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



We must remember that among the official delegates to that Conference are Admiral 

 Capps and Mr. Homer L. Ferguson, both very well known for their services in the past, and 

 the ability with which they will consider any subject put up to them. I think it would be un- 

 wise to interfere at this time. 



Mr. Robinson : — I have great deference for Mr. Taylor's judgment, but one of the 

 purposes of my resolution was that the Society might be in the position of having tendered 

 its services to assist the Department of Commerce in construing what the International Con- 

 gress may have decided. I do not presume to say that this Society could do a better job than 

 the International Congress in London, but when the Department of Commerce comes to con- 

 strue what the International Congress in London did, and put it into the form for legislation, 

 I am inclined to think that some assistance would be of value to them, and that it would 

 be wise for us to offer it. 



Mr. Taylor: — I did not so understand the nature of the resolution as offered by Mr. 

 Robinson. If that is the purpose of it, there is no objection to it at all. Particularly is this 

 true when it is considered that the International Conference may establish standards for 

 trans-oceanic service, which our lawmakers may wish to adopt for our coastwise, lake, sound 

 and river services, but which, because unnecessary, may be very detrimental. If this 

 resolution only means that we shall offer our services to construe the demands of the Con- 

 ference in reference to our own commerce, then I am heartily in favor of it. 



Mr. Luther D. Lovekin, Member: — I am glad to see that the Society is taking an in- 

 terest in this matter, as from my personal knowledge of the attitude of the Department of 

 Commerce; I am quite sure that they will welcome any assistance from this Society. For 

 eight years I went to Washington to assist them myself, and for eight years tried to get 

 Statute 4433 repealed. It is the most ridiculous thing which ever appeared on the statute 

 books of this country. It was put through Congress in the form of a statute, and misinter- 

 preted by the Bureau of Supervising Inspectors, and as it stands now it is a disgrace to the 

 engineering profession. This statute will have to be repealed before the book is really in 

 proper condition. 



Mr. William Gatewood^ Member: — As I understand the matter, the instructions given 

 to our representatives in the International Congress were to confine their attention strictly to 

 oversea traffic, and they are not empowered, in any way, to consider the subject of coastwise 

 traffic or interior traffic. Such being the case, it looks as though this country were more 

 conterned in its own coastwise and river traffic, and therefore Mr. Robinson's resolution is 

 strictly in order. 



Mr. Bowles: — I would like to disclaim any construction of my previous remarks as 

 reflecting upon the efficiency of our representatives in the International Conference. 



I want to make it clear, that whatever the International Conference does, there is a job 

 to be done by the Department of Commerce and Labor with reference to the ships to which 

 these regulations will apply, on which they will need help. Mr. Gatewood has made clear 

 that while the International Conference may not deal specifically with coastwise and inland 

 traffic on the rivers of this country, it will place a moral obligation on such things, and the 

 importance of this subject can hardly be exaggerated. 



