Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1889-11-15
THE MARINE CONFERENCE.

Good Progress Made Yesterday -
Article Thirteen Relating to esmod-
crate speed, In Nasty weather RE-
modelled.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14.-The International
marine conference resumed its session at II
O'Clock this morning. A number Of amend
by DR.. Sieve-King of Germany, Mr.. Fred
Verney of Siam and others. They were laid
over and will be printed. After these had
been disposed; Of Mr.. Goodrich, delegate
from the United States, with view to ex-
pediting the work of the conference, offered
resolution on the order of business, providing
that after any article of the rules of the road
has been adopted no further discussion or
amendment will be in order, except upon a
three-fourths vote. The resolution was
unanimously adopted. The amendment pro-
posed by Delegate Flood of Norway, provid-
Ing that the green and red side lights on q
vessels shall be placed In steam vessels not
forward of the mast headlight and in sailing
vessels as near abreast of the foremost as
practicable, was then taken up. The amend
ment was opposed by some of the delegates,
and the report of the committee on lights
was quoted in support Of this opposition.
That report gave it as the opinion of the
committee that it is practically impossible
to assign to the side lights certain fixed
position in regard to the foremost light. A
yea and nay vote was taken and it resulted
in the adoption Of the amendment by vote
of 10 to 9.
Another amendment Offered By Delegate ,sg
article IS the words "during heavy rain
storms" SO that that article now reads:
tEvery ship whether a sailing ship or a
steamship, shall in fog, mist or falling
crate speed"
After long argument, which lasted we'll
into the afternoon, article IL was remodeiled
sailing or steamship, shall in fog. mist,
falling snow, or during heavy rain storms, 60
at modeaate rate of speed, having careful
regard to the existing conditions and circum.
stances"
The conference then took up and rejected
the last clause of DIR. Siev-king's amendment
which says: And when it is safe and practi-
cable and necessary to prevent risk of col
lision, ships in fog, mist or falling snow,
must lie-to or anchor. The next amendment
was proposing that the maximum rate of
moderate speed of vessels in a fog shall be
fixed was also defeated.
By request of Mr.. Hsll of Great Britain,
Admiral Franklin, presiding, ruled formally
that the conference had disposed of article
Is.
The next amendment called up was one
proposed by Mr.. Goodrich, of the United
States, as preliminary to article IA to the
effect that the words ''starboard the helm"
shall mean that the wheel, the rudder and
the bow Of the vessel are to be turned to the
starboard, and the words "port the helm"
shall mean that the wheel, rudder and bow
are to be turned to port. Mr.. Goodrich ex-
planned that while he believed the amend
ment to be good and necessary one, cir
cumstances compelled him to withdraw it.
An amendment to article IA proposed by
Mr.. Hall, of Great Britain, read ''risk of
collision can, when time permits, be ascsr-
tanned by carefully watching the compass
If the bearing does not appreciably change,
such risk should be deemed to exist. The
amendment was adopted, after which the
conference adjourned until tomorrow.
The U. S. s. Despatch, Lieutenant Oowles,
will go down Chesapeake Bay next week to
carry on a series of experiments as to the
most desirable sound signals (fog horns or
bells) for sailing vessels in fog or heavy
weather. The result of the experiments will
be communicated to the marine conference
for their information. The conference COM
mittee on sound signals will probably wit
ness the experiments.