New-York tribune., 1889-10-18
DETAILS OF THE DAYS DEBATE.
SEVERAL ARTICLES DISCUSSED, BUT ACTION ON

EACH DEFERRED.
GENERAL PRESS DISPATCH.

Washington, Oct. 17-Iho first business session
of the International Maritime Conference was c"iou
to orler this morning by the president AnI'n"i
Franklin who suggested that the organization OF tho
Conference be completed Lieutenant CoVtmah'
L. s n. Of the United States delegation was theh
elected principal secretary; and the Hon. Cech ~
snripp RICE Of the English doegaton Charles where
France: and Walter Blaess. Germany, were appointed
additional secretaries The hours Of meeting were
fixed az follows: From IL a. m. to p. H. on
MONDAYS Tuesdays Wednesdays and Thursdays, Win
rocess Of an hour at l p. M. Tor luhcheoh' Hoi"
10 a. III. TO l p. III. on Fridays; no sessions 10 DC
held saturdays.
W. ". Goodrich, delegate from the United states,
proposed resolution that each nation represented in
the conference be entitled TO one vote on every quS
ton. This was adopted. also another TcsoIu-
ZION introduced by Mr.. Goodrich. that the articles Of
revision of the International regulations TO prevent
collisions at sea be considered article by article until
finished The Conference then began consideration OF
the rules to be followed in tho navigation of all public
and private vessels of the United States upon the high
seas and in all coast waters of the United States,
EXCEPT within the harbors lakes and inland waters OF
the United staesn as bRs for the proposed interna
uOnal rules.
Action upon articles l and was postponed. When
the third article, defining the locations of lights 10 be
carried by a soagong steamship, had been read by
Secretary Cottman, Delegates Goodrich and Hall
lation of the United States and England upon the
subject of lights describing the scope of such egsla
ton and showing some Of it's absuIdites.
Captain T. 5. Malmberg, Chief Of the Nautical
Meteorological Bureau Of Norway, suggested that the
same system of lights be adopted for vessels travesnG
inland and coast waters as for seagolng vessels.
Dir. Goodrich said he could see no reason why one
system of lights should be adopted for all vessels
If that were done it would greatly simplify the stua
tion.
Mr.. Hall questioned the wisdom of attempting TO
legislate for the inland waters OF all nations 1t
would be better to limit the action OF tho Conference
TO regulations for vessels upon the high seas
Mr. Goodrich explained that it was his idea 10
make the leg gslation OF the Conference general so that
it might be adopted by any Government for the control
Of its local waters. His plan to make the leds-
lauon applicable to every navgable water on the
globe and then let Government after Government
adopt It, {" Hear, hear"
A recess was then taken. Upon the reassembng
Of the conference, Article the sailing rules which
refers 10 lights TO be carried by seagoing steamers
when under way, read
Dr. King, Of the German delegation, sug
gested that the word "scagolng' be stricken out
On motion of Mr.. Goodrich, IL was resolved that
the chair appoint two committees, 70 consist of
delegates each, TO be known as the Committee on
present duty it shall be TO examine all the avaiabs
literature on these subjects, and report 10 the Con
the discussion These committees will be ann0rtnced
tomorrow.
Article 4. providing for lights on towing steamers
was next read 1t stpulates that steamer OF this
class when towing another vessel shall. in addition
TO her side lights, carry two bright white lights, one
over the other not less than three feet apart.
Mr. Han moved that the distance between these
white lights shall not be less than SIX feet This
and Denmark; but without a vote, the Conference
adjourned for the day.