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26 But it must not be overlooked, and credtt is due to the members of the Lake. Carriers' Association, that in its very first action looking to this, specific direction was given to its executive committee that it be done with all regard to liberal. wages, good conditions and every fair consideration for every employe on board ship. = "The executive committee charged with this duty, completely rounded out in the direc- tions, took up the subject accordingly, of put- ting the discipline of the ships back into the hands of the executive officers, of seeking proper means to enable them to obtain proper help on the ship, of dignifying the positions of the officers and bettering the conditions of all on board. A RETURN TO THE PLAN oF 1901. 'The plan so nearly worked out in 1901, naturally claimed attention. This had _ been worked out on the lines of railroad and other industrial co-insurance and a_ shipping federa: tion in England, reports of civil and indus- trial associations as to the results of their efforts and accomplishments by different or- ganizations under such general recommenda- tions. Since 1901 had come some governmental regulations in this and other countries. Gov- ernmental compulsory insurance or co-insurance and compulsory compensation acts had been put in force, some, unfortunately, so recent as not to have developed positive results, and all these had to be gone over. The most careful investigation was made. and a plan was adopted, not at haphazard, but along gen- eral lines, in every respect where _ possible checked up and tested by the experience of some one or more of the different lines of endeavor by government or individuals in this and other' countries toward the same end, the result of which in the plan adopted by your executive committee, after conference with the board of directors, and with other owners and upon all information .and advice they could . obtain from every source, confidently put for- ; ward by them as designed to carry out the = purposes sought. The plan involves the con- iL sideration that as. the master is in the nature of things and by established law the vice prin- cipal of the owner, and in case of emergency becomes the agent from necessity of the cargo and its owners, and is in general charged with the safety of the whole adventure contained in his ship, he should be made an associate mem- ber. of the Lake Carriers' Association. That the chief engineer of these great ships, | with their complicated machinery and _ respon- sible only in less degree for her safe operation, should have the supervision of the men em- ployed in his department and for whose actions he is responsible. ; That the executive officers of the ship should have -suffcient authority to carry. on the business of the ship, according, not alone, to their opinion, but their responsibility from time to time as.the occasion arises for judg- ment and for action, and. must not be ham- pered in the due and lawful exercise of such , authority by rules or conditions unknown to. law. : ie That. by reason of the uncertain duration of employment, of the crews in general, absolutely broken by the four or five months of winter closed season, things looking to. co-insurance and co-operation are difficult of application and. would be unjustifiably burdensome in the ad-. ministration. es But, nevertheless, it is meet.and prover that by reason of their greater financial ability the employers. should in some direct and simple manner advance and pav -proper amounts, corresponding .to the contributions or euaran- tees of funds usually found in the voluntary or statutory requirements of co-insurance and compensation, and that while the Lake Car- riers' Association does not manage ships and does not employ labor, it can and-is under obligation -to 'perform. one of its. important. functions in ascertaining the fitness of .men and giving. them certificates. of recommenda- tion of such fitness as an aid to. them in obtaining . employment. - Loe "ATTRACTIVE ASSEMBLY ROOMS. And, in view of the, character of .emplov- ment, the obligation of the employer. outside of mere wage, permeating all insurance and compensation arfd - other - aids. obligates the members..of; the Lake Carriers' Association to. furnish reasonable, attractive and helnful. club or assembly -rooms on -shore for the. men. In respect. :to this, it was considered that the proper conduct and .apnreciation of. these rooms,: as well as .a feeling of. self-respect, equally -recommend a small. charge: to.-be made to eines for their wse,..s. 5 E ut in respect to the benefit in case of TAE MaRINE REVIEW death or shipwreck, this, it was considered, should not be a matter of purchase or barter, but, by reason of its exigent necessity, should be made free and represent the employers' con- tribution in a movement of this character. By. reason, again, of the uncertainty of em- ployment, inseparable from this kind of = ser- vice, and in the 'interests of simplicity and promptness, it was regarded wise to make no exception whatever as to the manner in which an accident had occurred, whether by fault of one party or the other, or whatever the char- acter or how gross that fault might be, but make the simple happening of the accident the basis of payment of the benefit. Also, while the general basis of compulsory compensation and compulsory or _co-operative insurance carries 'with it a condition that its acceptance supplants the claiming of damage by suit at law, in the same direction of sim- plicity and to make the contribution effective, the idea prevailed that this payment should be absolute, not only regardless of any question of negligence in the first instance, but without limitation or: other effect on the right to pro- ceed in court in any manner for legal dam- ages. TAG to the question of sick benefits or com- pensation in case of partial injury, this was omitted by reason-of the present rights of sea- men under the law in respect to cure and wages in such cases. Also, it was the idea to not only make these provisions perfectly simpie and free from red tape, but to confine them to those things which must compel the , concurrence -- of fair- minded persons which are within the justifiable limit of expense, with the suggestion as made in the report of the executive committee, that this shall be expanded so far as experience shall recommend and show its propriety. And finally the idea prevailed that it is not the pre- rogative of either the employer or the employe to regulate the conduct of the other or furnish any precise lines in his living, his faith, his beliefs, his associations, but that the rights are reciprocal as they are equal, that, according proper and reasonable conditions of wages and service, from "employer to employe as well as from employe to employer, both employer and employed' shall have good right to follow his own preferences and wishes in regard to unions, associations and affiliations, whether these be religious, philanthropic or industrial. President Livingstone then gives the context of the plan as published in the Martine Review of Dec. 10 last. Assembly rooms have already been established at Cleveland and are in process of completion at the other leading ports, and it is gratifying to know that: they are being well pat- ronized. AID TO NAVIGATION. The lightship,) Kewaunee has been maintained at Southeast Shoal, Lake Erie, by the association for several years. Through the efforts of 'the association an appropriation of $45,000 was secured from congress in 1903 for the construction of a lightship to be maintained at Southeast Shoal. Owing to objection on the part of the Dominion government to a vessel belonging to the United States being stationed in Canadian. waters, the lightship was not built, and the money has since its appropriation been lying in the United States treasury unused. During the past year President Living- stone took up the question again with the officials at Washington and it be- came the subject of negotiation be- tween the secretary of state and the Dominion government. On August 20 last, advices were received from Secretary Root that an arrangement 'had been concluded with Canadian e officials under which the Canadian government agreed to provide and maintain a lightship at Southeast Shoal. President Livingstone is now negotiating with the Canadian de- partment of marine at Ottawa to bring the matter to a_ conclusion, He recommends that when it is ac- complished, the Kewaunee be trans- ferred to Point Abino. President Livingstone then reviews the improvements under way and pro- jected for harbors on Lake Erie, He also reviews the present condition of work upon the Livingstone chan- nel and submits a chart showing the condition of the channels at the mouth of the Detroit. river on Jan. 1, 1909, He notes that Col C: McD. Tow, send, government engineer, has re- newed the suggestion of his predeces- sor, Gen; :Charles "EK. L.- B. Davis that the channel lying between Wyan- dotte and Fighting Island be straight- ened. In this connection the govern- ment engineer says: "There is a section of the channel between Detroit and Lake Erie of about' five' miles in length, lying between Fighting Island and: the City of Wyandotte, which should be im- proved. The widths and depths of the natural channel along this section are sufficient, but. passing vessels are required' to make' five changes of direction in navigating this short stretch, and as a consequence many collisions have occurred there. 'It' is thought that the expenditure of. about $420,000 would secure- a straight channel- 800 ft. -wide through this: section." - : : iy A chart is incorporated showing the character of this -improvement. WORK- AT. THE SAULT. Concerning the work upon the new' lock at Sault Ste. Marie, President Livingstone says: . [e "After a delay of a year, work was com-' menced on the excavation' necessary for the: . new lock, the work in progress being confined: to lands not in litigation. --During the last. session of congress, a bill was introduced by Congressman Young proposing an amendment - of the river and harbor bill of 1907, which was hoped would enable the government 'to at once proceed with the construction of the new lock. A hearing. was called on March 30 by the rivers and harbors committee in Wash- ington, which was attended~ by your officers and a committee of: members of the associa- tion. - The hearimg was continued for several days, after which the rivers and harbors com- mittee took the matter 'under advisement in executive session, but failed to reach a solu- tion of the problem, the bill: was not: reported out and congress' adjourned - without action thereon. This left the matter in the hands of the war department, as provided in the river and harbor bill of 1907, which author- ized that department to 'acquire 'the required lands by negotiation,. by: condemnation pro- ceedings or by seizure and subsequent: arbitra- | tion, The negotiations having failed and. the seizure -plan being of doubtful legality, the only course left under these provisions 'was that of condemnation in: the ordinary course. Acting upon instructions from the department, Col. C.. McD. Townsend, U:: S. engineer im charge, seized Island No: 5 and_ placed a guard thereon, and this island is now in pos- session of the United States. Work of ex: cavation was commenced upon the site: of: the new lock and is now -well: under way, the work being. confined to that portion -of -the » land which the United States is in undisputed possession of. Col. Townsend has recommended: to the government authorities that a fair lump sum of money be offered for quit-claim deeds of all the property in 'dispute, and if this