Maguire Act of 1895
Encyclopedia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Federal statute
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
that abolished the practice of imprisoning sailors who deserted from coastwise vessels. The act was sponsored by representative James G. Maguire
James G. Maguire
James George Maguire was an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Maguire moved with his parents to California in February 1854. He attended the public schools of Watsonville in Santa Cruz County and the private academy of Joseph K....
of San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Before this legislation, a right to leave the ship existed only for a seaman who "correctly" believed his life to be in danger. This law extended the right in cases where the seaman feared physical abuse from other shipboard personnel.
See also
- White Act of 1898White Act of 1898The White Act of 1898 is a United States Federal statute governing mariners in the United States Merchant Marine.Among other things, the act:* abolished the practice of imprisoning sailors who deserted from vessels in "American or nearby waters."...
- Dingley Act of 1884
- ShanghaiingShanghaiingShanghaiing refers to the practice of conscripting men as sailors by coercive techniques such as trickery, intimidation, or violence. Those engaged in this form of kidnapping were known as crimps. Until 1915, unfree labor was widely used aboard American merchant ships...
- Maritime history of the United States
- Shipping Commissioners Act of 1872Shipping Commissioners Act of 1872The Shipping Commissioners Act of 1872 was a United States law dealing with American mariners serving in the United States Merchant Marine.Among other things, the act:*was passed to combat crimps....