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170 official examination, for this new pro- vision appears in the law: “Provided, that upon examination, under rules prescribed by the depart- ment of commerce, as to eyesight, hearing and physical condition, such persons or graduates are found to be competent.” There is an added provision for an ‘inferior grade of able seamen, rated so after experience of 12 months on deck, of which grade not more than one in four of a ship’s crew, may be shipped. Suggestion of Citizenship A suggestion of citizenship require- ment is found in a provision that any- body may apply to local inspectors for examination, by making affidavit “showing the nationality and age of the applicant and the vessel or vessels on which he has had service.” Third; the new law removes all pen- alties excepting loss of a seaman’s personal effects and half the wages due him for desertion of his ship either in a home or a foreign port. The peculiar provisions of the law in this regard seem to ship owners to give unlimited possibilities of mischief and expense in the operation of their ships. Heretofore, sailors have shipped for full voyages or longer, and a mas- ter could make a contract for with- holding all wages for desertion, also have a deserting seaman arrested in a home or foreign port and sent to jail for a month. Consular officers abroad were charged in the old law to dis- countenance insubordination by every means in their power and to “reclaim deserters”. All reference to prosecu- tion for desertion has been taken out of the law and Section 16 says: “That in the judgment of congress articles in treaties and conventions of thé United States, in so far as they provide for the arrest and imprison- ment of officers and seamen deserting or charged with desertion from mer- chant vessels of the United States in foreign countries, and for the arrest and imprisonment of officers and sea- men deserting or charged with deser- tion from merchant vessels of foreign nations in the United States and the territories and possessions thereof, and for the co-operation, aid and protec- tion of competent legal authorities in effecting such arrest or imprisonment and any other treaty provision in con- flict with the provisions of this act, ought to be terminated, and to this end the President be, and he is hereby, requested and directed, within 90 days after the passage of this act, to give notice to the several governments re- spectively, that so much as hereinbe- fore described of all such treaties and conventions between the United THE MARINE REVIEW States and foreign governments will terminate on the expiration of such periods after notices have been given as may be required in such treaties and conventions.” Sailormen have heretofore had the privilege of drawing half the money due them on arrival at any port. But the master has been able to stipulate this privilege away by special contract. The new law makes such stipulations void. The man must be paid: “Provided, such demand shall not be made .before the expiration of, nor oftener than once in five days. Any failure on the part of the master to comply with this demand shall release the seaman from his coritract and he shall be entitled to full payment of wages earned. And when the voyage is ended every such seaman shall be entitled to the remainder of the wages which shall then be due him.” The man gets half of his money, and if he then deserts, cannot be prosecuted. The law specifically ap- plies this privilege of drawing half pay to the seamen of foreign ships in American ports. With the with- drawal of prosecution, desertion on half pay is possible to them also. As an illustration to show the diffi- culty of carrying out this provision some of the steamers that are loaded for West India ports, and also ports of the Pacific ‘coast, call at: as: many as 15 to 20 different ports before voyage is completed. Providing they are five days apart, it would enable seamen to collect their half pay at least 15 or 20 times during an outward voyage. To carry this out would ne- cessitate the employment of a book- keeper to keep the accounts for the master. This is an extreme illustra- tion, but it is quite possible under the wording of the law. Desertion Clause Omitted These aids to desertion in the new law are not fully appreciated unless it is understood that vessel own- ers are subject to a heavy fine for leaving port without a full complement of crew. The law says that the mas- ter must ship, if obtainable, substitutes “of the same or higher rating’. The old law had this provision, but the wording was “of the same grade or rating and equally expert”. Another provision that probably ne- cessitates an addition to crews on United States ships requires that crews shall “be divided into at least two, and the firemen, oilers and water tenders into at least three watches, which’ shall be kept on duty succes- sively for the performance of ordi- nary work incident to the sailing and management of the vessel. The sea- men shall not be shipped to work al- May, 1915 ternately in the fireroom and on deck, nor shall those shipped for deck duty be required to work in the fireroom, or vice versa.” Also: “While such vessel is in a safe har- bor no seaman shall be required to do any unnecessary work on Sundays or the following named days: New Year’s Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, but this shall not prevent the dispatch of a vessel on regular sched- ule or when ready to proceed on her voyage. And at all times while such vessel is in a safe harbor nine hours, inclusive of the anchor watch, shall constitute a day’s work.” Must Understand English The law supplements the require- ment that 75 per cent of the crew shall understand English and be ex- amined able seamen by the provision that: “The collector of customs may, upon his own motion, and shall, upon the sworn information of any reputable citizens of the United States setting forth that. this section is not being complied with, cause a muster of the crew of any vessel to be made to determine the fact; and no clearance shall be given to amy vessel failing to comply with the provisions of this section: Provided, that the collector of customs shall not be required to cause such muster of the crew to be made unless said sworn information has been filed with him for at least six hours before the vessel departs or is scheduled to depart.. Provided fur- ther, That. any person that shall knowingly make a false affidavit for such purpose shall be deemed guilty of perjury and upon conviction there- of shall be punished by a fine not exceeding one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment within the dis- cretion of the court.” Fourth, a direct addition to expense of operation of United States ships, and reduction of earnings, is caused by the changes in the law that force ship owners to give larger quarters to the crews. Every man must have 120 cubic feet and at least 16 square feet’ deck room for sleeping quarters, and there can be only two _ berths, one above the other. This is two- thirds more cubic space and one-third more floor space than was formerly required. A certain 10,000-ton ship owned by a New York company car- ries 39 men in the crew. It must now — devote 2,808 cubic feet to crew. It will hereafter have to devote 4,680 cubic feet, an increase of 1,872 cubic feet. This will: take 47 tons from the cargo space. In addition, ships with crews of 12 must have a com-