The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-14
ESPECIAL TO THE pREss.l

ESPECIAL TO THE PRESs.l
Washington, Jan. 13-The House and
Senate have passed the following bill,
small boats:
Be it enacted by the Senate Fand House
of Representatives of the United States
of America in Congress aassem bled, That
all vessels of above fifteen tons burden,
carrying freight or passengers for hire,
propelled by gas, fluid, naphtha, or cleo
trio motors, shall be, land are hereby,
made subject to all the provisions of
section forty -four hundred and twenty
six Of the Revised Statutes of the United
States, relating to the inspection of
hulls and boilers and requiring engineers
and pilots to be licensed;
and all vessels so propelled,
without regard to tonnage or use, shall
be subject to the provisions of section
forty -four hundred and twelve of the
Revised Statutes of the United States,
relating to the regulation Of steam YES
sells In passing each other; and to so
much of sections forty-two hundred and
thirty-three and forty-two hundred and
thirty-f -four of the Revised Statutes, relat
ing to lights, fog signals, steering, etc.
The bill will become law as soon as
it receives the Presidents signature.
The old Maine vessels bob up in many
odd places. A bill has just passed the
House authorizing the Commissioner of
Navigation to cause the bark Ceres, built
in Maine, recently owned by foreigners,
but now owned by citizens of the United
States, to be registered as a vessel of the
United States under the name of Lioh-
tsnfels Brothers. The Ceres is an Ameri-
can built vessel, having been bailt in
Maine In 1859. She was for some years
Sailed as an American vessel, and su bse-
quOntly sold to foreign owners. She
Is now owned by American citizens, who
desire to convert her into barge for the
coastwise trade, a5 an expense OF about
So, 900. THE laws which barred American
built vessels from an American register
after once being sold to foreigners were
enacted In 1891 and 1904.
The claimants who come to Congress
bring up "reminiscences of many inter
esting events. Two men who called on
Speaker Reed at the same time the other
day illustrated this. The first was a tall,
courtly Southerner, Colonel John W.
Fairfax, of Virginia, formerly proprietor
of the manor house of Freestone. When
crate army and served on the staff of
General Longstree5 When he got home
he found that the government had con-
f1soated the property on account of / his
career as rebel. He feels now that this
was an injustice, and asks Congress to
rscompenss him. 1t is very doubtful
whether he gets relief or not. The other
claimant was tall old man with long
gray hair. that fell around his ears and
collar in we'll curled ringlets. He was
Sam C. Reid son Of the famous captain
of the privateer General Armstrong In
the War of 1912. The doughty old Cap
tain with his privateer met British
feet at Fayal, and though smashed up,
handled the Britishers SO roughly and
killed 80 many of them that tho feet was
delayed. AS 1t Was bound to New Or
leans, and the delay was very serviceable
to Generalf Jack son, the captain of the
Armstrong has received no little praise.
1t was the duty of Portugal to protect
the Armstrong while at Fayal, and from
this fact has arisen the situation upon
which the heirs of Captain Reid have
basedstheir claim. They have already
received something, but they believe they
are entitled TO more. Mr.. Reid the
claimant, began to press Sthe claim in
1910, and for sc years has haunted the
halls Of Congress. Like SO many Others
ho has made the getting of his claim q
life work.
Among Maine visitors in Washington
are Agent Eaton, of the Cabot Mills, in
Brunswick, and Mr.. Harry P. King, of
Do,tya,d Hapf TfpcOIn Tihhetts of