New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-26

To this Secretary Redfeld replied on
June Is:
your favor Of the 25th inst. is re-
ceived. 1t is a little difficult to see how
your request can be carried out with
out involving me in flat breach Of my
oath of office, which is to enforce the
law. Power is not given to me to say
what laws shall be obeyed and what
shall not be obeyed.
"You do not make clear the basis of
your protest. What is it specifically
in the law to which you object? No
steamship company or owner has as
yet suggested to me anything TO show
what you call the disastrous effect of
this bill"
Two days later Hull sent a second
letter TO Secretary Redfeld, in which
Replying to that portion of your
letter of June % in which you ask:
What is it specifically in the law to
which you object? | can answer this
in no better way than to state the
effect it would have in the operation
of our steamship Eastland.
"This boat is operating this season
from June 10 to September S, inclusive.
Is licensed to carry $50 people. is
equipped with life preservers for that
number of people and has liferafts and
lifeboats capacity under the last in
spection for III people.
Would Make Boat Hard to Handle.
an order to keep her maximum
carrying capacity at the present figure
we would have to increase her equip
ment in life RATS and lifeboats 66 %
per cent. This is a physical impossi-
l. %. . L.
amount of equipment on the Eastland
the weight that would be added TO her
upper deck would make the boat diff
cult to handle.
"If or lifsesaving 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 a
daily reduction Of 40 per cent in carry
ing capacity would amount 10 consid-
cradle during the season in operating
revenue.
"The requirements Of the seaman's
bill relating TO certifcated 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-
fc would stand an increase in the pas
senger rate and it 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 it impracticable for US to OPP
crate. In addition to that, there is
no reason for an increase in lifesaving
equipment on this run.
1.-THE boat in question is constructed
of steel throughout. Her run between
Chicago and St. Joseph is approximately
sixty miles, which she will make on an
average of three hours and ten minutes.
She is at no time in excess Of one hour
and thirty-three 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.
Calls Law Confiscatory.
az sincerely believe it will be impos-
sible 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 a great many
companies will render their bond issues
practically worthless.
81 realize, as you state, that it is
your duty merely 10 enforce the law
but have taken the liberty of stating
to you that we specific lily object to
that portion of this law relative to life
saving equipment, able seamen and GER
tifcated lifeboat men, and give the rea-
sons therefore in answer to your above
question"
To this Secretary Redfeld replied,
July IA:
81 appreciate your writing as frankly
on the Both ult., in response to my let
ter of the 2Sth, in which | asked what
il is specifically in the seaman's law 70
which you object. You replied by Civ
ing details of the operation Of your
steamship Eastland.
81 note that this is a steel summer
service boat, running from June u 70
September <, during which period 1t is
under present rules Permitted 70 have
lifeboats and RATS Tor 80 per cent Of
all on board of which IS per cent may
be rafts) and life preservers for every
one carried.
This has been permitted from May
TO October on the Great Lakes be-
cause of the fine weather. Under
these conditions you are licensed 10
carry $50 people $500 passengers,
20 crew. and have lifeboats and RATS
for but III, with life preservers for
all. You mention that your VesSel IS
at times in excess of an nour from
shore lat mid-lake l hour and 50 min
utes), and that she is at times with
in half an hour or more away from
other steamers; you say at all times
is within ten 20 sixty minutes OF all
steamers
Your position is, therefore. one in
which, in case Of serious accident, you
might be at least a half hour from
help and over twenty miles from
shore, while possibly having on board
as many as 1879 persons for whom
there are neither lifeboatS nor life
RATS. ] do not criticlse this. II Is
al present the permitted thing.
"The seamen's bill will alter this in
summer service so that your vessel
must have boats and RATS for 80 per
cent of all on board. but only so per
cent may be RATS and 80 per cent
must be boats If IL is true that you
can carry no more boats and RATS,
then certainly the seamen's act VIII
oblice YOU TO reduce the number OF
passengers carried. You are given by
the act until the opening OF next sea-
son, early June, nearly a year hence,
in which to make your adjustments