South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-18
EFFORT ON FOOT
To DISCREDIT NEW
SEAMAN s BILL
ShipOwnerS Said to Be Filling
Vessels win men Below the
Standard to Make Measure
Seem Unreasonable.

WASHINGTON. June 1S.-An or
ganized effort 10 discredit the new
seaman's bin before it has had a
chance 20 operate is on foot accord
ing to Andrew Feruseth. president Of
the Seaman's union. who was chiefly
instrumental in securing the legisla.
ton protecting seamen.
THE announcement by Vice Pres't
and Gen. Mgr r. T. Schwerin of the
Pacific Mail Steamship CO. that his
company would have 10 60 out Of
business because the seamen's bill
viii not permit him TO use Chinese
crews any longer. Should be taken
with a grain OF salt" said Fcruseth,
who has been in Washington TO see
the secretary Of commerce about tho
enforcement of the new law
This is not the first time that Mr..
Schwerin has thought he was going
20 he forced out of business" con
tinued Feruseth. "The Pacific Mail
Steamship Co is an adjunct Of the
Southern Pacific railroad. and Mr..
SChwerin testified before a congress
siOnal committee long before the sea-
mans bill was enacted that his COM
pany would have to go out Of business
on account Of the provision in the
continental railroad companies from
owning ship lines engaged i'm coast
wise trade As a matter Of fact. how
ever. there are TO indications that the
Pacific Mail lis going out Of business.
At last reports. this company had
hired "A number of college graduates.
had placed them aboard its steam
ships ( the purpose of teaching the
Chinese crews the English language.
Of the seamen'S bill compelling Z . per
cent Of the crew in each department
II the ship 20 understanding the Ian
guage Of the officers. They hope i'm
this way 20 get around the law.
Deliberately Hire Interiors.
The shipOwneTs are cOmpla ming
that il is impossible for them 10
comply with the law-that there are
not enough seamen speaking the Eng
lish language 10 nan their ships We
have gone to- them i'm perfect good
faith. offering TO assist them free OF
charge I'm getting the right kind OF
men-men up 10 the standard set for
skill and Language so far they
have refused. Reports from New
York show that shipOwners are DELHI
srately hiring any kind of men
Curacao negroes k8nakas and south
arn Europeans. without any knowl-
would appear that they are trying TO
create condition where they can go
20 congress and claim that it is inn
possible for them TO comply with the
aw. They tried the same game when
he so-called Officers law" was pass
"a in the 62nd congress. They said
hey couldn't get the requisite num-
Der OF officers specified 10y that law.
ont when they were given to under
stand that they would he compelled
20 pay the fines If they did not. they
quickly enough found experienced Of
iCers
The shipowners are filling their
vessels with men who are below the
standard set by the new law and
when the law goes into force they tell
he government that these are all the
men they have been able 10 obtain and
hat they must be permitted to disre-
Eard the law. Congress gave the
shipowners eight months in which
hey might prepare TO obey the law.
1t was not the intention 10 give them
sufficient time TO orga nize a condition
lnder which il could not he obeyed.
Il the shipownerS really believe that
congress- viii repeal or change the
seamen's act 10 please them before il
las been given a fair trial they will
Ind themselves very much mistaken 80