Passenger Act of 1882

The Passenger Act of 1882 is a United States federal statute establishing occupancy control regulations for seafaring passenger ships completing Atlantic and Pacific transoceanic crossings to America during the late 19th century and early 20th century. The Act of Congress sanctioned vessel compartment dimensions in cubic feet comparable to the level within a ship's deck. The public law authorized the numerical serialization of berths which were subject to compartment occupancy inspections of emigrants and ocean liner passengers. The Law of the United States accentuated and endorsed a regulatory clause stating no person, on arrival of a vessel in a port, will be allowed to go aboard a passenger ship necessitating a bow to stern inspection.

The Immigration Act of 1882 was simultaneously presented during the 47th United States congressional session which was enacted into law on August 3, 1882. The H.R. 6722 bill was passed by the 47th congressional session and enacted into law by the 21st President of the United States Chester Arthur on August 2, 1882.

Provisions of the Act
The United States federal law was penned as fourteen sections emphasizing essentials for safe passage during an oceanic voyage associated with an American port.
 * Carriage of Passengers by Sea – 22 Stat. 186 § 1
 * Emigrants and passengers, other than cabin passengers, from foreign ports to be provided compartments
 * Sailing vessel restrictions and requirements
 * Space per passenger
 * Computation of children boarded on vessel
 * Violation of Act penalties


 * Proper Accommodations on Steamships or Other Vessels – 22 Stat. 186–187 § 2
 * Berths for passengers
 * Regulations and rules for occupancy
 * Children
 * Females
 * Husband and wife
 * Males
 * Unmarried females
 * Families
 * Serial numbers for berths
 * Inspections of berths
 * Violation of Act penalties


 * Sanitation and Ventilation of Steamships or Other Vessels – 22 Stat. 187–188 § 3
 * Light and air to passenger decks and compartments
 * Hatchways
 * Companionway
 * Caboose with sufficient cooking capacity
 * Water closet
 * Privy location to be separated from passengers' spaces with constructed partitions
 * Violation of Act penalties


 * Nutrition on Steamships or Other Vessels – 22 Stat. 188 § 4
 * Wholesome food as fresh provisions
 * Meals per day
 * Short allowance and monetary penalty paid by the deck master
 * Mothers with infants
 * Tables and seats
 * Violation of Act penalties


 * Hospital on Steamships or Other Vessels – 22 Stat. 188 § 5
 * Hospital accommodations of two compartments
 * Qualified and competent surgeon or medical practitioner
 * Medicines and surgical appliances for diseases and accidents during sea voyages
 * Violation of Act penalties


 * Hygiene on Steamships or Other Vessels – 22 Stat. 188–189 § 6
 * Cleanliness and discipline to be maintained during voyage
 * Space on main deck for exercise of passengers
 * Violation of Act penalties


 * Navigational Crew on Steamships or Other Vessels – 22 Stat. 189 § 7
 * Officers and seamen prohibited from visiting passengers' compartments
 * Violation of section penalties
 * Section of Act posted on decks concerning fraternizing with navigational crew
 * Violation of Act penalties


 * Prohibited Articles on Steamships or Other Vessels – 22 Stat. 189 § 8
 * Dynamite
 * Gunpowder
 * Nitroglycerin
 * Vitriol
 * Other explosive compounds
 * Violation of Act penalties


 * Boarding Arriving Vessels Before Inspection – 22 Stat. 189–190 § 9
 * No person, on arrival of vessel in port, allowed to go aboard
 * Correct list of passengers, with deaths if any, to be delivered to first officer of customs on board
 * Duplicate of list to be delivered to collector of customs
 * Violation of Act penalties


 * Death on the High Seas – 22 Stat. 190 § 10
 * In case of death of passengers at sea, master of vessel to pay, money paid into the U.S. Treasury
 * Violation of Act penalties


 * Occupancy Integrity of Steamships or Other Vessels – 22 Stat. 190 § 11
 * Examination and inspection of vessel by collector of customs
 * Report made to the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury


 * Applicability of Act for Vessels Carrying Emigrants and Passengers – 22 Stat. 191 § 12
 * Provisions of this act apply to vessels carrying emigrants from United States to foreign countries
 * Clearance of vessels withheld until compliance with provisions of this Act
 * Violation of Act penalties


 * Violations of Act Provisions for Steamships or Other Vessels – 22 Stat. 191 § 13
 * Fines and penalties to be lien upon vessel


 * Effective Date of Act Provisions – 22 Stat. 191 § 14
 * Act shall come into effect ninety days after passage of Act
 * Act may be cited for all purposes as "The Passenger Act, eighteen hundred and eighty-two"

Associated United States Federal Statutes
United States legislation relative to the Passenger Act of 1882.