Re: H. R. 2966 and S. 1077. Hon. EARL C. MICHENER, Chairman of Judiciary, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. CLEVELAND TANKERS, INC., DEAR SIR: It has come to our attention that hearings on H. R. 2966 have been held and that hearings on S. 1077 have not as yet taken place, but possibly will be acted upon in the very near future. Our company operates five tankers on the Great Lakes and we are naturally interested in bills of this type which deal with trials of seamen, both licensed and unlicensed. We feel that nothing should be done which would in any way lessen the authority of the master of the vessel or the discipline as a whole aboard ship. For this reason we strongly favor the bill as introduced and hope that it will receive favorable report without delay. Very truly yours, CLEVELAND TANKERS, Inc., BROOKLYN, N. Y., March 22, 1948. To the House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary: GENTLEMEN: In support of S. 1077, legislation to give the United States Coast Guard the power to act in disciplinary matters concerning misconduct among seamen of the American merchant marine, I would like to say a few things in behalf of why I believe this bill should have support, and be passed. During the early years of the war, the Government trained me for the duties of a purser, and pharmacist-mate for service in the merchant marine. I appreciated the training and all of the benefits of the American merchant marine, and I had hoped to remain in this service, and as many other young officers had hoped to take advantage of their training, after the shipping returned to commercial trade. However, since the discontinuance of the Coast Guard hearing units it has been impossible for most young men with training and education to live with the intolerable conditions aboard our vessels today. On every voyage that I have made during the past year, I can safely say that 5 percent of the crew should never be allowed to sail on any vessel. Having formerly been associated with personnel work, and trained in hospital assistance, I have, I feel, a little judgment of some of the personnel. Vessels remain in port for such a short stay and very often leave for a foreign voyage within a few days after signingon, that it is almost impossible to acquaint yourself with the personnel. During the voyage, invariably, you find you have at least one or two psycho cases, and upon reaching the first foreign port, no small number of inveterate alcoholics. These men create a great deal of disturbance with the foreign citizenry and officials, and a nonenviable reputation in most of the foreign ports. I refer to these things in general for I know such conditions exist on every, or on the greater percentage of our ships today. The bad actors know they can get away with it. The master may log and fine them, it means absolutely nothing to any of them considering that they are the highest paid working men in the country now. I wish that I had time to recruit among hundreds of young officers of the merchant marine men who were trained by our Government at great cost, who have been forced to give up sailing because of unhealthy and unsafe conditions, simply because our vessels are not manned by efficient crews. I would like to return to this service, and hope to if S. 1077 is put into legislation. I am a union member in good standing, and cannot understand the unions' attitude toward this bill when it is so obvious that putting it into order can only restore good relations among crew members and officers, and discipline certainly never hurt any worthwhile individual. ALBERT F. KANE. Congressman EARL MICHENER, of MICHIGAN, SAN PEDRO, CALIF., October 16, 1947. House Office Building, Washington, D. C. Crew Steamship Tomas Guardia, NMU, oppose H. R. No. 2966 exempting USCG from Administrative Procedure Act. We want civilians on hearing units. More justice, less brass. Congressman EARL MICHENER, JAMES ARDOIN, NMU, San Pedro Delegate. SAN PEDRO, CALIF., October 14, 1947. House Office Building, Washington, D. C.: Crew Government Camp, NMU, requests oppose H. R. No. 2966 exempting USCG from Administrative Procedure Act. Want civilians on hearing units. SHERMAN HOWARD, Delegate NMU, San Pedro. SAN PEDRO, CALIF., October 30, 1947. Congressman EARL MICHENER, House Office Building, Washington, D. C.: Crew Steamship Whittier Hills, NMU, demands defeat H. R. No. 2966 exempting USCG from Administrative Procedure Act. We want civilians on hearing units. Hon. EARL C. MICHENER, House of Representatives: JERRY ANDERSON, Delegate, NMU, San Pedro. WASHINGTON, D. C., July 23, 1947. In the best interest of the merchant marine and elimination of unnecessary expenditures strongly recommended favorable consideration of S. 1077 by the House before its adjournment. ALMA, MICH., March 22, 1948. COMMITTEE OF THE JUDICIARY, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.: Urge passage of S. 1077. My personal support assured and doubtless that of majority of merchant officers. CHAIRMAN, HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, P. L. ROSECRANS. SAN FRANCISCO, March 15, 1948. House of Representatives: Pacific American Tankship Association consists of the operators of tank vessels on the west coast of the United States. We very recently learned that hearings would be held today before your subcommittee No. 3 on S. 1077 which is designed primarily to permit Coast Guard personnel to conduct hearings after investigations. We were sorry we were unable to have a representative present but do desire to advise your committee that each and every member of our association is very strongly in favor of the proposed modification to the Administrative Procedure Act to correct a situation which we believe is fraught with much danger to the American Merchant Marine. As an example we merely call to your attention the following notice which appeared on page 25 of the February 1948 pro ceedings of the merchant marine council issued by the Coast Guard. "Coast Guard merchant marine investigating units and merchant marine details investigated a total of 735 cases during the month of November 1947. Of this number, charges were preferred involving 14 licenses and 56 unlicensed men. No hearings were held because examiners were not available." This condition is a recurring one and will not be cured until proper remedial legislation is enacted. In the meantime the effect of the inability of the Coast Guard to conduct hearings and take positive action is resulting in a break-down of morale among the licensed and unlicensed men of the merchant marine as is evidenced by many newspaper reports of occurrences all over the world involving merchant seamen. Will you please present this telegram to your committee for their serious consideration which we hope will result in the prompt approval of S. 1077. PACIFIC AMERICAN TANKSHIP ASSOCIATION, Hon. EARL C. MICHENER, NEW YORK, N. Y., March 11, 1948. Chairman and Members, Committee on Judiciary, House of Representatives. The Maritime Association of the port of New York, organized in 1873, embraces within its membership of 1,400 persons the steamship lines coastwise, intercoastal, and foreign, oil and coal companies, canal and harbor transportation and all other allied interests. The membership includes members in Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific Coast ports. The association urges enactment of S. 1077 as soon as possible. Absence of authority to suspend or revoke licenses and certificates permits certain men to continue sailing in spite of proven inability, incompetence, and negligence thereby endangering safety of lives and property. C. H. CALLAGHAN, Executive vice president of the Maritime Association, Hon. EARL C. MICHENER, LARCHMONT, N, Y., February 26, 1948. Chairman, House Judiciary Committee, Washington, D. C.: Association of former CG-MMHU personal organization of veterans of last war assigned to duty in connection with administration of discipline in merchant marine during active duty in Coast Guard and whose members are thoroughly acquainted with problems of maintenance of discipline in our merchant ships at meeting held yesterday in New York resolved to urge enactment of S. 1077, a bill to authorize Coast Guard officers to resume their duties under R. S. 4450. This is urged not only as matter of safety and efficiency but as a matter of national defense. If hearing to be held representatives of this organization would like to appear. |