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MARINE Vot. XIII. CLEVELAND, O., MAY 21, 1896. REVIEW. No. 21. Marine Engineers' Bill Passed. Every licensed officer of the merchant marine service in the United States has reason to congratulate President Geo. Uhler and his brother officers of the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association upon their suc- cess in securing the passage of the bill known as the marine engineers' bill. The measure, with senate amendments and conference amend- ments, has passed both houses of congress and will without doubt be signed by the president in a few days. As will be seen by a reading of the bill it affects all licensed officers as well as engineers. Although the REVIEW questioned the advisability of trying to have this bill provide for more than the recognition of engineers as officers of steam vessels, and that they should be citizens of the United States fully naturalized, thereis no feature of the bill that can not be endorsed. Criticisnr of the original bill was prompted simply by a fear that the un- important features might endanger the passage of a law of any kind on the subject. Now that Mr. Uhler and his associates have accomplished nearly all that they started out to secure in the bill, their efforts should be especially commended. The five-year term of license is retained. The supervising inspector-general is not called upon to review all cases in which licenses are revoked, but an accused engineer or other officer of asteam vesselis given the right to retain counsel. This will secure fair treatment before local inspection boards, and it also gives the ac- cused the same chance to defend himself that he hasin any court of justice. The bill is known as H. R. 3,013 and it amends section 4,131 of the revised statutes. Its provisions as it finally passed both houses of congress are as follows: "Vessels registered pursuant to law, and no others, except such as shall be duly qualified according to law for carrying on the coasting or fishing trade, shall be deemed vessels of the United States, and entitled to the benefits and privileges appertaining to such vessels; but no such vessel shall enjoy such benefits and privileges longer than it shall con- tinue to be wholly owned by a citizen or citizens of the United States or a corporation created under the laws of any of the States thereof, and be commanded by a citizen of the United States. And all the officers of vessels of the United States who shall have charge of a watch, including pilots, shallin all cases be citizens of the United States. The word 'officers' shall include the chief engineer and each assistant engineer in charge of a watch on vessels propelled wholly or in part by steam; and after the Ist day of January, 1897, no person shall be qualified to hold a license asa commander or watch officer of a merchant vessel of the United States who is not a native born citizen or whose naturalization as a citizen shall not have been fully completed. "All licenses issued to such officers shall be for aterm of five years, but the holder of a license may have the same renewed for another five years at any time 'before its expiration; provided, however, that any officer holding a license, and who is engaged in a service which necessi- tates his continuous absence from the United States, may make applica- tion in writing for one renewal and transmit the same to the board of local inspectors with a statement of the applicant verified before a con- sul, or other officer of the United States authorized to administer an oath, setting forth the reasons for not appearing in person; and upon receiving the same the board of local inspectors that originally issued such license shall renew the same for one additional term of such license, and shall notify the applicant of such renewal. And in all cases where the issue is the suspension or revocation of such licenses, whether before the local boards of inspectors, as provided for in section 4450 of the re- vised statutes, or before the supervising inspector, as provided for in section 4452 of the revised statutes, the accused shall be allowed to appear by counsel and to testify in his own behalf. "No master, mate, pilot, or engineer of steam vessels licensed under Title LII of the revised statutes shall be liable to draft in time of war, except for the performance of duties such as required by his license ; and while performing such duties in the service of the United States every such master, mate, pilot, or engineer shall be entitled to the high- est rate of wages paid in the merchant marine of the United States for similar services; and if killed or wounded while performing such duties under the United States they, or their heirs, or their legal representa- tives shall be entitled to all the privileges accorded to soldiers aud sail- ors serving in the army and navy under the pension laws of the United States. "All laws or parts of laws in conflict with this act are hereby re- pealed. But this shall not be construed to modify or repeal that pro- vision of the act of June 26, 1884, which reads as follows: 'In cases where on a foreign voyage, or on a voyage from an Atlantic to a Pacific port of the United States, any such vessel is for any reason deprived of the services of an officer below the grade of master, his place, or a vacancy caused by the promotion of another officer to such place, may be supplied by a person not a citizen of the United States until the first re- turn of such vessel to its home port; and such vessel shall not be liable to any penalty or penal tax for such employment of an alien officer." Side-Wheel Steamer City of Buffalo. Numerous statements have been made during the past week regarding fast runs made by the new paddle steamer City of Buffalo between Cleve- land and Buffalo. Until atest of the steamer's speed is made under fair conditions, accompanied by reliable reports, it will probably be best to refrain from any statement of her time between the two ports. It is quite certain, however, that the new boat, under favorable conditions, will have little difficulty in making the run, which is a little less than 180 miles, in nine hours. Sheis undoubtedly the fastest side-wheel steamer on the lakes and has cost her owners, complete, a trifle less than $240,000. The steamers Western Metropolis and City of Buffalo, which were operated by the Lake Shore Railway on this same route in the fifties, were costly boats and very fast, but there is little question of the new City of Buffalo improving on the best time ever made by either of them. Mr. Thomas Fitzpatrick, vessel owner of Cleveland, erected the beam engines of the Western Metropolis in 1856 and was chief engineer on her during three seasons. He says that the Western Metropolis was a little faster than her sistership, as the power of the two vessels was the same, while the displacement of the City of Buffalo was a little greater than that of the Metropolis. He is positive that the best time ever made by the Western Metropolis between Cleveland and Buffalo was 9 hours and 5 minutes. Owners of the present City of Buffalo claim to have beaten this time already by nearly half an hour, but it will probably will be well to await verified accounts before making definite statements about the speed of -- the new boat. The steamer's reception at Buffalo and Cleveland was one round of crowds and enthusiasm. The mayors of both cities took partin the dedication, and the excursions of business men were so largely attended that in Cleveland, at least, the big vessel was unable to accommodate all ofthem. The Cleveland excursion was under the direction of the Mari- time Board, one of the auxiliary organizations of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce. Capt. Wm.S. Mack is chairman of this organization. He was assisted in conducting the dedication. by President Cowles of the Chamber of Commerce and Messrs. Harvey D. Goulder and B. l. Penning- ton. The resolutions that were adopted are as follows: " Although organized -but three years ago, for the purpose of operat- ing aline of freight and passenger vessels on Lake Erie, the Cleveland & Buffalo Transit Co., by a careful and progressive management, presents to the people of Cleveland today a steamship that represents in every de- tail the best practice of modern ship building; an artistic and mechan- ical triumph; a ship of vast dimensions, and of beauty and speed, com- bining luxurious richness of interior decoration, the best achievements of naval architecture and the highest skill in marine engineering. "Tt is fitting that the members of the Maritime Board and the Cleve- land Chamber of Commerce, assembled on this magnificent vessel, should give expression to their appreciation of the enterprise of this company ; and it is therefore i "Resolved, That we tender to the owners of the City of Bnffalo our hearty congratulations upon the success of their undertaking and the. manifold advantges and beauties of this ship; and we feel especially hon- ored today in being permitted to dedicate this masterpiece of the ship builder's skill. x bil "Resolved, That the thanks of the Maritime Board and of the Cleve- lane Chamber of Commerce be extended for this excursion and that an engrossed copy of these resolutions be presented to Mr. Thomas F. Newman, general manager of the company." The India, first of the four big steamers building by Caird & Co., Greenock, Scotland, for the great Peninsular & Oriental Co., was launched recently. These ships are 500 by 54 by 37% feet. A fifth steamer of the same dimensions for the same company is being built by Harland & Wolff of Belfast. They will each have triple expansion, four-cylinder engines, -- which are to develop 11,000 horse power. Howden's system of hot draft is used in all of them.