Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-01-29

many of the small boats have been
wrecked
Masters HELPLESS.
%This is a condition over which the
masters have absolutely no control.
for the season that their suggestions
in the premises are not considered.
In some instances there are a few
good men obtained. but one trip is
usually sufficient to cause desertion
before the next trip, for the reason
that a few able bodied men are
obliged to do the greater part of the
work. There are occurrences where
"a vessel, through inefficiency OF the
crew. was placed in jeopardy and
barely escaped disaster Of a serious
nature. -
When the method Of employing
seamen is considered, it can be fully
realized by any man OF common
judgment that competency is totally
disregarded. The duty of employing
men as seamen for the InterIsland
Steam Navigation Company is com
mitted to a man who, not being a sea-
man himself, is unable to perform his
trust with that discriminating iadS-
me1t which the exigeneies Of the stu
alton demand, and whose main object
appears to be to enlist numbers, Ell
ficieney not being considered. .
when crew Is desired, the ship
ping master sends a runner to the
various corners and places which the
unemployed frequent, and the men are
gathered in a more or less unfit con-
dftion. and sent to the steamers, re!
gardless of who or what they may be.
II the complement cannot be obtained
! In this manner, visits to the Filipino.
Korean and Porto Rican lodging
houses are made, and there the bal
ance is recruited in the most hap
hazard manner. Il f.. l..sf'
Ypf Like Olden DAYS - ..-. -
Some time ago, the seamen employ
ed. on the Inter leland ships were IA
nous Throughout the world for theiit
ability as experts in handling life and
freight boats, under all conditions OF
wind, weather and sea, and the COM
pany now treats as an asset the repu
tatfon which 1t acquired as the result
Of the labor of these men, These men
have In most Instances been lost to the
company through Observation-Disclosures
regarding the amount Of pay coming
to them at the end OF the trip, 80
Tie masters realize that at the
present moment II would be a diff
cult matter to obtain the services of
those men again; but what they do
claim is this That they should be all
lowed to have some voice in regard to
the selection and retention of the men
at present available, for this reason =
that if the masters are allowed to re-
tain the men, they could in time so
train them to handle the freight and
lifeboats that they would approach
that degree of efficiency shown by
crews in former times. At the pres
ent time it is very seldom a ship has
the same crew twice.
Can't Talk English.
In fifty per cent of the steamers OPP
Grated, not five per cent of the men
engaged understand the English or Ha-
waffan languages, and are not up to,
out far below, the intelligence of the
average seamen. The present officers
of the ships who have the management
of these crews, are so thoroughly dis
couraged with the proven futility Of
their unceasing efforts, and knowing
full we'll that the results reflect on
their ability as officers and seamen,
many have expressed their intention
of withdrawing from the service Of
The company because, for reasons here
in stated, they cannot adequately meet
their responsibilities as such.
"In this connection, we call the at
tention of the public to the fact that q
bill is now pending in congress to re-
quire a seaman to stand a prescribed
examination as to his fitness to per-
form the duties which that position in
wolves, thus showing that public opin-
ION, having become concrete on the
matter, demands that the situation be
dealt with by an authority which can
require ship owners to use precautions
for the safety of passengers and
freight.
Respectfully"
PUBLICITY COMMITTEE,
Honolulu Harbor No. 54