602
FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 56.
Coop v. Development Institute, 47 Fed. Rep. 899. Overman Wheel CO. v. Elliott Hickory Cycle Co., 49 Fed. Rep. 859. The 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, and 6th grounds of demurrer are overruled. The 5th ground of demurrer is sustained, with leave to amend within 15 days upon payment of costs to be taxed. LEWISOHN et at v. SHIPPING-BILL OF LADING FLAG.
STEAMSHIP CO.
(District Court, E. D. New York. June 20, 1893.) STIPULATION AS TO NEGLIGENCE LAW OF THE
Stipulations held void because against the public policy of the United States are not made valid by the stipulation of the parties; hence, where libelant's goods were damaged by negligent stowage in a vessel, the carrier was held liable, although the ship was English, the bill of lading contained the stipulation, valid in England, exempting the carrier from the consequences of his negligence, and also provided that, in accepting it, the shipper expressly agreed that the contract should be governed by the law of the flag.
In Admiralty. Libel: by Raphael Lewisohn and another against the National Steamship Company to recover for damage to cargo. Decree for libelant. George A. Black, for libelant. John Chetwood, for claimants. BENEDICT, District Judge. This is an action upon a bill of lading to recover for injuries to certain bales of hair shipped in London on board the steamship Spain, and transported therein to the port of New York. The evidence warrants the conclusion that the hair was damaged on the voyage of importation by the gas and odor from barrels of ale over which the hair was stowed on board the ship. The liability of the claimants for this damage seems clear, unless they are exempted by the provision of the bill of lading. These bales were originally intended to be transported in the steamship Greece, owned by the claimants, but were left over from that vessel for the Spain. As seems to be admitted by both sides, the bill of lading given for the Greece was deemed to be the bill of lading fur the Spain, in which ship the goods were actually tr,ansported. The bill of lading exempts the ship from liability for damage by stowage or contact with or smell or evaporation from other goods, and provides, in terms, for exemption from Hability for damage, loss, or injury arising from such causes, whether caused by the negligence, default, or error in judgment of the pilot, master, mariners, engineers, stevedores, lightermen, OT their serv'ants, or any persons in the service of or employed by the shipowner. The bill of lading also contains this clause: "In accepting this bill of lading, the shipper, or other agcnt of the owner of the property carded, expressly agrces that this contract shall be governed 1
Reported by E. G. Benedict, Esq., of the New York bar.
THE ALEXANDER GIBSON V. PORTLAND SHIPPING CO.
603
by the law of the flag of the ship carrying the goods after delivery to the ship."
By the law of England, !!!uch provision in a bill of lading relieves the shipowner from the liability sued for,and the question is whether or not such provision can be enforced in the courts of the United States. It has been established by the !!lupreme court of the United States that a provision which exempts the carrier from damage caused by negligence is void, and will not be enforced, because contrary to public policy; and my opinion is that the principle laid down by the supreme court in Oscanyan v. Arms Co., 103 U. S. 261, reo quire!!! this court to decline to enforce such a provision in this bill of lading, notwithstanding the bill of lading was lawful by the law of the place where the goods were shipped. Stipulations held void because against the public policy of the United States are not made valid by the stipulations of the parties. The case of 'l'he Trinacria, 42 Fed. Rep. 863, relied upon by the claim· ants, does not cover the present case. The libelant must have a decree, with an order of reference to ascertain the damages. THE ALEXANDER GIBSON v. PORTLAND SHIPPING CO.
(Circuit Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. June 1, 1893.) No. 79. SHIPPING-CHARTER PARTy-SET,ECTION OF STEVEDORE.
A charter party contained this provision: "The vessel to employ stevedore satisfactory to charterers; but (if appointed by them) the charge not to exceed that current at the time, and to be stowed under the captain's supervision and direction" Held that, where a stevedore selected by the master was unsatisfactory to the charterers, they could themselves select another one, without giving reasons for their dissatisfaction.
Appeal from the Circut Court of the United States for the North· ern Division of the District of Washington. In Admiralty. Libel by the Portland Shipping Company against the ship Alexander Gibson (Edward O'Brien, claimant) to recover damages for the breach of a charter party. The district court dismissed the bill, (44 l<'ed. Rep. 371,) but on an appeal to the circuit court this decree was reversed, and a decree entered for libelant. The claimant appeals. Affirmed. William Craig and E. C. Hughes, (Craig & l\Ieredith and Hughes, Hastings & Stedman, on the brief,) for appellant. C. E. S. Wood, (Williams & Wood, on the brief,) for appellee. Before l\IcKE1'<'NA, Circuit Judge, and HAWLEY and MORROW, District Judges. MORROW, District Judge. The ship Alexander Gibson was chartered by the Portland Shipping Company of Portland, Or., December 3,1887, to carry a cargo of wheat from Tacoma, Wash. T., to a port in the United Kingdom, or on the continent of Europe,