The San Francisco call., 1895-07-28
AGAINST ALIEN OFFICERS.
Marine Engineers and Harbor
Masters and Pilots in
Session.
SECRETARY OLNEY Is SCORED.
Protesting Against Foreigners In the
American Merchant Marine
Service.

A joint meeting of the Marine Engineers
Beneficial Association No. 80 and Harbor
No. Is of the American Association of
Masters and Pilots was held last evening
in the hall of the association in the Alca-
zar building to discuss aliens In the Ameri-
can Merchant Marine service and to pro-
test against the actions OF Richard Olney,
formerly Attorney General. and Secretary
of the Treasury Carlisle. The guest of the
evening was George Uhler, President of the
National Marine Engineers, who is here on
his annual visit to the associations of the
Pacific Coast.
President J. J. Searey of the local associ-
alton presided over the meeting, and at his
left hand sat Captain L. P. Harvey, captain
of Harbor No Is of Masters and Pilots.
Among the masters of the vessels who ad-
dressed the meeting were Captain III. S.
Ackley of the State of California, Captain
Thomas Wallace of the Walla Walla, Cap
tain Howard White of the Tib-
uron, Captain ]. Leale of the Bay City,
Captain George Scott, the pilot, and Cap
tain J. J. Stolen of the General Mcdowell.
Of the engineers the speakers were: Presi-
dent Searby, Past Presidents D. c. Martin,
E. i II. A.. IL. IL.
Mr.. Uhler made the speech of the even
ing, and in his remarks scored the admins
tration for putting foreign seamen and
engineers on an equal footing with Ameri-
cans in the merchant service.
This was DONE" said he, "by Richard
Olney, now Secretary of State, when he
was Attorney-Generalo of the United States,
and we are here to raise our voices in pro-
test against this un-American action. The
81 |, no.>
contrary and totally at variance with the
Interpretation of the law by the Treasury
Department and the customs and practices
under that Interpretation for eleven years.
"An engineer had been considered an
officer of ship, and none but an Ameri-
can could touch the lever of an engine on
an American ship. The first, second and
third officers of an American ship had to
be Americans, but Mr.. Olney swept aside
the Dingley act of 1884, which had repealed
that of 1874. The latter act gave privi-
leges to aliens on American ships which a
wise administration saw were fatal to the
Government.
"The decision of the Attorney-General
was brought about by the reference to him
by the Secretary OF the Treasury of pro-
test blythe marine engineers of the coun-
try against the licensing of aliens as engi-
neers OF the naturahzed steamers New
York and Paris.
"His decision in that case threw down
the bars to all foreigners, to the great det-
riment of Americans. The deep interest
taken in the matter was evidenced by
those affected all over the country, and the
result was joint meetings everywhere of
the harbors and associations. Joint COM
mittees of these two organizations have
been appointed to confer and endeavor to
bring about legislation which will protect
us in our calling, as was the intention of
the trainers of the laws of protection to the
merchant marine.
The captains who addressed the meeting
were received with cheers and other mani
festations of enthusiasm. They are the
only people affiliating with the engineers,
whose positions are safe from the en-
croachments of aliens, yet they were
strongest in their condemnation of the un-
American policy OF the former Attorney
General.