Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-30

killed by brutal officers, who got clear o
all punishment An instance could b
cited where q mate aboard a Maine shil
several years ago was said TO hav
knocked sailor from a yard overheard
and attempted to do the same with an
other. He escaped and is now in Gem
mand Of Maine ship. Indeed Malice SCI
captains it must be admitted bear ss har'
a reputation among sailors as any III TN
country ana some claim that their repu
| tation Is worse.
1t Is but just, however, to note tina
there are some ship owners In this stat
who have reputation the world over 10
treating their crows kindly and feeding
them well. 1t Is also significant fac
that these owners find it for their advan
taoe 10 do so. With good food well cooked
less is wasted; they never have trouble
aboard ship. and seldom trouble In get
ting good crews. Moreover the captair'
and ship owners in this country labol
under many disadvantages. Men arr
| frequently shipped as able scamen who O.
rot know even the rudimt nts of sea far
ing. The Others in the crew are neccs
sarily oycrworked in consequence while
the imposter Is lucky If he gets ashore
without q broken head. 1t is of very
frequent occurrence, IN this country at
least, for Jack to go ashore from long
voyage with his pockets full OF money,
go to sailors boarding house, get drunk
and when he comes to his senses to md
himself at sea in poor clothing bound
very likely, on a cold voyage. 1t Is very
evident that the task Of legislating even
the more glaring of these many evils out
of existence is n formidable one at best
1t would be comparatively easy to secure
better treatment for the seamcn aboard
American ships were these vessels pro-
fltable to their owners.
sponsibe for the decline in the number
of Americans aboard our ships must
be taken with qualifications. Am
orleans have had many opportunities
for earning a better livelihood than is
possible for them in competition with the
poorly paid foreign sailor. AS the tramp
steamer has taken the place of the sailing
ship, seamanship has declined. Indeed
the work of a sailor is fast coming to be
regarded as unskilled labor And now
that the crowdng of other employments
will incline more American laborcrs to
accept work upon the freight steamer
where the art Of sc4manship is in little
demand, 1t Is especially desirable that the
conditions surrounding the work be I'm
proved. Notwithstanding competition Is
so fierce the American people are not pre-
starvc and beat the American sailor. And
while this competition must inevitably
continue to be disastrous so long as for
cign governments extend aid and en-
In every possibly way to
their maritime enterprises and this
country does not there are those who
believe that 1t lies in the power of Amcri-
can legislation and enterprise to change
it for the better.
Mulhall finds that since 1910 the ocean
tonnage of Great Britain trebled while
the aggregate tonnage of other nations
has only doubled. In 1892 the carrying
power of the British merchant fleet was
56 per cent of the whole. The carrying
power of the United States for the decade
1892 fell off so, 900 tons On
the ships of Great Britain the register of
greater than ON the vessels of other ma
tons. Much of this is probably due to the
fnct that England could build the iron
for the world carrying trade
Mt less cost than any other country Yet
tho development of the iron industry in
the United States in recent years under o
wise protection, leads one to hope that the
time is not far distant when this country
can place iron steamships into the world 5
carrying trade in competition with those
of Great Britain If the attempt receive
proper encouragement. But legislation
for tho improvement of the condition of
sailors aboard American ships should not
wait for such attainment 1t is greater
disgrace upon the country to deserve a
reputation for treating its sailors worse
than does any other nation than 1t is to
have the world know that our foreign
carrying trade is falling Off. Moreover
common deccncy, if the charges made
he true, demands change for the better
and at least that the laws we now have
shall be enforced.
Components Of lingo Yell.