Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-27
SHIPPING NAY BE TIED UP HERE
WHEN NEW LAW Is IN FORCE
Few Vessels Will Leave Unless the
Government Acts, Agents Say

Decentralization and tie-up of shipping
at this port is threatened when the La
Toilette seamcns bill goes in'o effect
next week, according to shipping men,
Unless there is a rapid adjustment OF
conditions, il is predicted that few yes
sells will be able to leave port The fault,
some shippers say. lies with the slow
ness Of the Government authorities at
Washington. while others are inclined to
blame the seamen.
Section Is of tho seamnn's bill makes
IL mandatory upon a vessel TO have 40
per cent of the deck crew certified able
bodied seamen." A. BIS have never be-
fore been certified. To obtain certih-
cate the law says they must pass mem
tai and physical examinations, and pre-
sent affidavits swearing that they have
had at least one years experience either
at sea or on the Great Lakes.
Up until today, with the enforcement
of the law seven davs distant. not one
seaman has presented himself for exam
ination before the United States steam
boat inspectors. A continuance Of this
apathy, the shippers say, means that
there will not be one certified seaman
when the law becomes effective on No
vember 4, and should the authorities in
sist on having the law obeyed none OF
the vessels in port can leave until they
have 20 per cent. of the deck crew A. BIS.
Vessel owners. agents and brokers are
incensed at the lack of attention given
the law by the seamen. They have used
persuasion in all its multifarious ways to
get them to take the examination with
out result.
I'VE should worry" is the general ex-
preston of the seamen when the subject
is broached to them. The boats need
US: we can get along somehow until they
can fix things up" said one today. Sew
eral of the seamen said that they had
gone to the office of the local United
States Steamboat Inspectors in the post
Office and did not like the spirit dis
played there. A blank was given them TO
fill out and most of them being illterate
all was Greek to them. they assert. No
assistance was volunteered, il is contend
ed. and the straw that broke the camels
back came when they were told they
would have TO take the affidavit TO
notary to be sworn, for which he would
charge 80 cents.
Fifty cents TO an A b. two days after
pay day is, as a rule, a big sum, and
when the news spread along the water
front that II would cost them so cents to
be certified all interest in the eXamina-
tions fled The supply of a5le-bodied
seamen when business is good, as il is
now. is scarce. and when business is dull
there are hundreds to be found so the
number Of a. BIS in port at one time
varies from % to several hundred.
Another obstacle In the way of the GER
tihcates, II is said, IL the stiffness OF
the examination. which consists OF boz
ing the compass knowledge of lights and
for signals. signals for starting, stopping.
slowing down and backing on steam yes
sells. passing signals for steam vessels.
knotting. bending, splicing and hitching;
ability 10 pull an oar, clearing away,
lowering and getting a boat away from
a 9hip handling boats at sea knowl-
edge OF nautical terms and steering. The
examination is TO be oral and Is to be
conducted by qualified Government Of
hcial.
shipping men believe that the proper
Government official should visit ships
and put the men through the various
tests. Up until today no notification has
boen received as TO when a Government
ofHciaJ may be expected This is said
70 he due TO the fact that no applications
have been filed. officials Of regular line
vessels deplore the inactivity OF the Fed
erai authorities declaring that they
should have started 10 prepare for the
reinforcement 81 the law six months ago,
when the vessel owners began TO prepare
TO obey IL
In addition 20 the examination for their
mental fitness as A BIS, the sailors are
compelled 70 take physical examination
which includes an examination OF the
e,es before the examination for seaman
sbip II the law Is TO be adhered 20,
sbipping men assert Il is time for some-
one 40 get busy They say they have
done their part and II Is now up TO the
seamen and the Government officials 20
do something II rs said that the law
has been buneled and conditions would
have been entirely different had the cer-
.tifestion Of the seamen been left TO the
United states shipping Commissioner
whose duties bring him in contact with
the men every day Of the year