RESOLUTION OFFERED BY MR. R. H. ROBINSON. 55 



RESOLUTION OFFERED BY MR. R. H. ROBINSON. 



Mr. Robinson, Member of Council: — Along the lines I was speaking of this morning, 

 I would like to introduce a resolution, as follows: — 



"Resolved, That this Society communicate with the Secretary of Commerce and request 

 that it may be represented in the preparation of any legislation or regulations that may be 

 undertaken by that Department looking toward the definition or control of the construction 

 and inspection of ships." 



Mr. Francis T. Bowles^ Past President: — Mr. Chairman, in seconding this resolution, 

 proposed by Mr. Robinson, I take it that the subject has arisen in connection with the dis- 

 cussion of Mr. Gatewood's excellent paper which was read this morning. I feel that the 

 naval architects and marine engineers are in this matter in a somewhat delicate situation, as 

 they always are when it comes to providing themselves with additional inspection. We 

 have, most of us, more than sufficient, but we also ought to realize that we have respon- 

 sibility in the safety of vessels which we should not shrink from ; and if we do not meet this 

 situation properly, it is more than likely that we will be subjected to regulation and inspection 

 of a very unpleasant character. 



Whatever comes of the International Conference, it will surely result in some develop- 

 ment of the inspection service in the Department of Commerce and Labor. Now I think 

 that without reflection upon any one, even upon ourselves, we ought to recognize, and un- 

 doubtedly do, that that ser/ice needs reorganization. It needs some fundamental legislation 

 which shall enable the Department of Commerce and Labor to employ both naval architects 

 and marine engineers in their service. In my opinion, it is necessary that the whole system 

 of inspection shall be increased in dignity and responsibility, and that the Department shall 

 be authorized to prepare and enforce regulations which can be adapted from time to time to 

 the necessity of progress. 



I second Mr. Robinson's motion, and I hope that the Chair will invite further discussion 

 of this important matter. 



Mr. Stevenson Taylor, Past President: — I am in hearty accord with the purpose of 

 the resolution ofifered by Mr. Robinson, but President Wilson in his message to Congress 

 called attention to the fact that there is now in London an International Conference on the 

 subject of Safety at Sea, and he further said that after this Congress had concluded its la- 

 bors we should put ourselves in a situation to do certain things. 



Under these circumstances I think we should not venture to ofifer our services until we 

 know what has been determined by this International Conference. 



I therefore move to amend the resolution offered by Mr. Robinson, changing the lan- 

 guage to this effect — that if after the conclusion of the International Conference on Safety 

 at Sea in London, the Council of this Society should deem it wise to offer the services of 

 the members of this Society, that they will then be authorized to do so without calling a spe- 

 cial meeting of the Society. 



