HE745 19114 [H. R. 31689, Sixty-first Congress, third session.] A BILL To provide American registers for the steamers San Jose, Limon, Esparta, Cartago, Parismina, Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Commissioner of Navigation is hereby authorized and directed to cause the foreign-built steamers San Jose, Limon, Esparta, Cartago, Parismina, Heredia, Abangarez, Turrialba, Atenas, Almirante, Santa Marta, Metapan, Zacapa, Greenbrier, Peralta, La Senora, and Sixaola, owned by the United Fruit Company, incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey, to be registered as vessels of the United States: Provided, That the said steamships shall not engage in the coastwise trade of the United States, but shall not be excluded from that between this country and the ports of the Panama Canal Zone. Any steamships so registered under the provisions of this act may be taken and used by the United States as cruisers or transports upon payment to the owners of the fair actual value of the same at the time of the taking, and if there shall be a disagreement as to the fair actual value at the time of taking between the United States and the owners, then the same shall be determined by two impartial appraisers, one to be appointed by each of said parties, who, in case of disagreement, shall select a third, the award of any two of the three so chosen to be final and conclusive. COMMITTEE ON THE MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C., Monday, January 30, 1911. The committee met at 10 o'clock a. m., Hon. William S. Greene in the chair. The committee thereupon proceeded to the consideration of the bill (H. R. 31689) to provide American registers for the steamers San Jose, Limon, Esparta, Cartago, Parismina, Heredia, Abangarez, Turrialba, Atenas, Almirante, Santa Marta, Metapan, Zacapa, Greenbrier, Peralta, La Senora, and Sixaola. The CHAIRMAN. Without objection the committee will come to order. We are one or two short of a quorum, but in the absence of objection we will start the hearing. Mr. HUMPHREY. Mr. Chairman, I would like to call up for consideration the bill H. R. 31689, which provides for giving American registry to certain vessels owned by the United Fruit Co. The provissions of the bill are to permit them to be registered for foreign trade; and in case of war they are to be turned over to the Government under practically the same conditions as are contained in the law of 1891. This bill is a little better in its wording, I think; and it was taken from the statute that was passed in regard to some other vessels-I think the City of Paris, and others. What statute was this taken from, Mr. Penfield? Mr. WALTER S. PENFIELD. It was taken from the New York-Paris act. It is practically the same as the statute of 1891. Mr. HUMPHREY. Yes. The manager of the United Fruit Co. is present, Mr. Ellis, of New Orleans. I ask that Mr. Ellis be heard, in favor of the bill. STATEMENT OF MR. CRAWFORD H. ELLIS, MANAGER OF UNITED FRUIT CO., NEW ORLEANS, LA. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Ellis, will you give your name and occupation and whom you represent? Mr. ELLIS. My name is Crawford H. Ellis. I am manager of the United Fruit Co., of New Orleans, La. Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. Chairman, have we a quorum present? The CHAIRMAN. We are one short, but he has been reported. Mr. ALEXANDER. I think we ought to have a quorum if we are going to act on this bill. The CHAIRMAN. If we were going to act on the bill at once I should require a quorum. Of course, if there is objection to proceeding we will wait until there is a quorum present. Mr. ALEXANDER. Of course, if we have the privilege of having these hearings printed, and the Members can read them hereafter, it 3 |