New-York tribune., 1901-08-11
IN FAVOR OF A SHIP TRUST.
OWNERS OF SAILING VESSELS SAY THAT
THEY WILL NOT HAVE PROPER
LAWS UNTIL SUCH COMBI-
NATION is FORMED.

r,o~s 81 American sailing ships are wondering
when Wall Street will turn its attention in their
direction and another arm to the trust octopus
~, forming a sailing ship combination. While
many owners would hesitate long time oeIore
turning their fleets over TO A combination they
would not be sorry to powerful trust FORMED
with the vessels of others They say that until
,bere &c a combination shpowners will never get
the right kind of shipping laws passed by Con-
gress.
sbipping laws that the shipowners would like to
see blotted out changed Some of them relate
to the relations between owners and their sailors
The shipowners say the government in making
laws has always given the sailor more favors than
he deserved and in some instances more than was
good for him. In regard TO several secuohs Oh INC
statutes the sailors agree with the owners.
one particular section which relates TO paying
off seamen foreign ports is condemned py oolh-
It has caused the owners much trouble ana there
are strong reasons for suspectlng that on account
of IT the crews of a dozen ships have committed
grevous crimes. which We're none the less true be-
cause they could not be proven or punished.
Because United States consuls refused to allow
captains to pay off their crews in foreign ports
at least a dozen good ships have been burned or
scuttled during the last few years, is the start
ling statement which well known shlpoWher
made to a Tribune reporter few days ago
In some cases." continued the shipoWner' Ine
FIRE was nut out before the ship was entirely
burned and the bored in huls were discovered
before the vessels had time TO fill. There has not
,,een a conviction in single instance, because
,,rooF Of guilt could not be secured. SeVeral times
the crews have been arrested suspicion ana con-
Nnsd in prison until trial. but they have always
been released for want of sufficient evidence 10
convict
'sThe sailor is a peculiar customer ana the gov
ernment knows IT. If he receives his pay IN a
foreign mort he will suuander It ashore and show
up at the consulate without cent He VIII de-
nand to be sent home at the expense OF the gov
ernment. For this a law has been enacted
prohibiting the discharge of seamen at a foreign
mort unless provided with another ship or sup
piled with passage money home If the ship is lost
the sailors are paid off at the nearest consulate.
They get a chance to get into another ship which
another. The sailors know this, and have found
way Of bringing it about. ,
fn a harbor of Chill few years ago, ready to
sail for New-York A fire which started in her
sailors suspected Of having started II, but
sufficient evidence TO warrant arrests could not
srThe crew of one ship wanted to be paid off in
Kobe, Japan. The consul refused 10 pay the men,
although the captain was willing. The ship was
burned, and II was another case OF msuIlclent
evidence Another ship loading sugar at the
Hawaiian Islands a few years ago. The crew
bored holes in the hull for the purpose OF sinking
her Fortunately, the leaks were discovered before
she filled. The burning Of one ship in Japanese
harbor short time ago attributed to the
Sbe was dischargine a cargo of case OIL from
Philadelphia and proved total loss.
Another sailed from Honolulu for New-York
port before fire was discovered in the hold. In
lighting it the captain and his first mate were
the fire with the assistance of the crew. There
| was evidence that sailor had deliberately
Il could mention other ships that have been
blotted out in the same way, but I have given
/ protection of shipowners demands the change of
at least one section of the shipping laws