The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-07-01


improving sailors as class; also, to render them
less Liable to desert and leave the vessels whe on
voyage. The result Of their deliberations was the
adoption Of resolution to stop the advance of
money to sailors when they shipped on board YES
sci. The keepers of sailors boarding houses have
united and formed an association to prevent the
resolution of the merchants from being carried into
effect To-day, the LIST of July Is the time specified
for stopping the prepayment system. As there may
be some trouble about this matter, and as it is Of
considerable importance and interest, we give the
following statements of the three parties principally
interested, viz merchants keepers of sailors board
ing houses and sailors-
STATEMENT or A LARGE sHIrowNER AND MER-
CHANT.
The meetings of the New York merchants were
held to devise means for the Improvement Of mari
ners o class, to prevent them from being cheated
and wronged by the keepers OF sailors boarding
houses, and to insure their remaining on board of
ship until the completion of her voyage. The way
things have been going on for years, is this:-A
sailor goes to q boarding house; he is given liquor
and made drunk; he calls for more and treats his
companions he knows not whether he runs one snil-
ling or forty shillipgs in debt. The merchant find.
ing his vessel ready for sea, goes to the boarding
house for men; the landlord supplies him with men
by his paying from SIT 10 $40 of their wtges in ad
The vessel Sails but the captain finds when she has
been out one or two days that the men have no
change Of coshing that they have only the clothes
on their back, and these are frequently full of holes
and unfit for services he says to them, "dd not pay
you $50 in advance, with which you might get
clothes, &c?" They reply, Yes, that is true, but
we did not get any Of the money" 1t all goe. to
these wretched landlords; they have their bills
sailors as advance money, and every cent of it falls
into their clutches. The captains Of the vessels
have either to give the sailors their own clothes
ton and filth Toe ship will arrive in Liverpool in
about twenty five days from sailing. The sailors
have been paid their wages in advance for two
months; they then owe the ship month and FIVE
the vessel strikes the dock, leaps upon shore aud
runs away. There is no way Of stopping them. They
may shoulder their chests in midday, right
before the captains face, carry them ashore,
are thus left deserted; We have to get
new crews; thus much time is lost and money
expanded. But the sailors cannot be claimed; it
could hardly be expected that they would be willing
to work q month for nothing, as the landlord has
the money, and they cannot receive anything more
for their months labor. 1t cannot be expected that
they would stop under such circumstances; it is o
necessity Of their position to run away.
If instead of this no advance money was paid the
sailors they might ship without proper clothing but
the captains would carry chest OF ready made
clothing and let them have what articles they want
ed at wholesale price, upon their wages then at Lii
verpoo or at whatever other port they sail they
would receive three four pounds Of their wages for
any articles they might wish to purchase; but still
vessel; consequently they would not desert the ship
when she owed them so much money, but return
with her. When they arrived in New York they
wou then have $40 or $50 in their pockets, Jack
would then feel himself to be mebody; he would
find himself in possession Of money Of his own; he
would feel more Ike q man and act accordidgiy. We
would cay, Gone JACK, 50 and put part OF that mo-
ney IN The Se&zens -~Tiass Bank; and he would
DO So at least EklT 81 scez would, keeping 90 ne OF
course to epioy themselves WITH We don't know
what else In tos s-ct cE1 oe done for the Sailors
everything has tesz s-s,5-$sors' homes, hospitals,
Temperance HOUSES AID tie ke-yet for all this they
mery were To cauy &C, our plan we shall have to
make great sacrihces-to pay higher wages.
TO give greater induceme ats to sailors; still
we are willing to do 1t the object
Of beneftting them be attained II is gigantic
undertaking 70 overthrow q system which has been
in vogue in al countries for centuries past don't
know that We will be able to accomplish IL, but we
viii try. Ii would be great achieve nent II we
could reform this class OF people. The most OF the
keepers of sailors boarding houses are old sailors who
have got some little money ahead; 90 they know
exactly how to work poor Jack and get his money
away from him. These landlords viii make ire
mendous struggle 20 prevent US putting this resou
tioo into execution. They will refuse to let the
sailors 60 without an advance Of wages, and we may
ID III
but IL the measure could be carried out it would be
OF infinite advantsg to the commercial interests
of this couofry. II would raise the character Of
sailors We have done everything We could for them;
we have built the Sailors Home and other tempe
raace houses by subscription, and yet they seem
class 20 be gro wing worse. The government ought
TO make las that when man signs articles to 60
on board o vessel, and then refuses to do so, ne
could be arrested and put on board or made TO fulfil
the obligation Of his contract. During 1856 from
SIT 10 $40 we're advanced TO sailors on Liverpool
vessels The average wages OF sailors nov IL $40
month from here TO Europe, but to China and other
loog voyages from sl2 TO GIG per month For several
years have net known seamens wages 10 low "a they
We want TO invite the landlords 60 unite with
Us In this movement. They would get the money
lust the same on the return OF the sailors. While
the system Of advancing money lasted unscrupulous
men took advantage OF II: bogus shipping Offices
sprung up and bloodhounds, in the shape of men,
STOOD a. every corner ready TO seize on any unfortu
cate creature. Il gus shipping masters advertised
for young men which eaused many a wild youth to
leave his home. Shipping offices whose duty II vas
to supply men for our packet shps found great dill
Guilty In getting sailors TO ship; they had to hire
runners TO hunt up men and those runners found
there was nance for speculation by aiding and
sbettiDg those unscrupulous men in passing off the
counterfeit sailors, they receiving their portion Of
the advance money.
STATEMENT or TEE KEEPER OF A SAILORS BOARD
IS0 HOUSE.
There is not one man out OF twenty that comes
20 n boarding house with enough money 10 pay MS
board for two days; they are ragged and dirty,
aud we oarnot see them about the house that way,
so we have 20 give them money 10 get clothes. &c.
Well. there must be some advance money 10 pay
these expenses OF the sailor before he Can ship. 4
have men In this house now whose board bill alone
q months advance pay will no. settle: we cannot
turn them into the street we must have this sd
vance money. The sailors are all In favor of tue ad
vance pay system, for while on shore they want
mouey in their pockets to buy glass Of beer
whsieyer they may desire; II they do not get
Their money before sailing they will not get
il ~ ALL for when they get in Europe elsewhere
n the ship owes them anything the captain will
either turn them of or treat them In such way
that hfy csnDot remain. There is no pity for poor
jack; those hends called captains and mates con-
slider part Of their duty TO use steel knuckes aud
iron beiaying pins on the heads and faces Of the
happy sailors The merchants ought 70 make
strict search for those Implements, the OF which
on a,re is q State prison offence. and the same
penalty SHOULD he attached to their use at Sea- but
alas the Law Is nsmpIed upon: the merchant who