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MASTER'S LICENSE SUSPENDED. The local inspectors of steamboats at Detroit have suspended the license of Capt. John Davis, master of 'the steamen Chicago, of the Western Transit Co.'s fleet, for six months, for attempting to pass the steamer Ma- saba while upbound in the vicinity of the Limekiln Crossing. Masters of bulk freighters 'have frequently com- plained about the actions of the mas- ters of package freighters when navi- gating the rivers. The decision is therefore quite imiportant and is as follows: "After 'carefully reviewing the evi- dence submitted at the trial of Capt. John Davis, of the steamen Chicago, said trial 'being the result of com- plaint filed with this board by the master of the steamer Masaba, against the master of the Chicago, for at- tempting on July 12, last, to pass the steamer Masaba while both steamers were proceeding upbound in the vicin- ity of Limekiln Crossing, lower De- troit river (willfully and recklessly) and in violation of the provisions of rule VIII of the pilot rules of 'the great lakes and thein connecting and tributary waters. "This board finds, first, that Capt. Davis, of the Chicago, did violate the provisions of the rule governing the situation, as laid down in said rule VIII, and that said violation was will- ful, inasmuch as it is shown by his own statement that he knowingly and intentionally attempted to pass to port of said steamer Masaba without the proper exchange or agreement of sig- nals as provided for in the rules. "Tt is also shown iin Capt. Davis' testimony that this steamer was run- ning at about the rate of about 14 miles per hour and that this speed was maintained in her effort to pass the Masaba until check signals were given ther 'by tthe patrol steamer. This attempt to run by the Masaba at such high rate of speed, constitutes, in our opinion, recklessness of a very grave order, on account of the almost cer- tain result of causing the overtaken steamer to Shear and perhaps go aground on the rock bank of the chan- nel, and especially reckless in view of Capt. Davis' statement in which the says that it was 'kind gof hazy, so mitch that' 'in the middle of the island, where I 'attempted'to:"pass the Ma- ree T couldn't see above the cross- ing,' "We cannot see how. a pilot in charge ican justify 'his action in run- ning at a 14mile clip, into a rock- bound, narrow channel where the movements of vessels are restricted TAE MarRINE REVIEW for the purpose of preventing acci- dent and safeguarding the interests of life and property, with the deliberate intention of passing another steamer proceeding in the same direction with- _ out the proper exchange of signals, and at the same time confessing that he could not see clearly ahead, 'but for a short distanice, on account of haze; there is in our opinion no justt- fication whatever under, or authorized by rule VIII, for Capt. Davis' action in this case, for there was not imme- diate or unforeseen dangen to avoid, until Capt. Davis made it so by delib- erately and unlawfully putting his own - steamer in such a position as to make the situation dangerous. "In view of the above, it is the opinion of this board, that Capt. Da- vis is guilty of willful violation of rule VIII of the pilot rules, and reckless navigation on the occasion complained of. We do, therefore, hereby suspend and pilots' license of the accused, for a effective Dec. ithe masters' Capt. John Davis, period of six months, 31, 19088 REMOVING IMPORT DUTIES ON GRAIN. : Capt. 3.3: HH. Brown, of Buffalo, has submitted the following resolution to the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce and has vigorously urged its adoption: | Whereas, The surplus product of all the great grain producing countries of North and South America, as well as Russia, Egypt, India and Australia, finds its way to western Europe for market, and the prices im western Europe fix the grain prices throughout the world, so that the price of wheat at Manitoba and Dakota, for instance, is equal to the price of wheat in Lon- don and Liverpool, less the cost of getting it there; and Whereas, The surplus wheat prod- ucts of the United States, as well as of Canada, are marketed in Europe, and the prices of wheat on the farms of the United States and Canada are fixed by the prices in the great Euro- pean markets, the admission of Canad- ian grain free of duty would have no effect on the price of grain in the United States, and would not affect our millers, the product of the farms of the United States would find a foreign market at equal prices. It therefore appears to us, that the removal of import duties on grain, and especially of the duties on wheat, would work to the advantage of the transportation interests of our country at Ecorse. 21 without injurying any other interest, as follows: The grain Kat Pye irate of the -great lakes has decreased through our ports, while other commodities have very greatly increased, and on the other hand, by reason of the duty on grain, no Canadian grain is sent over our transportation routes, or shipped from our ports except when the vol- ume of business is too great for the Canadian routes, when the excess is shipped to Buffalo, and thence to our sea ports, in bond. The removal of the duty would regain for our trans- portation routes this great and in- creasing volume of business, to the ad- vantage of our water and rail trans- portation, and as before stated, with- out detriment to any other interest, and all the profits that follow the transpiortation of grain from the pro- ducer to the consumer, would fall into American pockets. 'Whereas, There is no locality in the United States so much concerned in this question as the port of Buffalo, unless it is the port of New York. Be It Resolved, That this problem be presented to the proper committees of congress, with copies of these reso- lutions, and the request that they give attention to the problem hereby sug- gested, to the end that the interests of 'the great transportation 'business be considered. Be It Further Resolved, That we respectfully urge upon such commit- tees and our representatives in con- gress, that they recommend that Ca- nadian grain be admitted free of du- ties, so that our transportation busi- ness may be increased to the benefit of the whole country, instead of per- mitting the great trade of transporta- tion of grain to go by Canadian routes. The package freighter Mohawk, of the Western Transit Co.'s fleet, which stranded nean Detour, is in dry dock Her bottom is 'badly dam- aged and about 80 plates will have to be takenp off. Mr. S. P. Shane, the new manager of the Gilchrist Transportation Co., met with the directors of the com- our home market in any way, as to pany: 'ast, week. Fe will devote his .the extent Canadian grain. was used by, entire time to the new 'Position | after Feb. AL Capt. Barney: Townsend of: the steamer Adriatic of the Lackawanna Steamship Co.'s fleet, will remain ashore to look after his private busi- ness. Capt. James N. Neal will sail the Adriatic next season.