The  Act,  entitled  "An  Act  relating  to  navigation  of  vessels,  bills
of  lading,  and  to  certain  obligations,  duties,  and  rights  in  connection
with  the  carriage  of  property,"  enacts  as  follows : —

1.  That  it  shall  not  he  lawful  for  the  manager,  agent,  master  or
owner  of  any  vessel  transporting  merchandise  or  property  from  or
between  ports  of  the  United  States  and  foreign  ports  to  insert  in  any
bill  of  lading  or  shipping  document  any  clause,  covenant,  or  agreement
whereby  it,  he,  or  they  shall  be  relieved  from  liability  for  loss  or
damage  arising  from  negligence,  fault,  or  failure  in  proper  loading,
stowage,  custody,  care,  or  proper  deUvery  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  nuU  and  void  and  of  no  effect.
2.  That  it  shall  not  be  lawfid  for  any  vessel  transporting  merchan-
dise or  property  from  or  between  ports  of  the  United  States  of  America
and  foreign  ports,  her  owner,  master,  agent  or  manager  to  insert  in
any  bill  of  lading  or  shipping  docimient  any  covenant  or  agreement
whereby  the  obligations  of  the  owner  or  owners  of  said  vessel  to
exercise  due  diligence  (to)  properly  equip,  man,  provision,  and  outfit
said  vessel,  and  to  make  said  vessel  seaworthy  and  capable  of  perform-
ing her  intended  voyage,  or  whereby  the  obhgations  of  the  master,
agents  or  servants  to  carefully  handle  and  stow  her  cargo  and  to  care
for  and  properly  deliver  same,  shall  in  any  wise  be  lessened,  weakened
or  avoided.
