The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1915-04-01

SetS.
The Senator says
The act to promote the welfare of American
seamen and safety of life at sea, approved by
President Wilson March fourth makes America
sacred soil and the Thirteenth Amendment
finally becomes a covenant of refuge for the
men of the world. 1t has taken twenty-one
year struggle to accomplish this result
The law makes the sailor free
1t standardizes his skill.
1t limits the number of hours of continuous
service
1t provides better conditions of living for him
on shipboard,-more food, more water, more
light and air, larger and more sanitary sleeping
and living space, and hospital section separate
and apart from that portion Of the vessel in
which the sailors must sleep and eat.
While the law does not completely safeguard
the public interest, it is a great advance in the
right direction Furthermore it substitutes
enforceable statutes for the rules and regula-
tons of inspection service which
often disregarded than observed.
1t requires every vessel leaving American
port for foreign country to carry lifeboats suf1-
cient to accommodate at least seventy-fve per
cent Of all board, and to carry life RATS for
the remaining twenty-five per cent Formerly
the number of lifeboats required to be carried
by ocean liners committed to the discretion
of the inspection service which has had less con-
sideration for public safety than for the inter-
ests Of steamship companies. 1t my con-
tention from the beginning that there should be
Hfeboats for ALL and the Senate adopted the
amendment l offered to that end. But the in
fiuence of the ship owners was strong enough
in the House to reduce the number of lifebOats
TO seVenty-fVe per cent. twenty-five per cent.
O. the passengers must resort to life RATS in the
event of disaster. Life RATS in mid would
serve temporarily to keep adoat the people
unfortunate as to be dependent upon them; and
with high running and in chill weather
they would inevitably drown or die from
posture.
AS Senator La Toilette says, President Will
son promptly signed the bill, thus making it
q lar.
All honor to the President for having done
so.
Now, suppose You ask Senators Hoke Smith
and 7 w Hardwick achy they voted and
worked against the bill.
What was their reason for wanting to deny
the white man serving on ship his constitu=
tional rights?
WIZ did they vote to deny white laborers
the same rights enjoyed by cotton-feld
negroes?
Whose interest was it, which they sought
to place above human rights?
In ach0se behalf, were they willing that
j. p. Morgan's Ship Trust, and kindred
trusts sA0u2d continue to riOlate the COnstitu-
ton Of Georgia, and Of the United States?
What reason can they give for voting
against bill which requires that the lives
of passengers on ships shall be safeguarded
by sulficiency of life boats?
Doesn't everybody remember the awful loss
of life on the Titanic, because there was lack
of lfeboats?
Were not the deaths of nearly 1900 men,
women and children on that one steamer
lesson that the world ought never to have for
gotten?
What excuse do you suppose Senator Hoke
Smith gave on the floor of the Senate for
makinO SneechpS aOainSt This righteous law
and doing his best to kill it?