New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-13
AMERICAN SAILORS HARD LOT
THEIR CONDITION IS WORSE THAN THAT
OF BRITISH TARS J. II. WILSON.
Mp. THINKS. AND URGENTLY
DEMANDS LEGISLATION

J. Havelock Wilson. NJ p. general president OF
the National Sailors and Fremen's Union Of Great
Britain, Of the speakers at the meeting Of
the Social Reform Club Tuesday night His subject
was do the Sailors in the American Merchant
Marine Suffer Wrongs Unknown In British and
Other Foreign Ships? and II So What Shall Be
Done for Our Sailors In the Present Congress-
The rooms OF the club at No. 2S East Fourth-st.
were crowded to the doors by members and guests
anxious to hear Mr.. Wilson. and he impressed his
audience most favorably
Mr. Wilson has given up q large part OF his life
to lettering the condition OF seafaring men. and
his efforts have met with much success. He is
OF the few labor members OF the British
Parliament but for many years he went down to
the sea In ships. and he is thoroughly conversant
with a sailors life. He said last night that he
began to take interest in tho question which
dear to his heart-that OF the welfare
OF the saor-many years ago. Continuing he said
that the men on British ships were better off than
those American ships, and that charges OF
cruelty British ships seldom heard now
adays The cause for this was. he affirmed. that
the mercantile marine OF Great Britain under
the absolute control OF the Marine Department Of
the Board OF Trade composed OF representatives
OF the ship owners. the sailors and fremen and
the Board OF Trade. No officer could now sail A
British ship without having a certificate from the
Board OF Trade showing that he had served in
almost every grade OF seamanshp and had proved
his efficiency. The officers American ships did
not require such certificates. 1t often the
case. Mr.. Wilson declared that when charges Of
brutality brought In port against officers on
American ships they got away before the charges
could be investigated II an officer on British
ship did such thing, his certificate would be
revoked and he could not sail another chip Mr..
Wilson thought that the United States should have
similar system.
Later on Mr.. Wilson said that he did not wish
his hearers 10 think that everything was perfect
on British ships because two thousand men were
killed them drowned every year He laid
much stress the value OF the Load Line law
of Great Britain, which passed by the ef
forts of Samuel Plimsoll. Before the passage OF
this law many vessels left port overloaded and
were never heard Of again. Owners lost moth
ing. because they could insure the vessels and
cargo for more than they were worth The passage
of tho law so bitterly opposed that Mr.. Pm-
soil had finally TO agree to modify his original bill
that the owners OF vessels could place the
thinking to be facetious, placed the load-ine on
the funnel of his ship. This caused such indigna-
ton among the English people. however. that Mr.
Pmsol got the present law passed. Mr.. Wilson
load-line law. 1t would do much to protect the
lives OF her sailors He thought that the English
laws in relation 10 life-saving appliances on SHIPS
better than those Of this country. out IN
regard TO accommodations for sailors on VesseIs
they not a bit better.
The United States. said Mr.. Wilson. was the
only country where sailors, after signing artlcles
could be arrested and dragged on board snip II
attempt was be made in Congress this year TO
do away with the last particle Of this outrageous
system. however. and he hoped that II would be
Successful. In closing Mr. Wilson said that II was
aimost Impossible to enforce laws for the better
ment Of the condition Of sailors. unless the latter
were organized into unions.