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The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, October 15, 1913, Image 24

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Persistent link: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045487/1913-10-15/ed-1/seq-24/

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'SKILLED SEAMEN ALONE WILL SAVE US FROM
VOLTURNO AND TITANIC HORRORS!" (
Says President International Seamen's Union. "
By Frederick M. Kerby.
Washington, Oct. 4.5. "That labor
conditions on the higlfseas must be
remedied at once, and by Congress,
if such horrible disasters as that
which has just overwhelmed the Vol
turno are not to occur with awful
repetition, has been clearly demon
strated by this latest sea catas
trophe!" This is the statement of Andrew
Feruseth. Feruseth is the leading
authority on this, holding the presi
dency of the International Seamen's
Union of America and being Presi
dent Wilson's special commissioner
to the London conference between 14
nations which will consider the ques
tion of safety-at-sea in November.
"According to reports," declared
Feruseth, "136 to 145 persons lost
their lives in this disaster. The storm
had subsided finally when rescue be
came possible.
"The Volturno, unlike the Titanic,
was fully provided with lif eboats, but,
like the Titanic, she was unprovided
with a SUFFICIENT NUMBER OF
SKILLED MEN!
"Two of the Volturno's boats were
'lowered and got away; four were
"lowered and were smashed alongside.
The fact that two got away Indicates
the lack of skill on the part of the
crew of the four lifeboats which
FAILED to get away.
"When the Carmania arrived she
lowered one of her boats, which tried
to get to the burning vessel Some
oars were lost and one broke both,
of which incidents indicate a lack of
skill on the part of the crew.
"But one fact stands out clearly,
and that is that the Carmania's boat
succeeded in getting back to the Car
mania and was hoisted aboard!
Weather was therefore such that
WITH PROPER SKILL boats COULD
be lowered and handled!
"The one supreme test of skili in
a seaman and the one most import
ant to passengers in the seaman's
ability to lower a lifeboat and to get
her away from the ship's side when a
fierce gale is blowing!
"The one paramount thing which
seems necessary at this time is for
Congress to pass laws which will IN
SURE skilled crews on every ocean
going vessel!"
The Senate has fixed Oct 16 for
the consideration of the seaman's bill
now before that body, and it has been
agreed to take a vote on Oct 23.
According to President Feruseth
the question of whether or not any
REAlj protection is to be given pas
sengers at sea, wil be determined BY,
TfflS VOTE.
"The senate has before it this bill
introduced by Senator Nelson of Min
nesota," says Feruseth. "It was re
ported 'out of committee' in such a
way as to leave the committee mem
bers free to offer and vote on any
amendment which might be pro
posed. "Senator LaFollette has introduced
a bill 'Senate No. 4' wihch is the
bill as it passed the House at the last
session and which was submitted to
the departments of commerce and
labor, BOTH OF WHICH RECOM
MEND ITS PASSAGE.
"Notwithstanding this, the com
mittee reported the other bill.
"The LaFollette bill SHOULD BE
PASSED; the Nelson bin should be
DEFEATED!
"The LaFolletta bill provides for
a nine-hour day for seamen; the Nel
son bill makes it possible to work sea
men 12 hours, a day. The LaFollette
bill provides a standard of efficiency
in the able seamen equal only to the
lowest modern foreign standard set
by statute and that two able seamen
or men of higher rating shall be pro
vided for each lifeboat carried and
that 75 per cent of the cievV in each
aAli;

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