The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-10-25
OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.
The Maritime Conference secor

The Maritime Conference Second
Only to the International Congress.
WAsMISGToN. Specialize international
maritime conference, which meets here
Wednesday, will embrace about fifty men,
bers, representing twenty three of the more
important maritime nations, that furnish
pcrhnps 90 per cent of the tonnage of the
woild. In fact. no maritime country of i'm
portance IS without representation, except
Portugal. Tho meeting is an event second
In interest only to tho three Americas con.
gress The chief object OF the conference ia
to secure an agreement upon an i'm
proved code Of murine signals, with
. view to increased safety Of
navigation. The subjects to be
discussed arc marine signals to indicate the
course OF vcssels In fog, mist, snow and at
night, together with 3rulcs of the road.n to
prevent collisions; regulations to determine
scaworthlness of vessels. the proper lend
line Of vessels. the proper marking Of ves-
sells. the saving Of life aud property from
shipwreck, tests Of the efficiency of officers
and seamcn. the laying out Of lanes for
steamers in frequented waters, night signals
for communicating information, warnings
of approaching storms. reporting and de-
U
ger from rocks and changes OF lights, buoys.
etc tho deyising Of uniform system of
buOys and establishment Of maritime COM
mission. Tho function would be to gather
and diffUse Information Of value to nayRa-
ton. Foremost among the subjects to be
brought forward is the adoption Of new and
more exact means TO show in . fog what
direction vessel is moving.
THE PRESENT SYSTEM WORTHLESS.
A number Of American naval officers have
conducted experiments In this subject and
their reports will be of great value to the
conference. The lights now used by smiling
vessels are declared by naval experts 10 be
practically worthless for the prevention OF
collisions Navy officers here take great in
terest in the coming conference, about the
Importance OF which, they say. there con be
no question. Herr sieveking, noted au-
thority on maritime law. will be the leading
German delegate to tho conference. He
comes instructed to ask tho congress to ex-
tend Its prcgramme beyond technical cues.
ttons, and consider general international.
maritime laws with view to the nccspt-
ance OF principles regulating the ret
tlement Of disputes like the Behr.
ng sea fishery troubles. II con-
gress adneres to the present limits of the
plukt0WMd 11et! cSeVekluX Will propose
subsequent special conference on excluded
questions The American Delegates to the
international marine conference met to-day
at the office Of Secretary Cottman in tb6
state department. Their consultation WIS
entirely tnformsl. relating to the prograp1me
Of kubjects to be discussed. 1hn delegatGs to
the conference will assemble at the fiplo-
matic reception room In the state depart
men: Wednesday and be formally rfcetyed
by Secretary Blaine. After that therf viii be
a reception at the White House BY fresident
and Mra Harrison. aud then the conference
will probably organize, or organization may
be postponed until tho next day. It Ia ex.
pected that Admiral franklin will preside
over the deliberations Of tho conference.