The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-06-27
a AMARlTIMECONFERENC

Mr.. William Hosea Ballou. of New
York. whose work in connection with
the suppression Of cruelty to animals
in transit at sea has attracted so much
attention during the last few years,
has at last succeeded in getting bill
into congress calling for an interna-
'ional maritime conference to regulate
md punish such abuses. says the BOs-
ton Globe
The object of the maritime confer
ence is TO make. devise and amend
the rules, regulations and practice
concerning the transportation of ami
mails at sea and their lives and
slaughter in quarantine; for the
proper construction Of vessels for ami
mails in transit; tor the punishment Of
navigation companies or vessel own
crs, their officials and employees, for
cruelty 20 animals at sea; 10 make
navigation companies or vessel owners
liable in damages for destruction OF or
injury TO animals in transit; and 10
formulate and submit for ratification
To the governments Of al maritime
nations proper international regula-
tions. laws, penalties and punishments
for cruelty 70 animals at sea"
Mr. Ballou was in Boston recently
and talked very entertainingly con
corning his work and the abuses which
led him 10 take up the cudgel in de-
fense Of the animals. said he:
"Ail animals sailing from 4 port
usually sail under the flag of that port
Consequently they reach the port Of
destination under a foreign lag. The
country Of entry has no jurisdiction
over the animals or any acts that may
be committed on them while under the
flag they sail under.
4 he party shipping them Is obliged
TO sign Z manifest ceding all rights to
the property while at sea. and ON
arrival is obliged 10 take the animals
dead or maimed without damage or
redress. ! have been two and 4 half
years ascertaining officially from each
government that il has no jurisdiction
nor law b. which it could punish navi-
CATION companies or their employees
manning cattle in transit. OF the
forty-six million dollars worth Of ami
mails which have passed To and from
the ports Of the United States in one
year. six million dollars worth have
been destroyed by cruelty
The stock interests of various na-
tions are 50 enormous financially that
il Is impossible TO estimate the amount
OF animals destroyed in transit be
twee.s nations 10y cruelty. No nation
has denied the charge Of cruelty 20
animals by their subjects which have
preferred. Nor has any nation failed
70 express its horror At the crime com
rnitted at sea and its desire 20 s1ppress
it by international legislation
Congressman Cummings has now
introduced into the house OF repre-
sentativcs my bill for an international
maritime conference, TO be invited by
the president. 10 be held at Washing
ton. with seven delegates from this
country and about one hundred and
fifty delegates from other countries 10
enact legislation for the better care
and protection Of animals in transit
An appropriation Of fifty thousand
dollars has been called for, and Sen
atOr llill, Of New York. has agreed to
take charge Of the bill when it reaches
the senate.
Secretary Gresham. in behalfo of tl,e
government, has made an argument
giving the governments unqualified
Endorsement to the bill, and stating
that several other governments have
communicated with the state depart
ment for this very legislation.
''Such a maritime conference will
have larger financial interests involved
and more legislation to enact than has
heretofore been internationally en-
acted"