The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-12
HOUSE REGULATES BOAT INSPECTIONS NldShipmen Dismissed for Hazing Are Restored ARE ESUFFlCIENTLYPUNISHED Democrats and Republicans Feel That the Annapolis Authorities Have
 Been Sustained In the
 Dismissal.
ARESUFFlCIENTLYPU PUNISHED

Washington February 1-As an out growth of the investigation of the General Sloeum disaster the House today passed number of bills, called up MT. Grosve- nor, chairman of the House committee on merchant marine and fisheries amending the laws relating to the steamboat inspec- tion service and making far more rigid provision for the regulation and care of steam vessels.
 The amendments recommended by the department of commerce and labor were sent to the House in the form of eight bills. Six of these were reported favor ably by the committee and five of them passed today. Consideration of the bill providing for the salary regulations of inspectors was prevented by the objec- tion of MT. Shelly of Kentucky. Except for an effort by MT. Livernash of Cali -fornia, to guard the provision relative to compliments of crews there were no con troversies.
 The bill amending the steamboat inspec- tion service as they passed the House provide for an executive committee or a board of supervising inspectors with power to amend the rules of the steam boat inspection service in the interim be- tween the meetings of the full board sub ject to the proval by the Secretary of Commerce and Labor; make compulsory inspection once a year whether applied for by masters owners or not; exempt ves- sells out of commission and make effec- tive inspectors condemnation of defective equipment; give inspectors power to stop vessel by revocation of her certificate and provide adequate penalty for per sons manufacturing or selling life saving appliances and fix the liability of term characters, officers and directors of cor porations knowingly guilty of misconduct in regard to their vessels.
 Inspectors Must Give Bond.
 They provide also for the repeal of the existing provision of law requiring super vising inspectors to give bond. Assistant inspectors are added to those prohibited from having pecuniary interest in yes sells and motor vessels of over fifteen tons, and are brought under the general penal provisions of the statues. An alter native suspension of licenses is provided in case an officer shall unreasonably re- fuse to serve. Provision is made for ap- peal in certain cases of revocation and for injecting fire extinguishing gas into holds as well as steam.
 Motor vessels other than steam in the North and Mississippi river system are brought under the collision rules of those waters. Minor details in a number of instances are transferred from statute to regulation
 rr>a.. ,1Nnr f,f minor bills, among them being the follow ing;
 To provide for sttings of the circuit and district courts at Fernandina, Fla.
 To create new division of the west ern judicial district of Louisiana. and to provide for terms of court at Lake Charles La
 Authorizing the President to nominate and appoint William l.. Patterson sec ond lieutenant in the United States army. To authorize the construction of rail- road bridges across the Boeuf river and Bayou Macon. in Louisiana. at locations to be approved by the Secretary of War;
 Mldshipmen Are Restored.
 Among others, the bill authorizing the President to appoint to the naval service three midshipmen who were dismissed from the naval academy at Annapolis was called up Mir Brick of Indiana offered  one prepared by the navy department and forwarded to Congress with favorable recommendations by the President.
 Mir Maddox of Georgia said the House had held off long enough to show the au- thorities at Annapolis that they were to be sustained and announced that he would vote for their restoration He said it was not party measure.
 MT Slayden of Texas said that unless the House wanted to see hazing at West Point and Annapolis, the bill should be voted down
 MT Williams of Mississippi said he had resisted to the present moment With an idea of teaching the young n en that Con gress would not be in a hurry to get them out of a scrape. and that their comrades might learn that Congress was in earnest. He thought the boys had been punished sufficiently and announced that he would vote for the bill
 The substitute offered by MT. Brick was passed and the House adjourned.