Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-11-24

stand any order given by the officers Of
such vessel practically prohibits the
employment in the foreign trade of the
Pacific OF Chinese and Japanese crews.
This means that American ships, oper-
ated by licensed American officers, may
not employ alien crews similar TO those
employed by the competing vessels OF
foreign nations, with such success that
in the single past year they have dou-
bled their tonnage. The experience Of
many years has demonstrated that such
vessels are safely operated by orders
transmitted through petty officers,
through whom all such orders are GUS
tomarily transmitted in the navigation
of any large vessel. The enforcement of
this provision, under the practical con
ditions of competitive marine business
on the Pacific drives our flag from that
sea.
Second. The requirement that sixty
five per cent. of the deck crews employ
ed shall ultimately be able seamen is
impracticable in operation, disregards
the actual duties of deck hands in mod
crn steamers, and unnecessarily in
creases the operating cost of vessels
under American register to the point Of
prohibition in competition.
'.Third The moral and legal effect
of minimizing the ofense of desertion
under the special conditions, especially
of the voyage in foreign trade. accom-
panied by the substantial requirements
of half-payment Of the accrued wage in
every port. coupled with the provisions
requiring the collector of customs to re-
fuse clearance to any vessel if. within
six hours of sailing, any reputable citi-
zen, upon information, swcars that the
provisions with respect to the language
test and quota of able seamcn has not
been complied with. not only encourages
desertion, but deliberately places a pre-
MUM upon the breach of the seaman's
contract increasing highly the risk or
every voyage
1T places it within the power of in
diyidual or combined deserters to black
mail any vessel into new contract to
secure its clearance For while ships
officers may not wrongfully obstruct
commerce by refusing to perform their
duties, without facing a suspension or
revocation of their license. seamen may
desert at any port without loss Of
rating or suspension or revocation of
certificate. Deserters, individually or
in combination and supported by or
ganization may not only breach their
contract with but a minimum wage for
fixture. but, through the collector Of GUS
toms. may prevent the clearance Of the
vessel by calling attention to the condi-
ton which their own bad faith can Gre
ate. They may not only break their
contract but force new one, equally
unprotected. under threat of preventing
clearance, consequent stoppage Of mails,
delay of passengers, loss of perishable
cargo and thus jeopardize the voyage
itself The sections relating to this sub
ject are completely subversive of the
necessary relations and discipline in the
most hazardous of all enterprises-th
operation of the vessel.
Fourth. By requiring the abrogation
of all treaties and conventions with for
eign nations. any articles of which con
fict with the provisions of the Sea-
mems Act, we risk the continuance OF
many conventions dealing with general
commercial relations in which the pro-
visions affected by the Seamen's Act
are merely incidental. We likewise in
cite the treaty powers to retaliatory
legislation and compel the negotiations
of new arrangements at most critical
period in our international relations.
deliberately arousing resentment as a
preparation of negotiation Of new
treaties"