Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-26
GREED FOR MONEY
VS.. HUMAN SAFETY
Secretary of Commerce Shows
Attitude of Company Own
ing Eastland.
LETTERS ARE MADE PUBLIC
Objections Had Been Made to
Complying With Provisions
of Seaman's Law.

between the st. Joseph Chicago Steam
snip Company. owners of tho steamer
Eastland. and the Department Of Com
merce' relating TO the new seaman's
act.
Secretary Redfield believes that un-
der the seaman's act the passenger
carrying capacity OF the Eastland could
have been reduced from $50 to l,552.
The steamship company opposed the
seaman's bill. The correspondence COM
prises four letters. In the first letter.
w. II. Hull. general manager of the
steamship company. registered pro-
test. under date Of June % 1915.
against the seamans bill being made
effective November 4, and expressed
the belief that an opportunity should
be given to have this act modified or
entirely Cancelled"
CANNOT SAY WHAT
LAWS MUST BE OBEYED
To this Secretary Redfeld replied
June %:
Your favor of the o5th inst Is re-
ceived. Power is not given to
me to say what laws shall be obeyed
and what shall not be obeyed. i.
What is 1t specifically in the law to
which you obtect?"
On June 30, Mr.. Hull wrote:
Replying to that portion of your
letter OF June IS. in which you ask,
What Is it specifically in the law to
which you object% l can answer this
in no better way than to state the eff
feet it would have on the operation OF
our steamship Eastland
This boat is operating this season
from Juno IL to September S, inclusive; :;
is licensed to carry 2,57G people: is
equipped with life preservers for that
number of people and has life RATS and
lifeboats capacity until the last inspec-
tton for TIL people.
In order to keep her maximum
carrying capacity at the present figure
we would have to increase her equip
ment in life rats and lifeboats &C ga
per cent. This is a physical impossi-
bility. II 1t were possible to pull this
amount Of equipment on the Eastland,
the weight that would be added to her
upper deck would make the boat din-
cult to handle.
WOULD MEAN DECREASE
OF OPERATING REVENUE
If our life-saving equipment Is al
lowed to remain as it is at present our
carrying capacity would be decreased
40 per cent. or 1.o2S. You can see that
daily reduction Of 40 per cent in
carrying capacity would amount to con-
siderable during the season in operat-
ing revenue.
The requirements OF the seaman's
bill relating to ccrtiicated lifeboat men
and able seamen would increase the
number of our crew and would afford
an opportunity to able seamen to fix an
arbitrary wage and tie up the boat
without provocation. Even if our traf-
fic would stand an increase in the pas
senger rate, and 1t certainly will not,
the increased operating expenses and
the fact that we would be at the mercy
of the so-called able seamen' would
render 1T impracticable for lis to oper-
ate. In addition to that. there is no
reason for an increase in life saving
equipment on this run.
The boat in question is constructed
of steel throughout. Her run between
Chicago and st. Joseph is approximate
ly sixty miles, which she will make on
an average OF three hours and ten min
utes. She is at no time in excess OF
one hour and thirty-thrce minutes from
shore. and at all times on her run is
within ten to sixty minutes OF all
steamers. Assistance in case of trouble
could readily be secured from other
steamers and the ports of Chicago.
Michigan City, Milwaukee, st. Joseph
and South Haven.
WOULD DE IMPOSSIBLE FOR
BOAT TO MAKE EXPENSES
81 sincerely believe it will be inn
possible TO operate this boat under the
seaman's law and make expenses
This will naturally affect the stock
and the bonds, and in the case of q
great many companies will render their
bond issues practically worthless.
81 realize. as you state. that it is
your duty to merely enforce the law,
but have taken the liberty of stating
to you that we specifically object to
that portion of this law relative to
life saving equipment. able seamen and
certificated lifeboat men and give tho
reasons therefor In answer to your
above question"
To this. Secretary Redfeld replied,
July IA, expressing appreciation OF the
frankness of Mr.. IIulls letter in giving
details of the operation of the East
land. Secretary Redfield wrote:
II note that this is n steel. summer
service boat, running from June l2 to
September S, during which period 1t is,
under present rules. permitted to have
lifcboats and RATS for 30 per cent Of
all on board (of which ia per cent may
be rafts) and life preservcrS for every
one carried.
This has been permitted from May
to October on the Great Lakes because
of the fine weather. Under these con-
ditions. you are licensed to carry
$50 people (2,500 passengers. seventy
crew., and have lifeboats and RATS for
but I'll, with life preservers for all.
You mention that your vessel is at
times in excess Of an hour from hore
(at midlako one hour and thirty-hve
Continued on Second Page.)