New-York tribune., 1901-05-28
TOACTON WSON'SLETTER
CHALLENGE COMMITTEE WILL TO-DAY
DISCUSS THE QUESTION OF CHAR
TERING THE INDEPENDENCE.

There will be a meeting of the challenge COM
mittee OF the New-York Yacht Club at II O'Clock
to-day for the purpose OF considering Thomas w.
Iawsons latest letter about the independence The
meeting will be held at the Wall Street office of
Commodore Lewis Cass Ledyard.
Considerable discussion has taken place as TO
what Mr.. LawsOns meaning was when he wrote
that he would charter interest" in the boat to
a member members of the club There is some
doubt 5 what he intended in saying. ito such
person or persons as may be agreeable TO your
committee"
Some suggest that Mr.. Lawson evidently expects
the committee to make the selection OF the men,
Der or members who are to take charge of the boat
1t pretty fatty said last night that the COM
mittee would do nothing OF the kind. On the other
hand it was suggested that it might be desirable
Lawson does not know any members who would
care TO assume the responsibility. , 20
Who II tbey took cbaTce of the craft would be
could not see their way to give sufficient time 10
the undertaking 1t was suggested at the club last
night that the designer, B. b. Crowninshield. Is
his close relations TO MI Lawson seemed 10 point
him out as one who could be trusted 70 get every
way OF speed
one Of the club members who is also a lawyer
said: IF l recollect my maritime law rightly, the
ownership OF trading vessel tand I suppose also
a yachU is supposed in the law TO be divided into
that the charternE OF slxty-fourth part of the
the right To hoist the burgee of our club on the
boat. My iGea Of charter is charter OF the
whole boat. and not part, and II seems quite
different from out and out sale Of any number
OF shares. The latter is done every day, but the
expression will charter interest conveys no
meaning to me-
Commodore Ledyard explained TO Mr. Lawson, IN
his letter dated May 10. that the two methods in
which a yacht may be qualified are First, by be-
ing enrolled the of more members
of the club and registered the clubs records in
the of such member members. and second,
by being chartered to a member or members Tor a
period Of less than TWO months. Under the first
these methods she becomes entitled to all club
privileges which any club vessel can nave includ-
ing all club events Under tho
second she acquires the right the squadron
runs upon the annual cruise, but no other club
races She would. however. under the ruling or
the committee, communicated to you in my former
letter be entitled. IL thus chartered. TO enter the
Americas Cup trial races.
In this letter the commodore went TO explain
that the adoption OF the first method that of sale
and enrolment would give the boat complete
equality OF privilege with the Constitution and the
Columbia as far as preliminary racing is con-
Cerned IL is this privilege of meeting the other
go footers that is needed by the Independence,
which is wholly without speed companion. Com
modOre I.edyard went 10 much trouble 10 explain
the whole club law the subject and II was
thought last night that Mr. LawsOn's advan-
taees were so apparent under the system Of trans
fer and enrolment, this would he the method
adopted A member of the committee quoted
as saving that that body had mower select
for Mr. Lawson any member members to take
accept as ''disagreeable' any member members
named for this work. He said that a member
long as he remained such, was a member for all