The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-04
A Blow at Steamer Service.


There is a bill before the Senate commit
tee on commerce, introduced by Senator
Frye, of Maine, purporting, according to
| its title, merely to ''amend certain sec
lions OF title LII. Of the Revised Statutes Of
the United States" Title LII. relates to
the regulation OF steamers and steamboats,,
and this bill of Senator Frye's would upset
| all of the usages, regulations and improve
ments that have grown up under the law as
! 1t stands and with which steamboat people
have become familiar.
! The Frye bill adds about 200 new sections
/ to the old law, which consists Of about half
that number. These additions, according
| to a report Of the board Of supervising in-
spectors Of steam vessels, will so oompli-
cate the law that 1t may take years 10 ar
rive at an understanding OF 1t.
| The bill legislates out of existence
the present inspection service, which
has been found satisfactory aud Of great
utility; it places autocratic power in the
hands Of the super vIsing Inspector general
TO order the adoption Of any patented de-
vice for life saving that he may see fit; 1t
reduces the pressure that may be carried on
the steam boiler now in use 30 per cent, or
more, although these boilers have been
built and tested in compliance with the law
now In force, and 1t makes all Of the regula-
lions suggested mandatory instead Of leav-
Ing as at present. room for notifications,
in the discretion Of the board Of snpervIs
ing inspectors, to meet the changing re-
quirements OF time and trade.
The bill! has aroused the warm opposition
Of the river and marine associations. and
they have adopted measures to prevent its
passage, which are likely to prove effective.
The Ohio river steamboat men met at Gin
cinnati on March 9 and drew up and for
warded TO Senator Frye a strong remon-
STRANGE against the provisions of the bill.
and the river men" Of New Orleans
have taken like action.
One OF the strongest protests sent
to Mr.. Frye was drawn up and for
warded by the American Steam
ship Association, OF which the
Ocean Steamship Company Of this city is a
member. This memorial states the FORE
going objections TO the bill besides bringing
forward many minor details. The ships OF
the Ocean Steamship Company as well as
all ooasting and river steamers In the United
States, would be affected injuriously by the
passage Of Frye's bill. one paragraph of
which-that reducing the steam pressure,
would alone work vast injury to the traffic
that they have built up. For instance, the
Tip from New York to Savannah is now
made by the Kansas City in fifty hours or
less; under Frye's regulations she would re-
quire seventy-ive hours or more for the
run. Passenger travel would fall off under
such conditions, perishable freights would
depreciate and the splendid boats now in
use would probably have to go out of the
business.
Happily, however, Frye's bill is not apt to
become a law. 1t would take the adminis-
tration OF the steamboat inspection laws out
Of the hands OF the Secretary Of the Treas
ury, and this the secretary objects to, and
will oppose. The board of supervising in
specUors have made report adverse to the
bill, and there is a good prospect OF Its be-
ing killed In the committee