New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-15
SPEED IN THICK WEATHER.
THE MARITIME CONFERENCE DECIDING
THAT.IT SHOULD BE REDUCED.
REJECTING THE PROVISION THAT SHIPS MUST
LIE TO OR ANCHOR UNDER CERTAIN
CONDITIONS.

CONDITIONS.
Washington, Nov lathe international Marine
| Conference resumed It's session al II U cooh 'niS
| morning. The amendment proposed Dy polssa'o
Flood OF Norway, providing that the green ana feo
side lights on vessel shall be placed, IN steam Ves-
coll NOT forward OF the masthead light and in sailing
vessels ne near abreast OF the foremost as practcabie
was then taken up The amendment was opposed ny
some OF the delegates and the report OF 'he Oolieeo
on Lights was quoted in support OF ms opposi.ion
That report gave 1t Us the opinion Oh inc colneo
that IL is practically impossible to assign 10 the
side lights a certain fixed position In regard 10 inc
forcmast light The amendment was adopted by
vote NJ "a 10 o. Another amendment offered by Mr.
Flood Uas also adopted. 1t adds to Article IL tho
words during heavy transforms, so that inc ar'cio
now reads: Every ship, whether SAILING snip OF a
steamship shall, in a fog, mist or ialine SNOW, OF
during heavy transforms, go at moderate speed
Mr. Flood had proposed an additional secuon 10
Article 49, proposing that every steamship with
maximum speed sixteen knots SHALL in The
vicinity Of land or crossing frequented steam lanes
and fishing grounds under the same circumstances
reduce her speed TO not over eight Knots. MI.
Flood desired a temporary postponemeht OF inc
consideration OF the amendment but this was opposed
and a motion by one OF the delegates from Brazil
nroposing to consider the principle OF speed as
contained in Article - prevailed, and In this con-
noction extra amendment NO %, offered by Dr. Stove
king OF Germany, a substitute for Article 49, was
considered. This substitute Is
Article 13-In a fog. mist, or falling snow, or heavy
ranstom every enyp,c bs sri npecd I a r
under the circumstances OF the case SAFE practcaoe'
and necessary to prevent risk OF collision. When a
foe signal Is heard ahead or on either bow, and 1t IS
inpossible TO ascertain the position OF the vessel
giving such signal the ship is TO nc stopped al once
10 prevent risk Of collision. ships In fog, MIST or
falling snow, must lie to or anchor.
The debate on this amendment was in keeping with
tthn tba Cnhfa Ct of
moderate speed of vessels in fog was discussed at
length. Finally the matter compromised by
the adoption for the first sentence in Dr. Sevekings
substitute for Article - OF the following words ::
Having careful regard 10 the existing conditions and
circumst anccs.- Article 13 Will then read; Every
ship, whether a sailing ship or steamship shall In
fog mist falling snow, during heavy transforms,
60 at moderate speed having careful regard to
the existing conditions and circumstances"
The Conference then took up tho last clause OF Dr.
sicvcklngs amendment, which says =" And when 1t
IS safe and prac tcabe and necessary to prevent risk
of collision ships in fog, mist falling snow must lie
10 or anchor'
Many OF the delegates opposed TO this
provision, II being contended that the rules, as at
present constructed, made provision substantially Che
same as that intended be done by the amendment,
and because of the objection to encumberng the
Rules of the Road with useless verbiage The amend
ment rejected
The next amendment that proposing that tho
maximum rate of a moderate speed of vessels In
fog shall be definitely fixed. This proposition met
with some objection II being maintained that It was
utterly mpractcable to fix such speed, besides being
a mischievous policy The amendment was defeated.
The next Amendment called up was one proposed
by Mr. Goodrich, Of the United states, as preliminary
TO Article Il. the effect that the words sarbOad
the helm" shall mean that the wheel, the rudder and
the bow OF the vessel are be turned 10 starh0ard
and the words port the heinz shall that the
wheel ruddcr and bow, ale TO be turned 10 port.
MIR Goodrich explained that, while he believed the
amendment to be a good and necessary one, cir
cumstances compelled him to withdraw it,
This evening at Tho shorcham, W. W. Goodrich,
chairman OF the American delegation, gave to the
delegates the most elaborate of the series OF enter
tainments being gwen by the several delegations
speeches were made by Mr. Goodrich and c. H. Girls
com, OF the American delegation; SECRETARIES Blame
and Tracy Mr. Hall. of England DIR. sleveklng, 81
Germany Captain Richard, OF Franco, ana Nlce'Ad-
miral KazuskOlf, OF Russia. In
The Despatch, Lieutenant COwlcs commanding, VIII
90 down Chesapeake Lay next week, 10 carry on
a series OF experiments 10 the most desirable
sound signals for sailing vessels In foS or heavy
weather. The result of the experiments Will DO
communicated to the Internal iOnal Marine Conference
for their Information. The question upon which mere
ius rument, the fog-horn or bell. The Conference
con nitcc on Sound Signals will probably witness the
experiments.