22 DISCUSSION ON TWO PRECEDING PAPERS. 



It is not intended in this paper to make any criticism of the results of the 

 labors of the Convention. An endeavor is made to place before you the types of 

 United States vessels that are or should be affected by the Convention. 



In order to improve the conditions of safety of life in United States vessels 

 it is suggested that the question of increased safety in coastwise vessels should be 

 considered by the Department of Commerce on the basis of the Convention, or 

 even on a basis insuring greater safety than contained therein. 



In order to assist in the application of the Convention requirements, the follow- 

 ing suggestions are made: — 



1. That statutory load line or free-board legislation should be enacted. 



2. That curves of floodable lengths should be constructed and issued by the 

 Department of Commerce for standard types of United States vessels. 



3. That a detailed definition of the "criterion of service" in Regulation Article 

 VIII be given after this has formed the subject of further study as suggested by 

 the Convention. 



DISCUSSION. 



The Chairman : — These two papers are now open for general discussion. 



Prof. Herbert C. Sadler, Member of Council: — I think as naval architects and marine 

 engineers we all welcome the results of the work of the International Conference. There 

 are one or two sentences in the first paper to which I think particular attention should be 

 called. As individuals, some of us have been called in in consultation in connection with 

 legislation, but as a Society, as a whole, we perhaps have not received the recognition that 

 we should have had in the past. Beginning on the bottom of page 5 of the first paper, Mr. 

 Chamberlain makes a suggestion which looks to me like a step in the right direction. He 

 says : — 



"Casual study of the twelve articles on Construction, comprising Chapter IV of the Con- 

 vention, and the accompanying nine pages of regulations, will convince any reader that a 

 small staff of well-trained naval architects must be created to work in or with the Depart- 

 ment of Commerce, if the United States is to give effect to the Convention." 



I think that is a very good suggestion, and a very helpful one. I think that the profes- 

 sion should be consulted in connection with legislation of this character. There is another 

 sentence, on page 6, which I think is particularly forceful : — 



"The steadying effect of international standards on subjects relating to safety of life at 

 sea is insurance against thoughtless or harmful suggestions of legislation or regulation and 

 attempts to pervert public sentiment to the attainment of selfish ends." 



