The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-02-18

A nsw point is brought ont in the fore
going decision that Is not generally known.
t1at is that vessels sailing under regis
Ter are not required To carry licensed pi
lots. Capt. William ]. Bryant inspector Ut
bulls. who Is one OF the board OF inspect
Ing engineers in explaining this yeSter-
day, said there was nobody who could be
held responsible for accidents under Ike
conditions - the Byixham.
Ii a master OF vessel was on watch
AZ the time q catastrophe occurred. M
would be amenable TO he law: .lut he wa
at perfect liberty 10 leave the ship Al any
time !u the charge Of ans body he might
select as pilot and the iatters being with
oar license Indeed. not requiring anyl.
there would be ao official head to the yes
sci or watch. II Capt. Durje had been
on The bridge at the time the Rrixham went
on the BlaShke reef. and the conditions
were similar - what they actually were
with Plot Chester there the master could
be held responsible. as ne is licensed The
asteT is empowered "a leave his vessel 70
the pllosage Of any deck hand he might
name, and relieve himself Of responsibility
His safeguard is - not be on duty az the
actual time Of disaster.
The Inspector is much interested In This
matter. ana has called the attention %
congressman az the West % tho Isxlty of
the Law ana the loophote It leaves for tx
uoran1 offenders - escape he copseq uences
q their ctrejessness Every effort viii le
made 10 have the law amended
Government Decision
Capt Bryant showed the following com.
TnUnication from Ghe secretary of The treas
uFy tn regard 10 this matter,
Treasury Department. Feb - ssss
Sir. The department Is IN receipt %
your letter ~ the iath ms, calling at
iaGton to what you Deem an lfreguIarity
on the part ~ 0wacFS and masters uf
American steamers navigating the inland
waters of Alaska. citing "a support 90 your
statement tae case 20 the steamers Albion
and National Cify, which sailed recently
for Dyeh A.8s ka. via Victoria r. G.
Which steamers. ynu saw have engaged
tng.}sb utthts at Victoria - take then,
through thf inland waters - Ai1Ska ana
fhcU IL cunt3nae taeir eusptsy n,sylt %
Lynn canal. @io n1i}rs through American
satets ~a.rh yen say sou are informed
- .llsg&l
~}u rrfJy. y0u are Informed that IL th4
steamers named Is you cleared t"r pysa.
}la Victoria. r a. they evidently s9Hef
H0de' reg @tef- @ra therefore Nouti no. r..
plots @Aile so routr. either while in Init
ra STATS ag !n foreign waters steamers
sailing ugs5eE rrStsisy bctnZ rN4ust from
carrying Nceasesf Pt.oss under the previ-
SONS - sTct}2H }ta} Ees se.t Statutes ag ma
fui'e5 : stes whitb IS q3oted for l9rr
tafeFmattoH. Yoilows
Ser See. Al eoss.Wiae. sea-goiuz veg
set~ ara vessels navigating 'a~ graat axes
~hsH Re T0btvs: "a -rc navigation laws ~
the .15tAt states. %1ea sr1Est4nE w-gshfn
t@f Jurisdiction t0frruf ana a!t vessels
nrartI'ei ~ h.i@ 49, te 1ar; ~ steam ana
r5f 1es 5t1g S~ atrfrS8f ~ne}l G~ saAas-t =.
p 'te ~s1.. q art regulations estah{sshef s.,
1.sIFs}t7-" ~ as fnr gre government ~
sirfsa t~Ss p" n}sssfe a. pros eea ~
:3-is tslr 4Ht every ru4*tpsse sea -z..f-, .
steam Nt-S~es s4e'Tst 80 re navigation laa-s
af tte L ri.t ! Rates ar& "a she rtllas ana