CONGRESS

SAFETY OF LIFE ON NAVIGABLE WATERS DURING REGATTAS OR MARINE PARADES.

MARCH 12, 1908.-Ordered to be printed.

Mr. FRYE, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the

The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 6028) to provide for safety of life on navigable waters during regattas or marine parades, having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass without amendment.

The bill has the approval of the Department of Commerce and Labor, as will appear by the following letter, which sufficiently presents the facts and the reasons actuating your committee:

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND LABOR,
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY,
Washington, March 10, 1908.

SIR: I have received your letter of the 10th instant transmitting S. 6028, a bill "to provide for safety of life on navigable waters during regattas or marine parades." In reply to your request that I furnish the committee with such suggestions as I may deem proper touching the merits of the bill and the propriety of its passage, I have to say: I approve the bill, and it is satisfactory to the Secretary of the Treasury and approved by the Secretary of the Navy.

On the arrival of the American battle ships late in April or early in May the approaches and harbor of San Francisco will be thronged with all types of vessels, crowded with sight-seers to welcome the fleet. The occasion will equal and perhaps transcend the international yacht races for the America's cup in the number of vessels under way or at least in the eagerness of their owners and masters to secure advantageous positions to view the parade. Such occasions usually lead to more or less reckless navigation on the part of some to the danger of many. The Federal and local officers at San Francisco consider it important that special navigation rules be framed to guard against any accident or untoward occurrence to mar the celebration. They can not be effective without action by Congress.

The risks connected with the international yacht races led Congress to pass the act of May 19, 1896, relating to regattas. It would be palpably absurd to call the arrival of the fleet a regatta, although the conditions on the water will doubtless be similar to those which the regatta act of 1896 has imperfectly met. Next September similar conditions will probably be repeated in New York Harbor and on the Hudson River at the Robert Fulton celebration, and in 1911 when the centenary of the first steamboat on the Mississippi is celebrated. Doubtless other marine events hereafter may assume proportions requiring in the interest of safety to life special action by one or more of the Federal Departments concerned with marine affairs.

The bill is designed to be broad enough to provide for safety to life on navigable waters during any important event bringing together many vessels crowded with passengers when the ordinary navigation rules should be supplemented. As the Secretary of Commerce and Labor is in general charge of shipping matters, including the regatta act since July 1, 1903, the bill vests him with administration generally. It provides, however, in section 3 for the transfer of administration by the President to another cabinet officer on special occasions where propriety may suggest such transfer.

The second section provides a patrol fleet for police purposes on such occasions. It can be drawn from various sources at various places. Thus sometimes the Navy Department can furnish torpedo vessels; the Treasury Department, revenue cutters; the Department of Commerce and Labor, light-house tenders, and Coast and Geodetic Survey, steamers; and on the Mississippi, should occasion demand, the War Department can furnish steamers, etc., employed by the Engineer Corps. At the international yacht races, owners of yachts tendered to the Government the use of their vessels for patrol purposes, and on other occasions yachts, tugs, etc., would doubtless be tendered without pay from courtesy or for the distinction.

The penalties proposed are those which seem most efficacious to prevent accidents. The regatta act of 1896 lacked penalties. For careful navigators no law and no penalty, of course, are needed. On such occasions, however, excitement in some instances and the desire to make money in others lead some masters and owners to reckless disregard of the safety, rights, and enjoyment of law-abiding citizens. The bill may be the means of preventing catastrophes during festival occasions.

As this bill takes the place of the incomplete regatta act of May 19, 1896, it provides for the repeal of the regatta act (inclosed).

At page 2, lines 12, 15, and 20, semicolons may be substituted for periods.

Respectfully,

Hon. WILLIAM P. FRYE,

OSCAR S. STRAUS, Secretary.

Chairman Committee on Commerce, United States Senate,

Washington, D. O.

Act proposed to be repealed.

[29 Stats., p. 122.]

CHAP. 199.-AN ACT To provide for the safety of passengers on excursion steamers.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in order to provide for the safety of passengers on excursion steamers, yachts, oarsmen, and all craft, whether as observers or participants, taking part in regattas, amateur or professional, that may hereafter be held on navigable waters, the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, authorized and empowered in his discretion to detail revenue cutters to enforce such rules and regulations as may be adopted to insure the safety of passengers on said excursion steamers, yachts, oarsmen, and all craft, whether as observers or participants, taking part in such regattas.

AMENDING ACT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF DAM AND BRIDGE ACROSS MISSOURI RIVER IN MONTANA.

MARCH 12, 1908.-Ordered to be printed.

Mr. SMITH, from the Committee on Commerce, submitted the

following

REPORT.

[To accompany S. 5908.]

The Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill (S. 5908) to amend an act authorizing the construction of a dam and bridge across the Missouri River in the State of Montana, having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it pass without amendment.

The bill has the approval of the War Department, as will appear by the following indorsement:

WAR DEPARTMENT,

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,
Washington, March 9, 1908.

Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War. The object of the accompanying bill, S. 5908, Sixtieth Congress, first session, is to amend the act of Congress approved February 20, 1907, authorizing the construction of a dam and bridge across Missouri River, the chief amendment being the correction of an error in the original description of the location. An extension of time for commencing and completing the structures is also proposed by the bill.

Plans for the structures authorized by the act have been submitted to the War Department for approval and are now under consideration.

The grantee is apparently proceeding in good faith, and I, therefore, see no objection so far as the interests of navigation are concerned to the amendment of the act as proposed by the bill under consideration.

SMITH S. LEACH,