New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-16
Would Also Suspend Sea
mems Act Provisions, Ma
tiOnal Poll Reveals.
WANT u. S. COMMERCE
LEFT UNRESTRICTED
Men Of Country Vote TO Modify
Punishment for Desertion
Of Seamen.

Washington. Na-th Is. The business
men Of the country rre almost unani-
nous in favor Of the suspension OF
certain provisions OF the sesmen's act
and the creation o. Federal shipping
board. according 70 the nationwide
referendum just conducted by the Ma
tional Chamber OF Cimmercc.
Against 50 favorable votes only .
were cast against the recommendation
OF the chamber that Congress should
be asked 20 suspend az once Sections 4,
% and Il or the seamen's act, which
discriminate against American ports
and American ships and which are re-
strictive Of American commerce. until
sucn time as by internatlonal agree
meut the requirements OF these sec
tons car become equally applicable TO
the shipping Of all nations.
The committees recommendation
that the sections Or the seamen act
dealing with deserters should be re
pealed as 20 fore ign vessels. and that
the State Department should seek 10
have arrest md imprisonment Of sea
men for desertion abolished by other
nations. was carried BY q vote Of s46.
only fifteen negative votes being cast.
The vote on the recommendation that
Congress should be asked 20 request
the President 10 withdraw at once the
notices the United States has given
regarding abrogation OF treaties stood
soc in favor and opposed.
The Affirmative vote on the recon
mendation that a Federal shipping
board should be created was much less
than on the others The vote stood
soy In favor and - opposed.
Section Z. referred 10 IN the commit
tees first recommendation. has to do
with the demand OF half pay az Amer
can ports by seamen on foreign ships.
Section 10 deals with the language
test and the complement OF able sea
men. while Section - refers 90 Life
saving Appliances and the manning OF
lifeboats.
Regarding the Federal shipping board.
II is recommended that 10 take over
the staff and duties OF the Bureaus o.
Navigation and Steamboat Inspection,
which now administer the laws regard
ing the American merchant marine
that it proceed az once 10 revise exist
ing Laws and 20 propose amendments
which shall provide comprenensiveiy
and adequately for the comfort, safety
and welfare Of the crews. manning and
all other matters related 20 our mer-
chant marine. and especially the design
and construction Of vessels with regard
20 safety.
In announcing the decisive vote by
the business interests Of the country on
these important questions, Elliott Il.
Goodwin, secretary OF the national
chamber. said that this. the twelfth
referendum. had established record.
inasmuch as the largest number of or
ganizations who have ever participated
IN national chamber referendum
we're heard from Three hundred and
eleven commercial organizations. cham
bers Of commerce and boards Of trade,
located % forty-tve states. the District
n Columbia. Hawaii, the Philippines,
Porto Rico and Alaska. fled ballots. The
American Chambers Of Commerce IN
Paris also voted Each organization
participating m tho vote vas allowed
from one 20 ten votes. according 70 the
size Of its membership.