The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-13

raises his hand to defend himself a
cry Of mLtiny Is raised ana
the man is shot down, and judging
by some past experiences. q vsrdict OF
justiflable homicide would be rendered
In court. o, yes; there are plenty OF laws
enacted TO regulate the notion OF sailors.
The trouble. however. Is with the ad-
ministration Of these laws; not :he use.
but the abuse of them. and the unlimited
authority placed in the hands of the mas
ter ana tho way some district attorneys
and others too often lean to the masters
side. Then sailors generally have not tie
money to hire the services Of able at
torneys
"In the Mcguire act it is stipulated
that seaman in the ooasting trade can
leave his vessel when he is dissatisfied
and this is one OF the greatest blessings
vet bestowed on the sailor. The captain
in the article referred TO rightly charges
this act to the work OF the Seamen's
Union. do not SEQ how anyone who
stops for a moment to think con believe
the captains statement that sailors leave
their vessels without cause. A sailor
looks day after day. week after week for
vessel and finally hands over the one or
two dollars that he has in his pocket to
procure him a chance in some vessel and
great indeed must be- the cause which
drives him out of the vessel. The great
est desire a sailor has is for steady en-
ployment. and he would gladly stay in a
vessel voyage after voyage. but he Is
discharged after every trip.
A STATEMENT QUESTIONED.
"AgGin, the captain in the interview
speaks of captain who kept his old crew
they did nothing but eat and sleep, aud
when he was ready TO sail the men
changed their minds and would not
ship. and the captain had to spend two
days looking for men to take their places.
10 put IL mildly. / don't believe that
statement Now he says In addition to
this that a sailor can sign for a vessel and
before the vessel sails refuse TO go. and
the captain has no redress.
what bosh this is, and why does he
want redress simply for tho trouble of GO
ing ashore for more men? he has not pai
anyone any money, either TO the meu
themselves or any one else. II he has
done SO he has broken the law, but If it
Is only men no needs he can find 80 for
every one man needed for song in any
part of tho Eastern coast at any Sea-
mems Union, but he has to pay these men
little more and they know t1eir rights.
"The master shows an ignorance of tho
laws when ne says that sailors are not
called upon Co give surety for costs or
topds for their appearance when the case Is
called. and will cite it by referring to
such prominent lawyers as Messrs. Mason
& Proctor of Boston as my authority. In
the case of Andrew Brown who wished to
libel vessel, the captains contention
was not sustained by the fact. Here is
another proof of the cowardly advantage
masters and other officers of vessels have
over sailors who must forego the benefits
of tho law on account Of their inability to
procure bonds when not members of the
Seamon's Union.
SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUNISHED.
"As to the case cited where ths men
went ashore and stayed ashore all night,
leaving the mate, steward and cook with.
out means Of communication with the
shore, would say the men should have
been puni shed If the story was true but
from the fact that tho men were not pun
ished am inclined to think tho Judge
did not believe It,
"In his long category Of grievance the
captain tells about the difficulty of getting
Congress to pass bills for the benefit of
the masters but surely the masters have
great friends in Senators Hale and Frye
and there were some folks we'll paiG to see
that the Seamens' bills were defeated at
the last session Of Congress. The sailors
for them there, but his simplicity and
earnestness won the minds of many OF
the right minded there, but l think the
ship owners have influence enough In
Congress.
IF the captain, said Mr.. Mars In con-
clusion, "who hes spoken so hnrshly
against scamen and others of his kind
would stop grumbline Mt the sailors and
trying 20 crush h their lives out and devote
their energies to driving out the barges
which are owned by railroad corporations
ana do so much harm &c the schooner
trade, they would be In much hotter bust
ness than at present. Then decent profits
might be made out of the cargoes in
stead of out of the blood Of the poor
sailors.