Chapter 593. providing for an international marine conference to secure greater safety for life and property at sea
522 words·~2 min read·
/statutes-at-large/vol-25/chapter-593-981883·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 593.— An Act providing for an international marine conference to secure greater safety for life and property at sea.July 9, 1888. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,International conference to secure safety of life and property at sea.Delegates. That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is, authorized and requested to invite the Government of each maritime nation to send delegates to a marine conference that shall assemble at such time and place as he may designate, and to appoint seven delegates, two of whom shall be an officers of the United States Navy and one an official of the Lifesaving Service, two masters from the merchant marine (one from the sailing marine and one from the steam marine), and two citizens familiar with shipping and admiralty practice to represent the United States at said marine conference, and to fill vacancies in their number.
Sec. 2. It shall be the object of said marine conference to reviseScope of the conference. and amend the rules, regulations, and practice concerning vessels at sea. and navigation generally and the “International Code of Flag and Night Signals;” to adopt a uniform system of marine signals, or other means of plainly indicating the direction in which vessels are moving in fog, mist, falling snow, and thick weather, and at night; to compare and discuss the various systems employed for the saving of life and property from shipwreck, for reporting, marking, and removing dangerous wrecks or obstructions to navigation, for designating vessels, for conveying to mariners and persons interested in shipping, warnings of approaching storms, of dangers to navigation, of changes in lights, buoys, and other day and night marks, and other important information: and to formulate and submit for ratification to the Governments of all maritime nations proper international regulations for the prevention of collisions and other avoidable marine disasters.
Sec. 3. That the sum of twenty thousand dollars, or so much thereofAppropriation. as shall be necessary, is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, for the necessary expenses of said marine conference, including the pay and allowances of the representatives of the United States therein, which shall be at the rate of five thousand dollars per annum, and actual 244FIFTIETH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Chs. 593, 594. 1888. necessary expenses, for such delegates as are not salaried officers of the United States, and the latter shall be allowed their actual necessary expenses.
The Secretary of the Navy is hereby authorized to provide the conference with such facilities as may be deemed necessary. The powers and authority conferred by this act upon the persons Termination.appointed by the President by force thereof, shall terminate on the first day of January, anno Domini, eighteen hundred and ninety, or sooner at the discretion of the President. Sec. 4. That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to transmitReport of expenses. to Congress a detailed statement of the expenditures which may have been incurred under the provisions of this act.
Approved, July 9, 1888.