Dingley Act (shipping)

The Dingley Act of 1884 was a United States law introduced by U.S. Representative Nelson Dingley, Jr. of Maine dealing with American mariners serving in the United States Merchant Marine.
Among other things, the act:

prohibited advances on wages, and
limited the making of seamen's allotments to only close relatives.

In 1886, a loophole to the Dingley Act was created, allowing boardinghouse keepers to receive seamen's allotments.
The legislation replaced the Shipping Commissioners Act of 1872.