Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-31

or mental faculties, are the qualifications
for authority. The wholesome influences Of
respect for ability and justice of ships off,
cers-the influence of discipline-have been
subverted by the dangerous influences Of
fear and incipient mutiny-the influences Of
despotism. The union which / represent
does not propose anything in any degree
1nimical to discipline, but to conserve dis
clpline In Its most efficient sense by abolish
ing despotism.
considering that the cause of brutality
TO seamen lies in the ship owners theory of
economy il the management of ships We
nave shaped the proposed reform upon the
same theory. Since monetary motives are
the only conceivable cause of the present
state OF affairs, the reform must be based
upon the same principle. In other words
We propose to make it improbable for ship
owners to countenance cruelty to seamen.
we, therefore, have Endorsed the bill in.
troduced by Mr.. Maguise which provides
That any master or mate, or other officer
OF vessel of the United States who directs
or superintends the labor of seamen, who
shall unnecessarily place or order any sea-
man into position of danger to life or limb
or commit an assault or battery upon a
seaman, shall, upon conviction. be fined not
less tAan sloo, nor more than $500. or be i'm
prlsoned for not less than three months, nor
more than one year. Any punishment which
may be inflicted upon the master mate or
other offlcer of such vessel will not exempt
such vessel from liability for damages for
injuries sustained by such seaman and ALI
vessels are liable in damages for an assault
or battery committed by any officer upon q
seaman
Employers Liability.
Mr.. Maguire's bill is form of employers
liability act, and is absolutely necessary
under the circumstances. At present the
ship owner evades punishment for the bru-
talty OF ships officers Oh the ground that
these acts are done without his knowledge
or consent. But as the ship master is really
me representative OF the ship owner, who is
the prime cause of existing conditions II
is deemed equitable that the latter should
De held responsible for the acts of the shin
master.
I'VE believe that if the ship owner Is
mulcted for the acts of his officers he viii
ind that the interests of economy lie in
the future careful selection of officers This
seems, IN view of the futility of present
methods, to be the only practical way of
oealihs with the question. The result will
be TO place the premium. upon good officer
ship instead of, as now, upon me brutal
bully. 1t Will improve the tone of ships'
crews throughout by removing the chief
obstacle to the shipment of Respectable men
ard boys, and rebound to the Advantage
economical and otherwise of The entire
maritime commerce
Another bill introduced by Judge Ma
guire deals with the surveys OF vessels In
England Germany and Italy a certain nor
tCn OF the crew, exclusive of th, { Ulcers
may demand a survey of the vessels tull
tackle, apparel or furniture, to determine
lake trade of our country no survey can he
compelled; the vessel may continue 10 sail
uhtl she sinks, if such be the desire OF The
owner
Another reason why the American hcys
are avoiding the merchant marine is to be
found in the fact that while fiogying has
been legally abolished, bodily violence ind
abuse are extremely common, :nd while in
Germany or Italy the ship owner is made
responsible for the action of the CAPTAIN or
other officers of the vessel by payment of
damages OF such persons may he abused
on the vessel, the American owner is alb
soiutely free from such responsibility and
the result of that has been many disasters
as have been shown by the records of the
courts in the eacoast cities
Inc seamen throughout the country are
taxing steps to indorse this matter row he
fore Congress, and Representative PAYNE
OF New York, as chairman of the conn1it-
zee on merchant marine and fisheries las
cEarse OF the subject Petitions are also
beng circulated in the different seaport
cites 1aVorlng the project, which has the
ihoorsement of seamen's missions clerpy-
men and humanitarians generally