Evening journal., 1916-01-03
WOULD license THE
RIVER MOTOR BOATS
Congress Has Many Bills
That Would Make Sport
Safe
IDEA IS TO MAKE
CRAFT USE NUMBERS

Congress, two IN the senate and two m
the House of Representatives., m which
motor hoatmen should take some inter
est There are reports that others are
to follow, and that before nest season
measure will be passed which VIII Ie-
uurc that all moturhcats be licensed
and carry numbers as the automobiles
DO.
Senate bill 1918, introduced by Sen
ator Nelson. and House bill no. 5f95, in
trcduced by Mr. Miller. of Minnesota,
are To amend section . of the motorboat
act at June -. lhO. The Senate has nc
fcrred the bill to the committee ON com
mcrcc. and the House has referred u tol
the committee ON Merchant Marine and
FISHERIES.
This bill says; tNery motorhoat sub
iecl To any of the provisions Of this act,
and also all vessels propelled by ma
chinery other than by steam more than
/ 90 feet in length. shall carry either life
prcser,crs. lifc-belts or buoyant cush-
! ions or ring huoys or other device, to bel
prescribed by the Secretary of Com
! mcrcc. sufficient TO sustain alloat every
person on board and so placed as to be-
readily accessible. MI motorboats,
J whether propelled by steam, gasoline,
I luid of any nature or otherwise, and
whether engaged in the business OF
/ carrying passengers for hire. towing Tor
hire. fishing for hire, or carrying freight
for hire. or motorhonts owned on oper-
atcd hv any person, firm or corporation
in the conducting and carrying ON OF any
commercial business or pursuit, shall
carry one life prescrver of the sort pre-
scrihod by the regulations OF the Board
of Supervising Inspectors for every per-
s.u carried.
40 such motorhoat. whether engaged
la the business of carrying passengers
for hire. freight. towing for hire, fish
inc for hire or carrying by amy firm,
person or corporation in the conducting
and carving forward of any commercial
business or pursuit shall be operated or
uuyigatcd except in charge OF person
duly licensed for such service by the
local board Of inspectors.
Whenever any person claiming to
be competent to operate motorboat
offers himself for license, the board
OF local inspectors shall make diligent
inquiry as to his character, determine
whether or not said applicant pos
: sesses the required knowledge and
skill to carry out the services for
which said applicant seeks license
within the district and under such
limitations as are set forth in the ap-
plication. IL said board of inspectors
from its inquiry and written eNami-
} nation. determine that such applicant
is Of such trustworthy character and
| merit and possesses such requisite
! knowledge and skill as TO warrant the
granting of license, said board shall
grant said applicant a license for such
q a term within such limits as said
n board Of local inspectors may pre-
{ scribe i'm iis license but any such IL
z cense may be revoked or suspended
@ by said board upon such terms or con-
o. ditions as said board may prescribe
b. for misconduct, gross negligence, in
y temperance. recklossness in naviga-
, ton. or violation of the law on the
4 part Of tho holder: provided, that mo-
!, torhoats shall not be required to carry
/, licensed officers except as required IN
" this act"
This bill should it boone a law, will
affect many thousand men who own
l. motorboats and who use thom in
l. trade: and by some II is regarded as
the entering wedge and that sooner
"a or later a bill will be passed which
o will require that there be a licensed
e man on every motorboat.
The National Association OF Engine
, and Boat Manufacturers. the Ameri
a can Powerboat Association, the Water
I'D ways League and other organization
Is have legal committees, 10 which al
10 matters of this kind are referred; ant
these committees. If they think tn
;e projected laws are unfair, take actor
~ to stop their enactment, if possible.
~ These committees are now consider
~ ing these bills with others. and it
- possible that at the coming motor
, boat show there may be a conferenc
u of representatives of the different OF
T. CARNATIONS to decide on some plan q
le campaign The show will be held
o. the Grand Central Palace from SatuI
eo day. January %, until Saturday. Eel
in ruary 8, and in that time many meet
~ ings will be held which will bring tC
m gether all those interested I'm motor
IN, boating for their general good.
he IL was recently intimated in IN
Presidents message that gasolin
might be taxed and that gasoline mC
ee tors might also be taxed per horse
Oh power. There are hundreds OF thoi
ev sands Of motors in this country an
no tEe consumption of gasoline is emo
.ss nous. so that the effects OF such take
iu would be far-reaching One senate
o,, recently, referring TO these suggel
~ tions, remarked that IL would be e,
tremely hazardous for the governmei
to impose such taxes at this tim
Ihis Is Just the beginning OF a pres
Dental and congressional campaien.