The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-10-18
BRITANNIA WILL MAKE NO PROMISES
To Obey the Recommendations of
the Maritime Conference.
The First Business Session Devoted
to the Question of Lights.
Uncle SamReported To sc Thinking
Of Trading for Cuba.

WASHINGTON, October 1.-THE Interna-
tional Marine Conference this morning
elected Lieut.. Cottman of the United States
delegation, principal secretary. Mr.sHall, of
the English delegation, said the English gov
ernment would not consider binding any
regulations or conclusions adopted by the
conference. A resolution was adopted that
each nation represented in the conference
be entitled to one vote on every question.
Mr.. Hall stated that Her British Majesty's
delegates had been instructed that the pro-
gramme for the conference adopted by the
American delegates was too comprehensive
to be exhausted within the limited time at
the disposal of the conference. He had,
therefore, to inform the conference that he
and his colleagues thought it best to confine
the discussions of the conference to diviSs
ions one and three of the programme. Gen.
eral division one refers to marine signals
or other means of plainly indicating the d.
rection in which vessels are moving lnlfog,
mist, falling snow, and thick weather, ana
at night. aud rules for the prevention of cell
lsions and rules of the road"
Division three refers to "the draft to
which vessels should be restricted when
loaded"
Commander Sampson called attention to
the fact that the conference had adopted a
resolution to proceed with the discussion of
the proposed rules of navigation. The con-
terence decided to proceed with the discus
sion. Action upon articles one and two was
postponed
The first rule defines sailing and steam
ships. The second directs that the several
lights described in subsequent articles shall
be carried from sunset until sunrise.
Capt. Silyesen, a Norway delegate, called
attention TO the difficulty of finding word
that would, in all languages, convey the
idea of carry" and this article was post
poned in order to give the Interpreters an
opportunity to find and agree upon word
that should be more flexible
When the third article defining the loca-
tion of lights to be carried by sea-going
steamship, had been read by Secretary Cott-
man, delegates Goodrich and Hall briefly
and in an interesting manner sketched the
legislation of the United States of America
upon the subject of lights, describing its
scope and showing some of its absurdities.
Capt Malmberg, chief of the Nautical Me-
teorological Bureau of Norway. suggested
that the same system of lights be adopted
for vessels traversing inland and coast wa
ters as for sea-going vessels.
Mr. Goodrich said he could see no reason
why one system of lights should not be
adopted for all vessels; il that were done it
would greatly simplify the situation.
Mr. Hall of England questioned the
wisdom of attempting to legslate for the
inland waters of all nations. 1t would be
better to limit the action of the conference
to regulations for vessels upon the high
seas.
Mr.. Goodrich explained that is was his
idea to make the legislation of the conference
general, so that it might be adopted by any
government for the control of its local
waters. His plan was to make the legisla-
tion applicable to every navigabe water on
the globe, and let government after govern
ment adopt it, Hear, hear.l Recess.
After recess the discussion of article three
was resumed, and resolution adopted, au-
thorizing the chair to appoint a committee
on "Cghts and Sound Signals" to report to
the conference all the information obtaina-
BILE on these subjects. The conference then
until tomorrow.