The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-04
CAPTAINS
TROUBLES.
Claim They Are Imposed
Upon by Sailors.
TRIVIAL SUITS BROUGHT.
These Hold the Vessels in Port sni
Cause Much Loss.
RESULT OF SOME RECENT CASES.

The captains of large coal schooners
coming in to this port are verS much
pleased with the result of tho last two
cases which have been brought to the
attention of the United States District
Attorney by sailors who elaine they had
a grievance. One skipper remarked IF
we could afford tie time mora cases
would be thrown out Of court We are
in the hands Of the sailors, and some
schooner, and buying farm, and got rest
OF the everlasting trouble that these fell
lows make. There is no reason why the
United States government should n OF
make laws regulating the action of the
sailors. as well as the masters, as for in
stance a we'll known captain has b,sl in
port for nearly two wesks, and has kept
his old crew by and at regul ar wages
with nothing to do. but sleep and eat.
When the captain got ready to sail three
mem bers of the crew came TO the con clu
sion that they did not care 20 sail. There
was nothing left for the captain TO do, but
to pay them for the tims they have
"Ioafed" ana spend day or more in
getting others to fiji their places. A sailor
can sign for ship and before the vessel
sails can refuse to go. and the captain
has no redress.
Oftentimes a sailor has tied up vessel
valued AT $40, 600 on some trivial matter
and the captain rather than stand trial
will fix matters up, for the delay would
be far moro costly than tho result OF the
case, even should he win. Ihe last two
cases the captains determined tn take a
hand In the matter and the consequences
were that it was not easy sailing for the
sailors for they lost their claims. IL did
not cost them cont. however. Nor are
they calisd upon at any time when they
enter \ complaint 20 give surety for costs
nor, for their appearance when the case Is
called.
IL has been suggested by one captain,
that when n complaint is made the COM
pIainant give surety for costs of, and IL
he succeeds in showing that his case is IA
proper one, let the costs fall upon the
vessel or captain against whom the COM
Jlaint is made, aud then in measure
would do away with majority of the
cases all Of which arc for small amounts.
Captains like other do not relish being
forced to pay even small bill when they
do not owe it.
The sailors who recently took n row boat
from schooner and went ashore, re-
manned all night and left the mate, stew
ard and cook on board without any
means of communicating with tho shore
can thank their lucky stars. that the mate
was slow OF temper, for mad they have
taken the boat after some mates had told
them not Co, there would have been SER
ious trouble.
One reason why captains arc not better
protected IL that nearly all OF the coal
carrying vessels are owned by large com
panies the captains owning small por-
ton, and they have not tho timo to have
bills passed in congress for their benefit.
and the large owners do not care, so long
as they receive their income On the
other hand, the Seamen's Union at the
different ports are more or less mixed up
in politics and have tho time, and in
fact are always working rs the claims
for the interests OF their mem bers.