The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-06-22

sne1e was none more wOrtny OF c0n0emnauOn
and reputation than the infamous Port Warden
law. 1t seems to have been expressly framed for
taxing the commerce of the city of New York
for the benefit of a lot of beggardly politicians
of the republican stripe
This law gives the Governor of the State sutho-
rity to appoint nine Port wardens for the port of
New York, to be known as "Board of Port
WardeDs," &C., and authorizes them to receive
from each auctioneer who sells damaged goods
one-half per cent on all the sales of such goods
made by them, and that without the performance
of the slightest necessary duty whatever. The
total sales of damaged goods in this city are
large, and, assessed at one-hslf of one per cent
would yield to these nine Port Wardens an aggre
gate sum or salary of about S54 900 per annum
which is to be equally divided between these
snecure officials, and will average them an
annual salary of about $4,000 each. Let us
see what service they render for such large sala-
ries. 1t is this: one of their number personally
attends an auction of damaged goods, and at the
close gives certificate of sales for each lot, and
charges So for each certificate. If there is as
many as fourteen lots of damaged teas in large
sale, there are fourteen separate certificates and
a charge of SO for each. And, some one Of their
number, also calls about once month at an
auction store and receives a monthly state
meDt from the auctioneer of the amount of dam
aged goods sold and the assessed amount OF the
WardeDs' tithes OF one-half Of one per cent. He
looks it over and receives a check s2r the tithes
writes receipt 10 the auctioneer's book for the
amount, and retires-the act Of doing which oc-
cupies about fifteen or twenty minutes
For instance the Port Warden enters the auc-
toDeer's Office at the end OF the month, and, ad-
dressing him, says, Have you your return ready
of your months sales?" eyes, SIR" handing
it to him, in which is stated each days sale,
footing up for the month say 100000, on which
the half per cent amounts to $500. The Port
Warden looks at it, reads the statement of the
auctioneer, receives from him check for the
$500, puts it in his pocket, signs receipt for the
same, and leaves the office-the whole amount
of bis valuable time occupied being about ten or
fifteen minutes to secure the $500. This re.
peated each month for a twelvem0nth, with the
unnecessary looking on at auction sales of dam
aged goods, gives the sum Of services rendered
for the whole year, for the payment of salary of
$4,000! The duties Of Port Warden heretofore
were simply to examine the extent of loss sustain
ed by the sale of damaged goods belonging To
foreign owners, in order to prove the fact of
the extent of damage, and give certificate for
the same, which cost about three dollars In
a sale of 100000 worth there would be likely
small item belonging to foreign owners for
which certificate would be required. Now the
auctioneers are compelled to pay half per
cent on all sales of damaged goods,
whether they consist of -four and wheat
from Virginia, corn from Illinois, rye
oats or other produce from New Jersey-thus
subjecting the unfortunate owners of such pro-
perry to a shave of half per cent, in addition to
their other Losses Hence, If breadstuffs or other
domestic products come to this market in sound
condition, they go free; but if, unluckiy they
are damaged and sold by auction, they must pay
a halfper ntduty to the Port Wardens The auc-
tioneers pay into the State Treasury tax for Ii
censes Of about 100000 per annum, which should
90 into the city Treasury instead of that of the
State. Auction sales of damaged goods were ex-
empt from this tax, which exemption was secured
by a simple return Of the auctioneer. Now, how
ever, this payment of one half Of one per cent to
the Port wsrdens renders the exemption worse
than nugatory.
The enormous fees received by the wardens
from the auction sales OF damaged goods was not
all the salary the law designed to give them
The law authorizes them also to act as Ma
rine surveyors and undertakes to fine owners of
vessels hundred dollars for each case In which
they shall employ other surveyors, or to fine the
surveyors themselves for making q survey, in
stead of that ordered or performed by the Aforesaid
Port Wardens. The fees charged by these Port
Wardeus for such surveys are as follows
For each surrey on board any vessel on matches or
Fer each survey on damaged goods on The wharf or IN
For certificate Of the same 1 90
Before this remarkable Law was passed there
existed voluntary association, composed chiefly
Of worthy old sea captains known AS "the Asso-
citation OF Marine Surveyors" whom merchants
and underwriters voluntarily employed aud had
great confidence in, and who did their work we'll
and charged moderate Tees. This law comes in
and attempts TO crush out this association, and to
take their business from them aud gives Il to
the aforesaid nine Port Wardens; and fur
tber declares That IL one Of these old marine sur.
veys shall, in obedience to the wishes of a ship
owner or underwriters, survey a vessel he shall
be fined 500 for each offence; ADD the marine
surveyors have already had FIVE or six suits CON-
menced against them by these Port wardens. And,
az though their salaries were not sufficient, the
law provides that the fines, or money so recover
ed, shall enure 10 the benefit OF the Port War
dens Some merchants and sea captains who
have employed the old Surveyors have also, we
understand, had suits commenced against them.
The two special Port Wardens on Staten
Island are to receive IS for each vessel they sur
C,Ucoa,psx fbooo pino Dart W. r1oro A., A.