New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-03
NO PERMANENT MARINE TRIBUNAL YET.

NO PERMANENT MARINE TRIBUNAL YET.
, COMMITTEE OF THE MARINE CONGRESS
THINKS THE PLAN is NOT FEASIBLE.
vaebincton Dec. o.-The International Marine Con-
forence met this morning. The reports OF the COM
mittees on the subject Of uniform load-marKs; inc
establishment OF permanent intoinatlonai marine
commission and General Division were SUD
mtted. The amendment proposed by captain snack
ford providing that steamers under way shall carry
an additional white light similar 10 the present hght
was adopted. This amendment prov ides that these
lights must be so placed In Inc with the keel that
one must be at least twenty feet higher than the
other and so placed that the lower light should be
forward of the upper one The amendment proposed
by Lieutenant Vega de Sloane, OF Spain, providing
that all vessels under way shall keep out Of the way
Of coupled steamers engaged In trawng was rejected.
The section proposed by Mr.. Goodrich. Of the
United States relating b collision between two vessels
and the duty OF the master in charge OF the vessel
10 stay by the other until he e'ans II assistance
Is needed was then considered, and discussion post
poned until the report OF the committee on life saw
ing has been received.
The committee in It's report upon the establishment
OF permanent International Marine Commission says
they have considered whether such a commission
should be instituted with a practical result and in
such to lead to its adoption by tho mari
time Powers The committee SAYS that however
desirable such result would be. majority of the
COMMITTEES does not believe It possible TO effect IT, and
It Is their opinion that It cannot be regarded as prac
ticable and feasible at the present time. The com
mlttce continues as follows:
We have also decided by minority OF votes that 70
is possible create International Tribunal to try
questions Of collisions between subjects OF different
Ionaitles. coming To this conclusion we have been
guided, amongst others by tho following considerations
An international commission coult be INVESTED with
any legislative power. 1t would be consulting body
only, constituted with the view OF preparing universal
favfnfo
Apart altogether from the difficulties connected with the
formation OF such body. the question as its domicr
as To who 70 be its members and how and the
members 70 be compensated for the labos 10 seems 20
your committee that such consulting body Of experts
would not serve the purpose for which it IS intended
created viz. that OF facilitating Introduction OF reforms
In maritime legislation because the ndvce given by
commission would not in any way enable the Govern.
ments Of the maritime nations to dispense with the
OF considering subjects laid before them and
setting the proposals mode TO them IL adopted the
legislative bodies OF the different States
The consequence Of insttutng a body like that in
question on the contrary would, II appears, be this
that merely another investigation Of any scheme proposed
with view TO reforming International maritime laws
would have to be through before the opinions Of the
Governments could be aken and the course OF pro-
cedure as # Is nowby correspondence between the dr..
ferent Governments-woud be made more complicated in.
stead Of being slmplined. these reasons your com
mlttee beg to propose 10 resolve:
That FOR the present the establishment OF permanent
International Maritime Commission is not considered ex
pedient
Article TO- relating to vessels trawng, dredging or
fishing IN fog, MIST or falling snow, shall at inter
walls OF not more than two minutes make blast with
ther foghon, followed by ringing their BELLS was
adopted.
AFTER recess Article ~, providing that steam.
snip SHAH he provided with whistle siren sounded
hy steam or other efficient substitute for scam and
WIN an ehclent fog.horn 10 be sounded by mcchan-
zeal means adopted.
The rest Of the afternoon session devoted TO
discus sing Subdivision + Of Article L. providing
mat vessel, II steam vessel, al anchor in a fair
way al sea shall. at intervals OF not more than two
nues sound two prolonged blasts with her whistle
or siren followed by ringing her bell Or il a sailing
vessel, two blasts with her foghOrn, followed BY
rIg ng mr. bcH' The principles of the pa agraph