The San Francisco call., 1897-02-03

meeting protesting against the amend
ments offered to House bills by Senator
Frye.
He spoke at some length, characterizing
the treatment accorded to sailors by sane
ton of Law as infamous: that the idea
that master of ship should be Judge
and executioner over his men was repug-
nant to every American.
The Mayor was warmly applauded at
the close of his address.
James II. Barry was introduced.
"If ever a man deserved roast" he
said, sit is that man Frye of Maine. l
tell you chattel slavery does exist in this
land of the free and brave. 1t does exist,
but, by the great Jehovah, it shall be abol-
ished. These four men OF the Arago, for
no crime, except that they desired TO
leave the employment where they were
cruelty treated, were imprisoned nine
months and until released under habeas
corpus. They remained at liberty until
the United States Supreme Court sent
them back to prison again.
"I know that it is treading on dangerous
ground TO criticize the members of that
high tribunal, but We must still remember
that that court is srill composed of only
men [applause]. and some of them rretty
bad men too. [Renewed applause Some
of them we know bought the high posi-
tion they hold. Some of them were COR
poration attorneys before acquiring their
place on the bench, and il is in the interest
OF those corporations that the SuIreme
Court has given such judgments as this"
l.. Hoey, acting secretary of the Sailors
union, in a short address said the Arago
decision was on a line with the Dred Scot
decision. He described The treatment &C.
corded sailors as innuman.
Alfred Fuhrman was the last speaker.
He was sailor and studied law at sea-
He knew the wrongs of the sailor He
did not hesitate to speak his mind freely
about the Supreme Court that had made
| what he termed one of the most out
rageous decisions in the history of courts.
TIE following resolutions were passed
| with a cheer:
| WHEREAS, The seamen Of our country have
| for years been engaged in a worthy effort to
! improve their condition and those of the en-
| tire maritime trade; and whereas, the evils
sought TO be remedied by the seamen are:
! First, involuntary servitude; second, the ad-
vance system; third, brutality on the
part of ships officers; fourth, for food
| fifth, small and unhealthy forecas-
| ties; ard whereas, these evils have been
largely relieved in the coastwise trade by the
Mcguire act of February, 1895, which the
seamen propose to have extended so as 10 in.
| clude the foreign-going seamen in its benefits
under the provisions of House bills 1868 and
$685. which were passed by the House of
Representatives at the last session of Congress;
and whereas, the United States Senate Com
| mittee on Commerce, through its chair
| man, Senator Frye. instead of reporting
| the bills as acted upon by the House of Repre-
! sentatives, has reported substitutes which not
only deny the desired reforms to the foreign
going seamen, but also repeal the most bene-
| hcent provisions of the Mcguire act as ap-
! piled 10 the coastwise seamen; and, whereas
Senator Frye has intimated IN the Senate that
If that body does not accept MS substitute he
will bury the entire matter in the committee:
! therefore be 1t
Resolued, That we. the citizens of San Fran.
cisco, in mass-meeting assembled, declare
! that the imprisonment of seamen for deser-
ton Quitting work. is involuntary servi-
tude' and a violation of the thirteenth
amendment to the constitution of the United
States, and as such 1t is repellant to our sense
of American liberties, degrading to the sea-
| man and dangerous to the safety OF our insti-
tutions and further
Resolred That we condemn the action of
Senator Frye and the Committee on Commerce
OF the United States Senate, and demand that
House bills 1868 and 6399 be reported by tn at
committee as passed by the House of Repre-
senta tives; and further
Resolued, That we commend the action of
our representatives in Congress. particularly
Senators White and Perkins and the Hon.
James g. Mcguire, in their efforts to have
justice done the seamen, and that we urge
upon the Senate that it call for the House bills
| in aid of the seamen and pass upon them at
the earliest possible moment; and further
Resolued, That a copy of these resolutions be
forwarded TO Senator Frye. the represen tatives
OF California in Congress, and that the press
OF San Francisco be requested 10 publish them
| in full