The Detroit times., 1915-01-21

ttoutinued from Iuge Onc.D
rules with respect to navigation in the
fog.
President Livingstone touched but
= lightly on the LaFolette seamen's
bill, which has been thoroughly
threshed out in previous sessions OF
the association. He expressed the
hope that IL will be permanently shelly
ed. declaring that no real reason ever
existed for drafting 1t at all.
The association undoubtedly Will
oppose bill introduced In the house
last July by Congressman Hardy, OF
Texss, ito better regulate the serving
of licensed officers in the merchant
marine OF the United States and TO
promote safety at sea" II amends one
, section OF the Revised Statutes to pro-
vide for the revocation OF the license
Of ships officer If he shall refuse to
perform his official duties "after
ing signed articles" Advocates Of the
measure admit that the purpose OF
the amendment is to permit officers to
refuse employment on any vessel
without assigning reason. In the
opinion OF association officials. any
number of licensed officers could com
Nine TO dictate terms 70 the vessel
OWutIS DeIOT6 SlbulnB dTlH
ulcer the navigation laws a ship can.
not leave port without aafull compile
inent of licensed officers aboard.
One of the most interesting fea-
lures OF the annual report was the
report OF the Welfare Plan committee.
which shows wonderful advances in
the matters of sanitation. safety. saw
/, rs and sobriety The welfare plan
itself, considering the backwardness
of the season, gave evidence OF rapid
ly increasing popularity among the
men. Although the aggregate number
OF ships in commission was much less
than in 1913, the percentage of regis
tered men aboard was higher. The
total registration for the year was
15.145. The association officials are
greatly pleased with the way in which
me officers OF the vessels are cooper.
at'ng to make the plan success.
New assembly rooms for the men
have been secured in Buffalo, Toledo
and Lorrain, while improvements have
been made generally in the quarters
at all of the ports. The installation
Of circulating library OF victrola rec
or6s proved very popular move. The
men, IL is stated show almost as
much interest In the classical selec-
tlons as In the popular ones.
: The night schools conducted in Rr'
falo, Cleveland, Detroit. Marlne city
and Duluth last winter ACCOMPLISHED
so much good that they will be con.
tinued throughout the present winter.
out OF a class OF 30 in Marine CITY.
last year. 10 obtained licenses.
A Safety First" campaign was Wig.
orously pushed by the welfare plan
committee. Safety signs were pre-
pared and distributed 10 all vessels
IN the association, and 1t Is believed
that the record OF personal injury
. cases will show a decided reduction
as result.
Statistics on the savings plan estah.
lished on ship board in 1911 show thai
practically every man Is saving a lit
fle money. The least amount any one
ship enrolled I'm the plan saved was
80 cents, while the savings on others
ran we'll into the hundreds of dollars.
Active work on the part of the com
mittee I'm the matter OF sanitation has
resulted I'm a marked increase I'm the
quality OF the food supplied ships. In
accordance with instructions sent out,
based on investigations made by the
government. drinking tanks were filed
from selected areas in the various
lakes. The report adds:
There Is no doubt whatever that
when the drinking tanks are filled
from the areas indicated In the In
structions. the men aboard ship are
drinking a far purer water than Is or
dinarily consumed In the various cities
bordering on the lakes
The opinion was expressed that
sterile tanks as a safeguard against
the pollution. OF theTiskes are not nee
essary for the present.
The association has taken decided
stand against the liquor evil. On req
ommendation OF the industrial com
mittee. the board OF directors caused