Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 27.djvu/471

 FIFTY-SECOND CONGRESS. Sess. II. Gus. 104, 105. 1893. 445 striking out the word “horse" and inserting in lieu thereof the word . Et;:};¤¤},¤¤{_ <>f ¤;¤==¤¤ “ steam,” so that the proviso will read, Provided, That steam power liz,. ° °"° M shall not be used on said line for traction purposes, and that, if electric wires or cables are used to propel its cars over any of the routes hereby authorized within the limits of the city of Washington, the same shall be placed under ground." And in section three, by striking out the words “ one year," and in- _Tim¤ for construcserting in lieu thereof the words “ two years," so that the section, as t""' °‘°°"°°°‘ amended, will read “That, unless said extensions are commenced within three months. and the cars run thereon within two years from the pas- lim, p. M. sage of thi act, except, as otherwise expressly provided for, the authority hereby granted shall be void: Provided, That said railroad shall be constructed on such grade and in such manner as shall be approved by the Commissioners of the District of C01umbia" Approved, February 13, 1893. _i__ O CHAP. 105.—-An act relatinito navigation of vessels, bills of lading, and to cor- Bmw uy1g5g_ tain obligations, duties, and rig ts in connection with the carriage of property. —-———-·—- Bo it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That it shall not be lawful for Bills ¤f1•<11¤z· the manager, agent, master, or owner of any vessel transporting merchandise or property hom or between ports of the United States and foreign ports to insert in any bill of lading or shipping document any s§§¤;.¤0.., my mm. clause, covenant, or agreement whereby it, he, or they shall be relieved §jm:,{°h§'{,,,A‘j,f'“*“ from liability for loss or damage arising from negligence, fault, or fair ure in proper loading, stowage, custody, care, or proper delivery of any and all lawful merchandise or property committed to its or their charge. Any and all words or clauses of such import inserted in bills of lading or shipping receipts shall be null and void and of no effect. Sec. 2. That it shall not be lawful for any vessel transporting mer- cmmm svoidipg chandise or property from or between ports of the United States of ;§‘,g§§f’,§’mffE,,§§,'{f’ d"" America and foreign ports, her owner, master, agent, or manager, to insert in any bill of lading or shipping document any covenant or agreement whereby the obligations of the owner or owners of said vessel to exercise due diligence properly equip, man, provision, and outtit said vessel, and to make said vessel seaworthy and capable of pertbrming her intended voyage, or whereby the obligations of the master, officers, agents, or servants to carefully handle and stow her cargo and to care tor and properly deliver same, shall in any wise be lessened, weakened, or avoided. SEO. 3. That if the owner of any vessel transporting merchandise or Limiwltmlyf vw! property to or from any port in the United States of America shall ex- °"°" ·°" ercise due diligence to make the said vessel in all respects seaworthy and properly manned, equipped, and supplied, neither the vessel, her owner 01- owners, agent, or charterers shall become or be held responsible for damage or loss resulting from faults or errors in navigation or in the msmagement of said vessel nor shall the the vessel. her owner or owners, oharterers, agent, or master be held liable for losses arising from dangers of the sea or other navigable waters, acts of God, or public enemies, or the inherent defect, quality, or vice of the thing carried, or from insudiciency of package, or seizure under legal process, or for loss resulting fiom any act or omission of the shipper or owner of the goods, his agent or representative, or irom saving or ar tempting to save life - or property at sea, or trom any deviation in rendering such service. Sec. 4. That it shall be the duty of the owner or owners, masters, or _ Bills of immgm be 0g8D! of any vessel transporting merchandise or property from 0I` bib- ‘"“°d‘ tween ports of the United States and tbreign ports to issue to shippers of any lawhil merchandise a bill of lading, or shipping document, stating, among 0lh€I‘ things, the marks necessary for identiiicatiou. III1I1lb6K` of °"“'·°"°“·