New-York tribune., 1921-03-18
Action Urged
On Revision Of
Navigation Law
Report ON Subject in Hands
Of Shipping Board, Which
Is Having Codification
Prepared by Its Experts
Prepared by Its Experts
legislation to Aid Marine
Hoped For at the Coming
Extra Congress Session

Effective steps toward the long
awaited revision of the United States
navigation laws are looked for at the
coming session of Congress. For more
than year the work of drafting legis-
Iation along lines to aid the develop
ment of the American merchant marine
has been in the hands Of the Shipping
Beard, and results are now hoped for.
Preliminary work in the way of lay
ing down recommendations for the
Shipping Board to act upon was COM
pleted about year ago by committee
thoroughly representative of American
shipping interests. This body, which or
ganized in September, 1919, at the re-
quest of Judge J. Barton Payne, then
chairman of the Shipping Board, was
headed by T. A. 5. Franklin, president of
the International Mercantile Marine
Company. Charles A. McAllister, vice
president of the American Bureau Of
Shipping, was secretary, and the other
members we're:
Homer L. Ferguson, president of the
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry
Dock Company; J. Parker Kirlin. ad-
mira.ty lawyer; II. F. Alexander, presi-
dent of the Pacific Steamship Company:
David 7. Warden, then with the Stand
ard Oil Company of New Jersey: Alfred
Gilbert Smith, head of the Ward Line:
Eugene O'Donnell, of Sprague & Co..
Boston; Darrow De Lancy. of the in
dustrial relations division Of the Shin
Ping Board, and Andrew Furuseth. viii
liam S. Brown and A. N. McGray, re-
srectively representing the unions of
Beamen, marine engineers and masters
and mates.
Report Made Year Ago
Sessions extending over a period OF
nearly six months were held here, MANY
persons were heard and an elaborate
questlonnaire was sent out to the in
terests affected. A series of reports
was submitted to the Shipping Board,
including detailed series of recon-
mendations as to changes in the exist
ing navigation laws. The final report was
made in March, 1920.
None OF these reports has been made
public by the Shipping Board, and no
submittal has been made to either the
Senate Committee on Commerce or the
Hcrse Committee On Merchant Marine
and Fisheries.
1t has been stated, however, that ad-
miralty experts Of the Shipping Board
isve been and still are engaged in the
work OF codifying the navigation laws
along the lines of the suggestions
made.
In the session of Congress just ended
i was stated that the work of codifica-
ton mad not proceeded far enough to
enable draft of legislation to be sub
mltted. Recently, however, it is re-
ported, assurances were given that the
matter would be submitted when the
next session, which begins on April II,
under way. Prompt action is urged
ny Anne rican shipping interests in or
uer to emove as soon as possible some
q the disabilities under which Ameri-
can operators and owners of vessels
~e. iaburing.
Eject of Seamen's Law
No particulars have been given out
Iegarding the findings of the committee
headed by MIR. Franklin, but it is under
stood that no radical changes are likely
70 pc made in the La Toilette seamen's
law, which has been under criticism as
causing American vessels to carry
much larger crews than those of any
otner mar time nation. That the inter
pretation OF the law in certain official
auarters, rather than the measure
sseii, has been responsible for this is
now reported to be the view taken.
amendments, however, have been sup-
sssted regarding the regulations for
sae payment of seamen on American
vessels when in foreign ports and on
other points
usparities in the measurement of
net tonnage between American and for
c'gn vessels to the disadvantage of
amerlcan ships are said to have been
,ouno to be unnecessary if the same at
sntlon is paid to the measurement
Iuies by American designers as is given
y tnem by foreigners.
une matter on which action is hoped
M from Congress at the coming ses-
Aon IS some definite legislation con
Nfn'ng loadlines and freeboard, so as
= = nx the amount of cargo carried by
american vessels and bring this coun-
My INTO line with other maritime ma
nons, as well as to increase safety at
uAishough the measure has passed the
mouse and has been reported favorably
Y sne Senate Committee on Commerce,
= mas not been brought to q vote in the
ssnase. Opposition of some sailing
sssse! interests to the bill is reported
m nave blocked it. There has been
soms talk of exempting vessels in
soastwise trade from the terms of the
MEASURE, asaa, but nothing definite has been