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September, 1914 enables the underwriters to get business. "Regarding the : longi- tudinal strength, been no evidence so far that any of the ships which came to grief on question of there has the lakes in the storm of Nov. 9 were lost through lack of longitudinal strength. On the contrary, so far as I can learn, none of the ships failed in this respect while they were afloat, and any ships, when loaded, no matter how strongly they are built, are liable to break if thrown up on the seaway, and bearing probably amidships with the two ends hanging, giving the same effect as bending a stick over you knee. Any evidence which has developed so far would indicate that the ships were more likely to have been lost from their hatches, or deck houses, or both, and the evidence would seem to be very strong on these two _ points, although nothing is known definitely, and never will be known probably, re- garding the ships which foundered, but with those which were thrown up 'on the beach, these are the two points which suffered most. "Regarding the classification of ships on the lakes, just as on the ocean, they are not classed exclusively by any one classification society. I believe there are eight United States lake freight rocks ina vessels classed by Lloyds Register, and it would be very difficult for Lloyds, or anyone else, if not impossible, to show that any one of these is stronger as far as longitudinal strength is con- cerned than was the steamship James Carruthers, which was classed by the Great Lakes Register of Cleveland, a classification society approved of and controlled by the United States under- writers. The majority: of the vessels on the Great Lakes, especially those built in Britain, were classed by Lloyds and British Corporation. The balance of the vessels on the lakes, I believe, are in the majority of cases classified by the Great Lakes Register of Cleveland. A great deal of nonsense has been written in connection with these losses by people who do _ not know what they are writing or talk- ing about, and you can quite under- stand that Lloyds are anxious to class all the vessels possible, as there is a fee in it for them, just as the wire- less companies have been trying to make capital out of that storm and get more vessels to equip with wireless outfits, but, although I have asked the representatives of one of the wireless Companies to give me the name of any ship which received any warning by her wireless of that storm of Nov. 9, and avoided the storm as a result of that warning, they have failed up to date to give me the name of any ship." THE MARINE REVIEW American Register for Foreign Ships The Senate has passed the Under- wood bill admitting foreign-built ships over five years of age to American register provided they are owned or purchased by American citizens. The Senate amended the bill so as to allow these ships to engage in coast to coast service, as proposed by Senator Jones, but the Saulsbury amendment which would have permitted these ships to engage in port to port commerce on both Atlantic and Pacific seaboards was withdrawn by Mr Saulsbury. only to be offered by Senator Williams in con- ference. The bill reads: "Sec. 4132. Vessels built within the United States and belonging wholly to citizens thereof; and vessels which may be captured in war by citizens of the United States and lawiully condemned as prize, or which may be adjudged to be forfeited for a breach of the laws of the United States; and seagoing vessels, whether steam or sail, which have been certified by the Steamboat Inspection Service as safe to carry dry and perishable cargo, wherever built, which are to engage enly in trade with foreign 'countries or with the Philippine Islands and the islands of Guam and Tutuila, being wholly owned by citizens of the United States or corporations organ- ized and chartered under the of the United States or of any state thereof, the president and managing directors of which shall be citizens of the United States, and no others, may be registered'as directed in this title. Foreign-built vessels registered pur- suant to this act shall not engage in the coastwise trade: Provided, that a foreign-built yacht, pleasure boat, or vessel not used or intended to be used for trade admitted to American registry pursuant to this section shall not be exempt from the collection of ad valorem duty provided in section 37 of the act approved. Aug. 5, 1909, entitled 'an act to provide revenue, equalize duties and encourage the in- dustries of the United States, and for other purposes'. That all materials of foreign production which may be nec- essary for the construction or repair of vessels built in the United States and all such materials necessary for the building or repair of their machin- ery and all articles necessary for their outfit and equipment may be imported into the United States free of duty under such regulations as the secre- tary of the treasury may prescribe: Provided further, That such vessels so admitted under the provisions of laws 30! this section may contract with the postmaster general under the act of March 3, 1891, entitled 'an act to pro- vide for ocean mail service between the United States and foreign ports, and to promote commerce', so long as such vessels shall in all respects comply with the provisions and re- quirements of said act. "pec. 2, 9. The- Président of, the United States is hereby authorized, whenever he shall find that the num- ber of available persons qualified un- der the now existing laws and regu- lations of the United States to fill the respective positions of watch of- ficers on vessels admitted to registry by this act is insufficient, to suspend by order; so far and for such time as . he may find to be necessary, the pro- visions of law prescribing that all the watch officers of vessels of the United States registered for foreign trade shall be citizens of the United States. "Whenever, in the judgment of the President. of the United States, the needs of foreign commerce may re- quire, he is also hereby authorized to suspend by order, so far and for such length of time as he may deem de- sirable, the provisions of the law re- quiring survey, inspection and meas- urement' by officers of the United States of foreign-built vessels ad- mitted to American registry under this act. "Under like conditions and to like extent the President of the United States and the secretary of the navy are hereby authorized to direct that the navy yards of the United States, and all of their equipment and dock- age facilities, be used for the purpose of repairing and keeping in a seaworthy condition all merchant vessels now or hereafter registered under the American flag, under such conditions as in their discretion are just and equitable: Provided, That such ad- ditional use of said navy yards and their equipment shall not in any way interfere with the paramount pur- poses of the navy of the United States: "And the President is hereby au- thorized, whenever in his judgment the needs of domestic trade require, to suspend by order, so far and for such length of time as he may deem desirable, the provisions of law con- fining the trade from points on the Atlantic coast to points on the Pacific coast, and from points on the Pacific coast to points on the Atlantic coast to American ships. Senator Williams' amendment was then added in conference to include coastwise trade.