The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-11-09
WASHINGTON TOPICS OF INTEREST.
Maritime Delegates Take up the
Subject of Fog Signals.
Gen. Raum viii Expedite the Cases
of the PensioIess.
Something About the New Commits
sioner of Navigation.

WASHINGTON, November Sat the open
ing of the international marine conference
this morning, in accordance with resolutions
heretofore adopted, the chairman announced
the committees.to consider the several grand
divisions Of the programme not already un
der consideration as proposed by the dele
gates from the United States.
The conference then proceeded to the con-
sideration Of thesamendments heretofore of
fered to the rules of the road.
The first amendments taken up were those
offered by delegate from Great Britain, to
article II, relating to sound signals for fog,
etc. There were several of these amend
ments, the first Of which was to section A of
the article. and provided that a steamship
under way in fog, mist or falling snow,
shall make with her steam whistle or 9th er
steam sound signals at intervals of not more
than two minutes. long blast of about four
seconds duration, instead of a prolonged
blast.
After some discussion the amendment was
agreed to.
The second amendment offered to this ar
tcle by delegate from Great Britain pro-
posed new section to the article providing
that steamship not at anchor, but stopped
and having no way upon her, shall sound
two long blasts with an interval of about
one second between them.
At the suggestion Of a delegate from the
United States, the word ''such" was inserted
before .'long" so as to read, 'twO such long
blasts" and in this shape the amendment
was adopted.
Mr. Goodrich of the United States offered
an amendment to section c, article IL, pro-
viding that sailing ship in a fog shall make
with a fog horn the signals provided for in
the section at intervals of every minute in
stead of every two minutes as now provided.
This was adopted The third amendment
proposed by the delegates from Great Brit
ain provided that a steam or sailing ship in
a fog, when at anchor, shall ring bell at
intervals of one minute. This was added to
the section providing that the bell be rung
rapidly about five seconds The amend
ment was adopted. An amendment that a
steamship shall be provided with whistle
or sound signals which shall be sounded by
steam or compressed air" and an amend
ment providing that q regulation compelling
fog horn to be sounded by bellows or other
mechanical means shall be abolished were
lost.
Delegate Goodrich offered a resolution pro-
viding that the committee on sound signals
consider and report any specific cases in
which new fog signals should be adopted
aud specific signals for such cases. The res
oluti0n prevailed
With reference to the strength of fog in
struments the delegates from the Neither
lands proposed q resolution that the fog
horn or whistle be strong enough to be heard
a mile and the bell half mile in clear, calm
weather. Mr.. Hill moved that the resOu-
tiOn be amended to read that the confer
euce deems it advisable that the minimum
distance at which fog instruments shall be
heard, shall be fixed" This was adopted,
leaving to be determined in future the exact
limit. The conference adjourned to Monday
morning.