The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-05
MERCHANTS TO VOTE
ON LA TOILETTE ACT
National Chamber Of Com.
mercp Orders Referendum on
the Seamen's Law.
TO TELL OF I'LL EFFECTS

wAsHiNoroN. July by a unani-
nous vote the board of directors OF the
Chamber OF Commerce OF the United
States has ordered a referendum to oh
tain an expression OF opinion from the
business men of the country on the now
much discussed m act. Thus 500
cha OF n national
trade bodies here and In Hawaii. Porto
Rico and the Philippine Islands. repre-
senting about 900 900 men engaged In
business, will have a chance to go on
record.
Up TO this time discussion has cen
tired in coastwise cities. but now the
question will be taken into every State
in the Union. That business men not
only where shipping is heaviest but
throughout the entire United States get
| the opportunity of expressing themselves
was the sense OF a motion made by
r. G. Rhett OF Charleston, :. c., chair
man Of the executive committee OF the
national chamber. After the motion had
been unanimously carried President
Fahey referred the preparation of the
referendum to a committee.
Elliot II. Goodwin. general secretary
81 the national chamber. said that the
document will be sent TO organization
! members throughout the country. with
forty-fiye DAYS allowed 10 cast votes
In some cases these organizations in
turn will make use OF "A referendum
system 10 get an expression Of opinion
from their members upon which to ba.e
their vote to he filed with the national
chamber.
With discussion of the seamen's act
now being extended to business men of
the country those who opposed the pas
sage of the act are renewing the asser-
ton that the legislation will nullify
every effort which is being made To
build up an American merchant marine.
As a result Of the passage of the legis-
lation several high officials of lines of
ships flying the American flag have been
quoted as saying that their ships will be
withdrawn from registry.
Some time ago the Attorney-';eneral
WAS called upon to give his opinion re-
garding the date at which the section of
the seamen's act which presCribes the
equipment and crew required for life
saving becomes effective. The manner
In which this section Of the new law Is
expressed has given rise to another dit
fculty which has been referred to thu
Acknowledgement.
The regulations regarding life saving
appliances. the manner in which life
bpatS are 10 ne lniUfltu anu tln'T sup
ulations are stated as a part Of AZ
amendment to "A section of the Revised
Statutes. This section is referred to N
another section Of the Revised Statutes
which is not mentioned in the seamen'S
act and which in effect provides that
steamships OF nations which have In
spection laws a~pproNimating American
inspection laws will not be subject Il
mspection in the United States regard
ing life saving equipment other thar
such inspection as will demonstrate tina
the equipment is according to the Ger
tihcates OF officers Of the country II
question.
TIT Department of Commerce appears
to have decided that the result of these
provisions Of Law is that vessels Of some
important maritime foreign countries
which enter American ports will no
have to comply with the requirement
Of the seamen's act concerning life saw
ing equipment and the complement q
men for manning l~ifchoats, since iliei
own Inspection laws approximate thos'
of the United States.
Every effort is h. ing made to facill
. tate the taking Of the national chamhe
, referendum u is hoped that the result
may be known well In advance OF tn
: present date set for he converting o
: Congress.