Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-14
TO MAKE THE SEA SAFER.
The Maritime Conference and Its Pur.
poses.

| poses.
DELEGATES TO MxET IN THIS CITY TO DISCUSS
MANY QUESTIONS OF INTEREST TO MARITIME
| NArIoSs-GENBRAL LAWS AND COMMON CODE
OF SIGNALS PROPOSED.
Work will be started this week by the inter-
national maritime conference with the object
of endeavoring to provide means to prevent a
| portion, at loast, of the vast number OF scci-
dents on the high seas that annually adds 10
the worlds death list at frighsfui and ap-
palling rate. This conference will be held be-
tween representatives of the principal sea-
faring nations of the globe, and will probably
last until January 1, when it will expire by
Law unless Congress should see fit in the mean
time to make provision for frightening Of its
sessions.
COUNTRIES REPRESENTED.
The countries represented are Great Britain
France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Belgium,
the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway, Russia,
Austria, Hungary, Spain, Brazil, Chilli, Vene-
zuela, Uruguay, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mica
ragua, Mexico, China, Japan and Hawaii. No
maritime country Of any importance is without
representation except Portugal
The American delegates, who now number
seven, held several meetings in the spring and
agreed upon program Of suggestions. Rear
Admiral s. r. Franklin is the president OF the
American delegation, and by international
courtesy he will naturally be the president OF
the conference. There will probably be several
| secretaries, but most Of the real work will be
done by the American secretary. who will be q
young naval officer. Lieut. Stanton has been
| attending to the preliminary work with great
satisfaction to Admiral Franklin, and has got
together a mass of data which will be very
valuable to the delegates. He will act in con-
junction with Lieut. Cottman until his de-
parture for Europe flag lieutenant OF the
new squadron Of evolution under Admiral
Walker.
POWERS OF THE CONFERENCE.
The conference has no legislative power
whatever, being merely called together to
debate upon certain subjects, but without being
able to make new laws, to amend old ones, or
in fact to take any steps looking to the estab-
lishment Of their conclusions on o permanent
basis. The effect of the discussions and the
agreements, however, will be suggestive and
will be certain to be produced in substantial
form later on. 1t is the ultimate design of the
originators of the project to secure uniformity
OF laws respecting maritime matters, thus
avoiding the dangers and difficulties that now
arise under completely of many and varied
systems of flag codes, whistle codes, course
rules, light codes, steamer lanes, buoys, mark
ing Of wrecks and other topics of vital import
ance to sailors and merchantmen.
THE PROGRAM
framed by the American delegates to the con-
ference embodies all fields for discussion in
this line, systematically arranged, with a view
| to logical consideration. 1t embraces the fol-
lowing general divisions:
!. Marine signals other means Of plainly
indicating the direction in which vessels are
moving in fog, mist, falling snow and thick
weather. and at night rules for the proven ton
Of collisions and rules Of the road.
2. Regulations to determine the seaworthi-
ness OF vessels.
3. Draught to which vessels should be re-
stricted when loaded.
4. Uniform regulations regarding the desig-
mating and marking Of vessels.
5. Saving life and property from shipwreck.
6. Necessary qualifications for officers and
seamen, including tests for sight and color
blindness.
Z. Lanes for steamers on frequented routes.
S. Night signals for communicating informa-
ton at sea.
9. Warnings of approaching storms.
10. RepoIt ting marking and removing dam
gerous wrecks and distractions to navigation.
IL. Notice of dangers to navigation; notice of
changes in lights, buoys and other day and
night marks
II. A Uniform system of buoys and beacons.
IL. The establishment OF permanent inter-
national maritime commission.
CoMMrTBKs TO BIZ APPOINTED.
It L. not yet determined how the conference
will handle the program, blu, it il probable that
soon after the organization ON Wednesday o
number Of committees will be formed, much
after the plan Of the Congress Of the United
States, each one of which will have under spe-
cial consideration single division of subjects.
These committees will most likely discuss their
topics among themselves and form individual
plans for presentation to the conference. Some
may favor open discussion, others may invite
the reading Of papers by specialists, and still
others may come to their conclusions in COM
mittoe and report them for adoption by the
conference. II is probable that a good many
interesting papers will be read before the con-
ference, and there will undoubtedly be some
animated discussion.
ESoLANDs ATTITUDE.
There are certain points included in the pro-
gram to which Great Britain objects as not be-
ing proper topics for consideration In fact
this power at one time WIS on the point of alb
solutely refusing to join the conference at all,
but such meeting without England repre-
sented would be considerably like a watch
without q main spring, certain concessions we're
coyertly made, and 1t was finally agreed that
Eng land should como to the conference
with the understanding that her delegates
should not be forced into discussion of certain
topics 1t il understood that the entire first
general division ia Questionable 70 the British
interest
TO BROADEN THE SCOPE OF THE CONFERENCE.
Herr Sieveking, president. of the hanseatic
court Of Hamburg and a noted authority on
maritime law will be the leading Ger man dele
gate to the congress. He is instructed 70 ask
the congress to extend its program beyond
technical questions and consider general in
ternational maritime laws. with a view to the
acceptance OF principles regulating the settle
ment OF disputes like the Behring sea fishery
troubles. II the congress adneres to the pres
emit limits of the program Herr Sieveking will
propose a subsequent special conference on
excluded questions. This line of action will
probably be arranged in conjunction with
England.
The delegates to the conference, after ad-
journing, are expected to make reports to their
respective governments upon the progress Of
the discussion. Such topics as have been
finally settled and on which proposed legisla-
ton has been agreed upon win be presented to
the powers interested with recommendation to
enact laws looking to certain ends. Thus il the
conference harmoniously agrees upon definite
policy or action it Is quite likely that some sort
of law will be made in every country repre-
sented in the discussion to this effect Should
there be dissent, however, the effect will be
only partial