3. Construction and equipment of vessels, and saving of life and property from shipwreck at sea-General Divisions 2, 3, and 4, and Sub-division No. 1 of 5. 4. Qualifications of officers and seamen-General Division 6. 5. Steam lanes-General Division 7. 6. Official inquiries into shipwrecks and other casualties-General Division 5, Subdivision No. 3. 7. Transmission of warnings and information, buoys, etc.-General Divisions 9, 10, 11, and 12. 8. Permanent Maritime Commission-General Division 13. All of which is respectfully submitted. S. R. FRANKLIN, Rear-Admiral. W. T. SAMPSON, Commander, United States Navy. S. I. KIMBALL, General Superintendent Life-Saving Service. Master Mariner. JOHN W. SHACKFORD, Master, Merchant Marine. WILLIAM W. GOODRICH, Counsellor at Law. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, INTERNATIONAL MARINE CONFERENCE, Washington, April 3, 1889. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that, in conformity with the instructions of the State Department of February 27, 1889, the Delegates on the part of the United States to the International Marine Conference met on Monday, 25th ultimo, organized, and proceeded to the consideration of a detailed programme of the subjects to be considered by the International Conference for transmission to the several powers. This programme was completed on the 30th ultimo, and is herewith inclosed. The correspondence between the State Department and the British Government on this subject was examined, and in conformity with the intentions of our Government therein expressed, a consideration of the "International Code of Flag Signals" was excluded from the programme and a consideration of the "load line" was included. With this exception and this addition, the entire subject-matter of the act of Congress of July 9, 1888, was arranged in general divisions, following as nearly as possible the precise language of the act. These general divisions were then carefully considered and each was arranged under subdivisions and subheads. It is believed that this arrangement in detail is sufficiently broad to include all matters bearing directly upon the principal topics, and care has been taken at the same time to avoid extending the field of deliberations of the Conference beyond the limits indicated in the act of Congress and its interpretation by the State Department. Very respectfully, S. R. FRANKLIN, Rear Admiral, U. S. Navy, President of the Board of American Delegates. Hon. JAMES G. BLAINE, Secretary of State. COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RULES OF THE ROAD. Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare the material for printing the International Rules of the Road in accordance with the resolution submitted on Thursday, the 17th, together with any other memoranda of changes in the law of other powers than the United States. COMMITTEE ON COLLOCATION OF THE RULES. Resolved, That a Committee on Collocation of Rules, to consist of seven persons, be appointed by the President. MOTION. Mr. GOODRICH (United States). That the several committees be increased, each by two, and that the Committee on Collocation also be increased by two members. |