White Act of 1898
Encyclopedia
The White Act of 1898 is a United States
Federal statute
governing mariners in the United States Merchant Marine
.
Among other things, the act:
Prior to the White Act of 1898 "'bully mates'...had relied on their fists, belaying pin
s, and handspikes to enforce discipline."
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...
governing mariners in the United States Merchant Marine
United States Merchant Marine
The United States Merchant Marine refers to the fleet of U.S. civilian-owned merchant vessels, operated by either the government or the private sector, that engage in commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of the navigable waters of the United States. The Merchant Marine is...
.
Among other things, the act:
- abolished the practice of imprisoning sailors who deserted from vessels in "American or nearby waters."
- abolished corporal punishmentCorporal punishmentCorporal punishment is a form of physical punishment that involves the deliberate infliction of pain as retribution for an offence, or for the purpose of disciplining or reforming a wrongdoer, or to deter attitudes or behaviour deemed unacceptable...
of seamen
Prior to the White Act of 1898 "'bully mates'...had relied on their fists, belaying pin
Belaying pin
A belaying pin is a device used on traditional sailing vessels to secure lines of rigging. Their function on modern vessels has been replaced by cleats, but they are still used, particularly on square rigged ships....
s, and handspikes to enforce discipline."