New Britain herald., 1916-02-24
SHIPPING INTERESTS
 HAMPER WITH LAW
Author Of Seaman'S Act Says It Is
 Not Being Enforced

Boston, Feb. Exchanges that the La Toilette seaman's act is not being enforced because the shipping inter- ests have too much influence with off, clalS of the department of commerce were made here tonight in an address peIore the Economic club by Andrew Furuseth, author of the act and pres- ldent of the International Seaman's union.
 The commissioner of navigation and the inspector of steam vessels were specifically named by MT, Fur useth as the officials responsible for failure to enforce the law.
 " nat IS the prospect of having an American merchant marine and of bringing the American to the sea-" asked MT, Furuseth. When will the improvement come? My answer is that is on the knees of the Gods.
 But it will certainly come as soon as there shall be less American money ln foreign vessels, os, as soon as the putIc shall get a better understand Ing of this legislation, or. as soon as the shipping interests shall have less Influence with the bureau chiefs. who
 
 merce, or when those bureau chiefs are promoted, or die. Fortunately, lew men are immortal and it is only after death
 They say in England that govern ments may come and governn ents may go but the permanent officials go ch foreVer. l am sorry to state that this seems to apply to our country as well, though our bureau chiefs are | rot made permanent by law. We put 1 new wine into old bottles and the l wine is spoiled.
 Congress- Work NulIified.
 Congress may pass laws based up- on a most careful consideration of hu- man nature and the experience of the l past. 1t may try to ke them so that l they may work nearly automatically, l yet those who are entrusted with their l execution may nullify them or bring 1 hem into ill repute
 The department of commerce is authorized and instructed to make rules for the enforcement of some of 1 -he most important sections of this act. Or course, the drafting of these ! rules Is done by the bureau of naviga- Ion and the bureau of inspection. sub- ect to approval by the secretary of commerce.
 The com mmlSsiOner of navigation 1r. Cham berlain, and the inspector of steam vessels, Mr. JThler, lave been consistently and consistent y opposed to this legislation. They opposed it before committees of con-I ress, and as delegates to the confer- nee on safety at sea, held in London. hey helped to build an international arrier against it. They, on several ccasions expressed the belief that 1t 'ould tend to eNrsl.ze the wage cost f operation; but yet it was unWiso.
 ITO entrust to them the drawing f these rules was very much in the ature of setting the fox to watch the eese. Honest? Of course they are onest! So is the Fox!
 No Improvement in Three Months
 This law has been in operation for hree months in American vessels; Ihere are the signs of improvement n the personnel? If 1t does not inn 'rOve the personnel on American veS- els how can it improve the person. el on American vessels because the 1 aW is not enforced on American ves- els. It has not affected foreign ves- els yet because the law will not be n full operation on foreign vessels un- il some time in June this year.
 Of course, if the regulations which ! he departm ment of commerce is au- horized to make, is of such nature hat it will not improve the person. 'el on American vessels if the regu- 7tlons limits and softens the Obnox- ous laW,' so as to permit shipowners continue as of yOre, it will neces- arlly leave foreign vessels untouched, 'ecause the regulations must be tho anne under the lay.
 MT. Furuseth asserted that the sea- nen's act if enforced would build up n American merchant marine and 'r1ng American boys back to the sea.
 Tt permits the crews of foreign 'essels to leave their ships in Ameri- an ports he said, 'and to take ad- -antage of the higher wage rates pre- 'all1ng in those ports. Foreign ship owners will be forced either to pay American wages and maintain Ameri- an conditions, in order to keep their nen, or, if their crews quit in an Am rican port, to hire men to take their l )laces at the wages prevailing in that yort.
 Purposes of Law
 "The three important purposes of 1 he law are to obtain a better person. lel in the interest of safety; to euual-