Evening star., 1902-01-13
SIXTEENTH ANNUAL VOYAGE
ASSOCIATION OF sTEAMBOATMEN TO
MEET IN FHIs CITY.
Business of Specfals Importance to BE
Transacted and,LarEe Attend
ance Expected.

The sixteenth annual voyage of the Grand
Harbor of the American Association OF
Masters and Pilots ofcSteam Vessels of the
United States will be begun in this city at
the hall Of the jolly Fat Mems Club, D
street, between 9th and 10th streets north
west, Wednesday morning next, and repre-
sentatives Of the local organization Of
steamboat men from the great lakes to the
gulf and from the Atlantic to the Pacific
will be In attendance. The association has
been having it's annual voyage here for
several years past, but this year business
of especial Importance to the pilots will be
considered and the voyage promises to be
one of unusual interest.
The Association of Masters and Pilots is
strong organization of steamboat men
throughout the United States, having for
Its object "a better education in the steam
boat pilots professionally in line Of duty,
the elevation of the character and stand
ards OF its members, the protection of life
and property in the waters of the United
states, careful adherence to the rules of
navigation and the strict observance of the
laws laid down by the steamboat inspection
service for the government of pilots. 1t
was organized in New York city, on the
steamer Minnehannock, January II, 1887,
and has gradually spread, until now its
subordinate harbors, as the local organi-
cations are called exist in all sections of the
SouHeIy WHSIe tuere are ndS1SdDl6 waters,
and it's members comprise the best and
most progressive element among steam
boat men.
1t is progressive in it's character and has
constantly in view the best interests of the
employers and it's members, and through
its efforts and influence the aids to naviga-
tion have been increased. thereby assuring
greeter safety in travel on hundreds Of
waterways.
Members All Licensed.
Its members are all licensed by the
United States government, and before they
could obtain license as pilot and then as
master they had to pass a searching ex-
animation before the board of steamboat
inspectors calculated to show their tech
nical and practical knowledge of their pro-
fession. The Association of Masters and
Pilots, While In a sense labor organiza-
tion, has no affiliation with any Of the
great labor bodies Of the country, but
moves along on Independent lines, aiding its
members where help is needed and ad-
vancing their interests with the United
States steamboat inspection service by
aiding in investigations of accidents and by
not shielding members when found to be
guilty of carelessness and disobedience Of
the regulations.
The coming voyage of the Grand Harbor
will last about ten days, and business of
national Importance viii come before it for
consideration The present officers of the
Grand Harbor are Capt. John c. Silva of
Dorchester, Mass, grand captain; Capt. NJ.
P. Usina, Savannah, Ga, grand first pilot;
Capt. Charles Maytham, Buffalo, n. Y,
grand second pilot; Capt Benjamin F. Per-
kins, Camden, N. J., grand captains clerk,
and Capt. Luther B. low, Brooklyn, N. Y,
grand purser and counsel for the associa-
ton. The past grand captains are Frank
H. Ward Of New York; George S. Tuthill,
Brooklyn, N. Y; Robert NJ Spedden, Bal
timore; William Swan Keuren, Kingston,
n. Y; Capt. William 8. Durkee, Brookline,
Mass, and Capt. Albert S. Fits, Toledo,
Ohio.
Washington Harbors No 81, of this city,
will be represented in the Grand Harbor by
Capt. William C. Robertson Of the steam
yacht Giavota, who was also the reading
clerk of the last Grand Harbor. .Commo-
dore John r. Sutton, the harber master is
the alternate.