Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-11-04

new &AMEN ACT
EFFECTIVE AT
MIDNIGHT

Today Is the first day OF life for
the Seamen's Act, which went into
effect one minute after midnight this
morning. The new law, which the
Pacific Mail says made II necessary
to sell its transpacffic ships and 90
out OF business, Is now operative, and
Honolulu khlDpers and ship-owners
are much interested in seeing how it
will work out.
In its issue of October Is, the Coast
Seamen's Journal of San Francisco
gives the most important points Of
the bill, OF which Senator La Toilette
and Andrew Furuseth OF San Francis.
co are the joint authors.
Among other things. says the Jour
NAL, the new law provides that on and
after November 4, mo vessel OF 100
gross tons and upward, shall be per-
mitted TO leave port OF the United
States, unless 40 per cent of
her deck crew. exclusive of licensed
officers and apprentices, are OF rat.
ing not less than able seaman"
The law states specifically who
shall be rated as an able seaman
and directs the Secretary Of Com
merce to issue rules governing the is
suance of able seaman certificates.
To quote from Section 10:
"AbIe Seaman" Defined.
Every person shall be rated an able
seaman, and qualified for service as
such on the seas, who is 10 years of
age and upward, and has had at least
three years service on deck at sea or
on the Great Lakes, on a vessel or
vessels to which this section applies,
including decked fishing vessels, ma
val vessels. or coast guard vessels;
and every person shall be rated an
able seaman, and qualified to serve as
such on the Great Lakes and on the
smaller lakes, bays or sounds, who is
IS years OF age or upward, and has
had at least AZ months service on
deck at sea or on the Great Lakes or
on the smaller lakes, bays or sounds,
on a vessel or vessels to which this
section applies, including decked fish
ing vessels, naval vessels, or coast
guard vessels .
Then follows modification of the
three-year service rule. as follows:
Graduates of school ships approved
by and conducted under rules prescribe
ed by the Secretary of Commerce may
be rated able seamen after IL months
service at sea; provided. that upon
examination, under rules prescribed
by the Department of Commerce as
to eyesight. hearing. and physical con-
dition. such persons or graduates are
found to be competent"
Language Clause.
The Language clause, about which |
there has been the greatest uproar, |
particularly from the Pacific Mail, |
requires American ships to carry in |
each department crews at least Is
per cent of which can understand all
orders given by their officers.
Apparently there has been as much |
delay about issuance of able seamen's |
certificates in San Francisco as In
this port The Journal declares that |
inquiry at the office of the San Fran
cisco inspector brought forth the
information that no able seaman Ger.
tificate had been issued and none
would be issued until directions were |
received from Washington. When the
question was asked how soon such |
directions were expected, the inspect |
or CURLY informed the applicant that |
he was going little too far in his |
questioning and suggested TO the seek
er of information that he had better |
write to Washington himself.