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VOL. 39. CLEVELAND, JANUARY 21, 1909. NEW YORK No. 3 EFFECT OF NEW STEERAGE RESTRICTIONS. The bill lantic steerage traffic, which became restricting the trans-At- effective Jan. 1, 1909, promises to in- convenience but few of the lines in- volved as with the present passenger movement there is no necessity for if the ment were stch as to require it the "limiting," and even move- modern ships would not be materially affected. That the country will soon be re- quiring labor is admitted and to im- pose unnecessary restrictions will surely result in a scarcity of the same is the argument. of the steamship companies, although it is not believed that any except the older boats will have their earning capacities material- ly decreased by the new rules. The bill provides in brief that it shall not be lawful for the master of any vessel whereon steerage passen- gers have been taken at any port or place in a foreign country or dominion (ports and places in foreign territory - contiguous to the United States ex- cepted) to bring such vessel and pas- sengers to or take from any port or place in the United States unless the compartments, spaces and accom- modations hereinafter mentioned have been provided, allotted, maintained and used for and by such passengers during the entire voyage, unobstruct- ed by cargo, stores or goods. The master of a vessel coming to a port or place in the United States in viola- tion of any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor; and if the number of steerage passengers carried or brought in the vessel, or in any compartment, space, poop or deck house thereof, is greater than the number allowed to be carried or brought therein, respectively, as hereinafter prescribed, the said master shall be fined $50 for each and every such passenger in excess of the proper number, and may also be imprisoned not exceeding six months. In computing the number of passen- gers carried or brought in any vessel, children under one year of age shall not be included, and two children be-: tween one and eight years of age shall be counted as one passenger; and any person brought in such ves- sel who shall have been during the voyage, taken from any other vessel wrecked or in distress on the high seas or have been picked up at sea from any boat, raft or otherwise, shall not be included in such compu- tation. The expression "steerage passenger" .is considered to mean all passengers except cabin passengers and persons shall not be deemed cabin passengers unless the space allotted to their ex- clusive use is in the proportion of at least 36 clear superficial feet to each passenger. The expression "lowest passenger deck" means the deck next below the water line; and the expression "pas- senger deck" includes every deck or portion of a deck which is above the lowest passenger deck and is ap- propriated for passengers. A vessel shall not carry passengers, whether cabin or steerage passengers, on more than one deck below the water line. The height between that part of any deck on which steerage passen- gers are carried and the deck imme- diately above it shall not be less than 6 ft. No steerage passengers shall be car- ried on the lowest passenger deck unless it is efficiently lighted by side scuttles and otherwise to the satis- faction of the inspector. No greater number of steerage pas- sengers shall be carried on the low- est passenger deck than in the pro- portion of one steerage passenger to every 21 clear superficial feet allot- ted to their use. If, however, the height between the lowest passenger deck and the deck ifnmediately above it is less than 7 ft. and the eper- tures, exclusive of side _ scuttles, through which light and air are ad- mitted are less in size than in the proportion of 3 sq. ft. to every 100 superficial feet of that deck, no greater number of steerage passengers shall be carried on that deck than in the proportion of one steerage passenger to every 30 clear superficial feet thereof, subject to the allowance for measurement of public rooms, lavatories and bath rooms, if any, provided for by paragraph ten. _No greater number of steerage pas- sengers may be carried on a passenger deck than in the proportion of one steerage passenger to every 18 clear superficial feet of deck allotted to their use. If, however, the height between any passenger deck and the deck immediately above it be less than 7 ft. no greater number of steerage passengers may 'be carried on that deck than in the proportion of one steerage passenger to every 21 clear superficial feet thereof, subject to the allowance for measurement of public tooms, lavatories and bath