New-York tribune., 1921-10-26
House and Ship
Board to Meet
On Hague Rules
Argument for International
Agreement on Bill of Lad
ing Will Be Made by C. S.
Haight Next Friday Night
Leaders Promise to Assist
United States Cooperation
Sought Before Worldwide
Meeting at London Nov. %

An effort to obtain the cooperation
Of the United States government in
adopting the Hague rules on shipping
will be made next Friday night by
Charles S. Haight, chairman Of the
bill of lading committee of the Inter
national Chamber of Commerce, at a
hearing in Washington before Ship
ping Board commissioners and the
House Merchant Marine Committee.
Mr.. Haight is seeking to get the
approval of leaders of the board and
Congress for the new rules before the
international Conference of Ship
Owners convenes in London on Novem-
Der 23. The Hague rules will be one
of the most important subjects of dis
cussion at the meeting abroad, when an
attempt will be made to have ship
owners, shippers and marine insur-
ance underwriters of all nations in
dorse the uniform bill of lading as
necessary development in world COM
merce.
Jones to Cooperate
A. D. Lasker, chairman of the Ship
ping Board, has promised to call the
attention of the commissioners to the
hearings, with a request that they be
present, Mr.. Haight said yesterday.
Representative George w. Edmonds,
chairman of the committee on
marine insurance of the House Mer-
chant Marine Committee, has taken the
initiative in arranging the meeting.
Mr.. Haight said that he has discussed
the matter with Senator Jones, chair
man Of the Senate Committee on Com
merce.
Il was authorized by Senator Jones,n
said Mr.. Haight, "to inform the British
owners that if they would accept the
new rules he would personally advo-
cate any reasonable amendment to- the
Harter act, which might be necessary
to make our laws conform with the
rules"
II was pointed out by Mr.. Haight yes
terday that at present each country has
its own bill of lading, with various
legal restrictions, and that as a result
foreign commerce is hampered through
that Is legal in London, he said, would
subject the carrier to a fine of $4,000
in the United States.
Calls Uniformity Vital
Bills Of lading have reached a
state which is almost hopeless" he de-
clared. "The vital thing is that obli
The Hague rules on shipping, which
were adopted by the International Law
Association last September, provide
uniform features for all maritime ma
tions to replace the existing indi-
vidual forms. Mr.. Haight said that
this is intended to be further step
in cooperation among nations, such
as the international rules on naviga-
tion, the York-Antwerp rules covering
general average in losses at sea, and
the international postal conference.
The Hague rules generally have re-
ceived the approval of marine insur-
ance underwriters and shippers. Steam
ship companies have been inclined to
hold aloof, chiefly because the new
rules raise the limit of liability for
loss for each package at sea to approx
mately $500. Under the present status
OF the Harter act American steamship
companies usually limit their liabil-
ity to about $1Oo package.
United States Approval Needed
The action to be taken by the Ship
ping Board and Congress is awaited
with considerable interest here and
abroad. 1t is realized in Great Britain
and other maritime countries that
unless the United States gives it's ap-
proval to the Hague rules the move
ment practically will be killed at the
start. 1t is probable that the new
rules will be discussed to-day at the
meeting of the American Steamship
Owners Association, at II Broadway,
when a decision will be reached on
sending representatives to the inter-
national conference of ship owners.
Mr.. Haight will sail for London on
November Is to be present at the
opening Of the conference.
Mr.. Haight has also discussed the
rules with a number of bankers on
the assumption that if bills of lading
are made uniform the hesitancy with
which the banks advance money
against these documents will to large
extent be dispelled.