY ship. whether sailing
ship or steamship, shall in fog. mist or fall-
ing snow go at moderate speed.
The regular order vf business for today
was the second reading Of the rules OF the
road, with the amendments that have been
offered from time to time, ana az tne con- con-
proposed amendments this order was pro-
ceeded with. The record shows that 30
amendments had been offered up to the time
of adjournment last Tuesday. The nrst
amendment under discussion was that offered
by Mr.. Goodrich to Article /, that steam
vessel under. sail, and not under steam, shall
shall be considered a sailing vessel. When
under steam, whether under sail or not, she
shall be considered steam vessel.
Delegate Hall Of England said he Thought
the conference was ready to vote upon the
question. yHe desired, however, to give no.
tice that he would ask to make the meanln
Of Mr.. Goodrich's definition more clear by
CHASING steam vessel, being towed as q
sailing vessel The amendment: az proposea
The Amendment to article 1, proposed by
| Mr.. Hall of Great Britain, declares all YES
| sells driven by machinery TO be steam YES
II.
| definition would appear inconsistent, 1t was
| the intention to cover the vessels driven pty
machinery by one general name. That the
| definition might lead to confusion was point
| ed out by Mr.. Goodrich, who suggested tnal
| the amendment be made to read: All yes.
| sells not propelled by sails or manual powe
| but this was shown TO be no more definite
| than the original amendment as it did not
| provide for boats moved by horse power.
| MI. Hall said the definition was not COM
| pletely satisfactory to the British delegation,
| but had been adopted as the best that could
| be devised. They were willing to hear and
consider suggestions from any delegation.
| Captain Sampson of the United States
thought the class OF steam vessels snouid III
Capt. Mensing OF Germany said the denni-
| tion proposed by Mr.. Hall was satisfactory
/ to himself and colleagues.
Mr.. Hall suggested that at present the con-
vote upon the P5neIe s In
than sail be included in one general class,
/ leaving it to be determined in the future
| what that name shall be. This was adopted
and the amendment was then passed Tor the
| present.
| gates from Great Britain to section A.
| article 3, rules of the road, providing that a
ship without foremost shall carry mast
| light In the foreport OF the ship at the height
above the hull OF not less than the breadtn
/ OF the SUlp, tACtptluS oulp Va - UtC0ath
which exceeds forty feet, in which case
the light need not be carried at a greater
height above the hull than 40 feet. The
amendment was adopted.
The resolution offered by Delegate Hall OF
Great Britain, for the appointment OF COM
| mittee to consider the subject OF lights Tor
fishing vessels was considered, and on the
| suggestion of a delegate from the United
States was amended to read that commit
tee of nine be appointed to consider and re-
port rules for lights to be carried or shown
on small pilot and fishing vessels. The reso-
luton was then agreed to, and the committee
appointed. CT,
King of Germany, providing that no Other
lights which might be mistaken for the
| lights mentioned for steam and sail vessels
be carried in all weathers from sunset tt
sunrise, was adopted.
The conference adjourned until Friday al
| 10 q. m. ~