The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-11-06
STILL THEY TALK OF LIGHT At SEA.
The Maritime Conference Devotes
Another Day to the Subject.
Mckinley Dropping Behind In the
Race for the Speak ership.
How Commissioner Raum Proposes
to Transact Business.

WASHINGTON, November 5.-When the In
ternational Marine Conference re-assembled
this morning, at IL o'clock, Mr.. Goodrich OF
the United States called up the question Of
order of business. He offered resolution
that after general division No. of the pro-
gramme, rules of the road, had been disposed
Of, then division No. 3. uniform maximum
load line, be taken up. On this the roll was
called, and every nation but Great Britain
voted aye Mr.. Hall explained that the
British delegates were not voting on this
question. The day the conference began
niosiuctions tue ueiegates rrorn- ss-nar r5rI-
tain were to advise the conference that TIER
deliberations be confined to the two divisions
Nos. and 4: Consideration of amendments
TO rules OF the road was then resumed The
first amendment read was that proposed bv
Theodore Verbrugghe of Belgium. 1t was
and required tugs or pilot beats desiring to
offer their assistance to other vessels to
show fiare-up light at intervals.
After considerable discussion, final action
was postponed until after the report of the
committee or, lights for small vessels shall
have been made.
An amendment proposed by Capt Settem.
brini of Italy, to article 4, provided that a
sailing steamer, while towing another vessel,
shall carry white lights above the colored
sidelights. This amendment was lost.
The delegate from Sweden proposed an
amendment to the first section of article 6,
lights for sailing vessels to be considered in
connection with article 4. 1t was that sail
Ing vessel towing another vessel at night
shall carry some distinctive light.
This led to technical discussion, which
led Mr.. Hall to propose, as substitute, the
following: "A sailing vessel towing a dis
abled vessel shall at night carry a distinctive
light, provided such light can be deter
mined upon by the conference" This was
adopted
immediately after recess, the amendment
proposed by the delegate from the Netner-
lands to article was taken up. 1t provides
Tor lights to be carried by vessels not under
command, and vessels laying telegraph ca
bles, and provides times when sidelights are
rich, no definite position was assigned to
these lights. They are to be carried in po-
sltion and place where they can best be seen
The amendment was adopted.
A proposition was laid before the confer
ence, whether or not it was necessary to
have in the day time special signal for
steamers proceeding under sail. without
steam power. which are manageable, for in
stance. atriangular-shaped body in the fore
top. After some discussion, the proposition
was adopted.
The amendment offered by the delegate
from Great Britain, providing that vessels
which from accident are not under command
shall at night carry In the same position as
the white light steamships are required to
carry. in place of that light, two globular
lanterns, and 10 the day shall carry two
black balls OF shapes, each two feet in diam
eter and six feet apart, in front of and not
lower than the foremast head, was
adopted. The conference adjourned until
Thursday.