The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-09-27
LA5FOLLETTE SHIPPING BILL.

NNfNoYEMBER 5 a bill becomes effective, passed by
W Congress and signed by President Wilson. which
tsldirected towards some changes in merchant
marine service The chief prepayment of this bill has
BEEN one who for many years sailor before the
mast It's his contention that hitherto practically all
the regulations governing affairs have been for
the benefit OF ship owners and masters and that many
Cases the welfare and rights OF sailors the
high seas and inland waters have been utterly disre
garded.
BY the provisions of the BILL 1t is the aim our gov
ernmentto give to sailors the same liberty and freedom
thabeengs to other citizens our country No longer
Will the Delaying pin be feature OF shp.dscipne; i'm
prtsonment for deserving foreign port is ruled
OF order; the sailor is entitled half his earned wage
pt where his touches; good sanitary con-
Mtions and wholesome food required in short the
toers OF sea are to be treated from henceforh
like human beings and less like automatic devices for
handling our Floating cities"
ASstorm of protest against the bill has been made by
Heamshp owners particularly the Pacific coast The
such has been chilly account of the
thirteenth section Of the Law, which provides that
~ least seyentyayo per cent of the sailors on an Amer
lean registered vessel must be United States citizens
This requirement is made to give preference to
home labor as well as to insure competent manage
men As 1t is oricntals those of other
nationality. working for less pay than Americans, Sc
cure the places which our own men should have
: Those who have been advocates OF merchantmarne
for this country are claiming that the La Toilette bills
eject IS practically to make impossible this much need
ed adjunct to our government service. In support OF
their they state that of the vessels which had
but recently been registered under the Stars ami
Stripes three have been placed under British register
and the other two shortly TO meet the same fate
IN to this of the largest steamship companies
IN tie Pacific coast is threatening TO its head
quarters to Vancouver unless the bill is at once re-
pealed. The latter company asserts that the thrill In
spired by having "old Glory" the masthead Of its
VESSELS would scarcely compensate the added and
as IL contends, unnecessary expense involved.
1ti our opinion that the improvements both in quail
ity men. and in the conditions under which they arc
TO operate our vessels character to warrant the
ensetment Of the bill law Why should not the Amer
cap citizen be protected in competition with cheap for
cign labor in his capacity sailor, Just as he is pro-
tected n lines Of industrial endeavor Furthermore
- In the interests Of safety American lives that the
management Of vessels should be in the hands OF skilled
and responsible men, And those men are entitled TO
the same rights and privileges which other Americans
have For years have stoutly stood for liberty
yetthis liberty has been denied the American sailor
1isony for selfish reasons, therefore, that steamship
companies are protesting against the bill which
70 have in only what will put safety first and secure
greater efficiency. II this means the destruction OF
our notwithstanding service for the present be 1t