New-York tribune., 1908-06-08
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
IN AID OF SE4MEN.
also Which VIII Make
Marine TraUel Safer.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
oh' Ihe humane legislation enacted by the first
session OF the ooth Congress- just adjourned should
enttle 1t to the gratitude of all who love their
Fellow men, and particularly of the large member
snip OF the societies friendly to seamen The
senators and Representatives and the administra-
uon OF President Roosevelt who have promoted
.lis iesislation need not fear meet men who
oie hereafter at sea when the sea gives up its
dead" -
Passengers and crews will have much to be
I'll LOT IN the greater care shown by officials
IN the work of inspection OF all vessels and OF
their crews and in the greater use of Ifesaving
aPPhances on all the waters within the Jurisdiction
OF the United States If the care thus shown bv
our government is criticised paternalisn it NAV
So De received as return to taxpayers in greater
protecton OF life and property and another recog-
nltion OF the brotherhood of man
A brief resume of such legislation must be of
general interest
me Dill (Publfc No. 152) approved by President
roosevelt on the 18th ult provides among other
,ninss that all scows and barges used in the
hdrpor or New York shall have Ufelines attached
u 'he coamings all around the deck a life pre-
server and life buoy each member of the
"' ana an anchor to weigh not less than 275
POUNDS, with one hundred feet of chain and a
register of the name and address of each man en-
p'0!eu 'hereon which shall be open to inspection;
and that all seagoing barges of one hundred tons
anu upward shall after January 1. 1909 inspected
a' iedst once IN each year to their hull and
inspectors o
VINO snail satisfy themselves that such barge
Is Of structure suitable for the service in which
she is to be employed, has suitable accommodations
Ior the crew, and is in a condition to warrant the
oeheI 'hat she may be used in navigation with
safety to life; and (Section ID that every such
barge shall be equipped with at least one nfeboat
and at least one life preserver for each person on
board. and at least one anchor, with suitable chain
cable
Provision is also made for the appointment of a
"a rn r1lota
OF hawser between barges in all the inland waters
or the United States and adequate sections indicate
the various penalties imposed for all infractions of
these statutes
The act approved April 2. 1905 public No SD,
Relating to the complement of of vessels
and for the better protection of life provides for
the adequate inspection of all vessels to the
qufred complement of licensed officers and crews
necessary for their safe navigation This statute
should prevent the recurrence of such terrible
catastrophes befelI the General Socum and the
Larchmont because of unframed and incompetent
crews
In addition to the foregoing humane provisions
glad TO know of the executive order of
President Roosevelt Of May H. 1908, creating a
commission Ito examine the laws of the United
States for the better security of the lives of pas
sengers and crews board vessels of the United
States with view TO their revision and to recon-
mend such changes In their judgment the public
interests seem require The members of said
commission seem to have been well selected, be-
of their technical knowledge gained in the
several departments of the public service and of
their great experience along the lines involved in
the proposed revision Captain Adolf Mark, U. S
N chairman of the lighthouse board; Charles
Earl, solicitor of the Department of Commerce and
Labor E T. Chamberlain, Commissioner of Navi-
cation; George Uhler, supervising inspector gen.
eral of steamboat inspection service, and Com
nander William S. Smith, L. S. y.
This board had its first meeting the ID inst
and circular is about to be issued outlining its
programme which will be of great interest to the
public travelling water and TO the vast interests
connected with shipping and water transportation
L AUGUSTUS JOHNSON.
New York. June 8, 1903.