The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-11-19
IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Brazilian Delegates Find Their POSI-
tion Rather Awkward.
They Accordingly Will Take No Part
In the Proceedings.
Mr.. Reeds Claims Recognized by
Newly Elected congressman.

WAsHINGToN, November 18--Not more 9han
half the members of the International Marine
Conference were In attendance when it was
called to order by Admiral Franklin this
morning. A driving rain storm seriously in
terfered with the prompt arrival of the dele
gates. The first business transacted was the
submission of the report Of the Committee on
Lights for Small Craft, by Delegate Thomas
Gray Of Great Britain.
Delegate Goodrich of the United States Of
fered an amendment as an additional section
to Article 4. involving proposition for ad-
ditional lights in cases of certain vessels tow
ing more than one vessel. According to
resolution recently passed, Ia vote Of three
fourths of the conference was made neces-
sary to allow the amendment to be received.
This number of votes being received, the
amendment was ordered to be printed, and
will hereafter be considered. The consider
alton os the amendments 70 the rules OF the
road was then resumed. The first Of these
taken up was one proposed by the delegates
from the Netherlands, proposing to have a
special signal for steamers under sail. with
out steam. After some modification the
amendment was adopted as new rule, as
follows: "A steam vessel proceeding under
sail and not using her engines shall carry In
the daytime, on or in front of the foremast.
where it can best be seen, one black ball, or
shape. two feet in diameter"
The amendment proposed by Delegate
Goodrich to Article 18, signals for steamers,
tory instead Of optional the use Of the sig
mails prescribed when vessel is In sight Of
another vessel, with which there is risk of
collision, was taken up. During the discus
sion that ensued upon this amendment Dele
gate Carter of Hawaii, commenting on the
~ hat sot. aho orfrn 0h fn hn
mass of litigation, and that 1t now came to
such pass that owners needed to be pro-
tected as much against litigation as collision,
in many cases, he said, the loss to owners
was more from litigation than collision.
Finally, on suggestion of Mr.. Hall, Mr.. Good
rich withdrew the words, "with which there
is risk of collision" leaving the amendment
as proposed originally, and containing the
principle of requiring the use Of the signals
to be made mandatory. The amendment was
then adopted. The amendment does not
change the form of signals now in use.
The next amendment considered was one
proposed by Mr.. Hall Of Great Britain, de-
fining short blast, as used In article -, to
mean blast Of about one second duration.
1t was adopted. Mr.. Verbrugghe Of Belgi-
um had proposed an additional signal to
those provided for in article 10, one reading
as follows: -Four short blasts to mean Il
am stopping" This amendment was, on
motion Of Mr.. Verbrugghe, referred to the
committee on sound signals for its considera-
tion and report.
Just before the conference rose for the
noon recess, Admiral Viel Of Chill announced
that he had been requested by Captains
Cana and Maturity, the delegates from
Brazil, to say that in view of the present con-
dition of affairs In their country they would
no longer sit in the conference.
After recess an amendment was proposed
by MIR. Hall of Great Britain, to article 20,
that: ANY ship coming up with any other
ship from any direction more than two points
abaft her beam |. e., in such position with
reference to the vessel she is overtaking that
at night she is unable to see either of that
vessels side lights, shall oe deemed to be an
overtaking ship; no subsequent alteration of
bearing between the two ships shall make
the meaning Of these regulations, or relieve
her of the duty of keeping clear of the over
taken ship until she is finally past and clear
of her. As by day the overtaking ship can
net always know with certainty If she Is be-
fore or aoaft tnis direction from the other
ship. she should, If in doubt. assume that
shei is an overtaking ship and keep out of the
way" This was unanimously adopted.
Article 26 of the rules Of the road provides
that nothing In the rules shall interfere with
the operation of any special rules made by
the government of any nation with respect
to additional station and signal lights fol
two or more ships of war or ships sailing
under convoy. The delegates from the
Netherlands. proposed an amendment to
this article by addition of the following
clause, "Or the exhibition of recognition
signals adopted by their respective govern
ments and duly registered and published to
all foreign governments, provided said sig
mails are not so arranged as to cause confu-
sion or mistake" The amendment was ad-
opted. On motion of the delegates from the
Netherlands an amendment was adopted
providing that ship in distress at night
may use gun, 'or any explosive signal, to
indicate such distress. The conference ad-
journed until tomorrow.