The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-18
RULES OF THE HIGH SEAS.
THE INTERNATIONAL CONFER
ENCE BEGINS WORK.

Mr.. Goodrich OF the American and
Mr. Hall Of the British Delegation
the Takers of the Assembly - Ma
rine Signals and the Restriction of
the Loading Draft the Probable
Topics.
WASHINGTON, Oct.'17.-The members Of
the International: Marine Conference, upon
assembling for business to-day, were found
TO have discarded gold lace, epaulettes and
decorations, and were clad in the more
somber garb of the civilian. The assem-
blage had the general appearance Of meet
ing OF business men who were gathered for
purpose which they knew how to secure.
1t was soon manifested that the two talking
members Of the conference were Mr. Good
rich of the United States delegation and
Mr.. Hall of the British Both are leading
admiralty lawyers. and fully informed on
the subject in hand.
ALL SILENT EXCEPT HALL
The British delegates, except Mr.. Hail.
maintained perfect silence. He is their
authorized spokesman, and while he is
present they have nothing to say. Mr..
Goodrich's colleagues, however, occasion
AOuuO ~ dcSlTdDk6 10 suDpA6Iu6HL LIS
efforts by remarks of their own.
The delegates from Norway and Sweden
promise to become important members Of
the congress. To-day they labOred under
The disadvantage of having no interp reter,
but that will be remedied tomorrow, it is
| promised.
SUBJECT OF THE DAYS DEBATE.
The discussion to-day was based upon
revised international rules and regulations
for preventing collisions at sea-" contained
in the circular issued by the United States
treasury department. in September, 1887.
This was adopted, at the suggestion of the
American delegates, as the basis for action,
| because it was in convenient shape and
| afforded good starting point.
VOTES SELDOM TAKEN.
Votes upon suggestions of proposit ions
| for a change are seldom taken, for the
reason that after the regulations shall have
been thoroughly discussed, they will be put
into shape for final acceptance by commit
tees appointed for that purpose, and who
| will be guide in their work by the ex
pressions of the conference. 1t is the opin
ion Of the delegates that the conference will
| not be aule TO consider all the questions
proposed in the programme in the time tt
which its existence is limited by the 6ct
authorizing it.
| OOl4I11du Vi Iuo OuiUeu OLdbes
navy was to-day elected principal secretary
and Messrs Rice English, Where (French)
and Blaess (1erman) we're appointed add
| tional secretaries.
| THE PROBABLE PROGRAMME.
Mr.. Hall English) stated that th'
English delegates had been instructed
that the programme mapped ou
by the American delegates wa
too comprehensive for the time of the dura
ton of the conference, aud he had. there
fore, to inform the conference that he anC
his colleagues thought it best to confine tn
discussions of the conference to divis-
ions l and of the programme.
WHAT THEY REFER TO.
General division No. refers TO "marin,
| signals, or other means of plainly indicating
the direction in which vessels are moving il
fog, mist, falling snow, and thick weather
and at night, and rules for the prevention
of collisions and rules of the road"
Division No. refers to the draft t,
which vessels should be restricted whe,
loaded" Mr.. Hall further stated that he
majesty's government would not consider
as binding any of the regulations or conclu
| sions adopted by the conference.