The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-30

10 THE EDITOR or THE HERALD.
nanlelpa,on Of che approaching session Of oongrese
wo would call tho atoaton Of representatives e tho
importance and necessity Of revision Of our existing
revenue laws,
These laws.aaIy Of them enacted moro taan haH a
century ago--ars lily adapted 10 the wants q me
mercantile marine OF the Preseat day that iney cal ior
she united acton OF merchants shjpovnefs and snip
masters advocating their revision in manner suited
10 the wants and necessities % tho present n
while IN past yoare oar representatives Geem 10
nave devoted their time and energies almost
rlusyey 10 tho pursuit OF distractions, let us
now insist on their retMn TO their allegiance 70 US,
that they shall devote their time % matters in which
interested. Lot us insist their laying aside all
party dferences aud feelings meeting the ornentous
hsucs before them like patriots DESTROYS Of
merging their own m their oountrys Interests and wei
fare aud striving by their the past from
she odious renroach resting II from the oms
sions OF their predecessors. t#
AT this time, when commerce il crippled by a
sanseess robeon by which large portion Of
wise trade g Gu, OFF and by which our merchants
necessary than before that every facility consistent with
safety TO the revenue should be granted them in
caryng 90 thus trade remembering that commerce has
zeachesi her greatness. tt+ ,At 4A atl
With the belief that the HERALD viii in this as in NEST
ssber needed reforms be the pioneer In the advocacy
eur rights, will give few quotations from those sections
II tho law which more seriously affect our commercial
Interests, with my own views and suggestions relative
Tho nrst section or the Act OF February 49, 1903,
saysTha before clearance be granted 70 any vessel
bound on Foreign voyage the master thereof shall
Aeiver TO The Collector OF the Customs list
esntainng the names, places Of birth and resi-
his ships company, to which list the oath affirmation
u the captain shall be that the said List
she names of his crew - &c, &c.
Now il is well known fact this law is not and cannot
hecompsd with IA the arst place one half At least,
g our sesnien have different names, places Of birth and
residence for every vessel they sail in The master
seldom ships his personally and therefore knows
aothng Of them except by the articles and papers fur
tho list contains the names &c. his crew when IL is
we'll known that in many instances his men not
IN reality shipped and that If the vessel sails under
her original Articles they must subsequently be shipped
~ names corresponding 10 these the list. The
conscientious shpmassr wnces when he reads the osth
whispers to himself the mental reservation necessary
when he ahixes his siGnature-for there remedy
and leaves the Office wondering at the wisdom good
Fairly at sea, lie views his motley crew. turns 10 hs
srew st which shows that at least thirds Of them
sre Americans, and wonders again that they cannot
speak the English language.
Under section of the act Of March 1917 which says
shat there shall be paid upon every ship Of
the United States from any foreign port or place
unless the officers and at eas. thirds Of the crew
thereof Shall be proved citizens Of the United States or
persons not the subjects any foreign prince or state
Hfsy per ton he wonders again If on his arrival
home his crew, If they remain with him. may forget
psnaity.
To any at all conversant with the ,,ofs operandi
shipping crews in this city these laws appear they
5
sibihfy TO obtain twothirds American to
perIorm foreign voyage in ship, and many
Of our shlpmseters VIII admit, notwitb stand-
Ing their oath, that they do not believe that
they ever performed voyage with that complement OF
Americans. They win tell you dat the YANKEE sailor
cannot De kept before the mast; that his ambition is TO
walk the quarter deck. and that he will do So The
Foreign sailor in order TO obtain employment in our er
chant service is compelled to borrow or steal q protec
Lion or perhaps IL Is kindly furnished for the occasion by
the shipping agent from stock hand, which once
not only establishes his nationality citizenship as
xankee, but furnishes him with new name which be
unhestatngly appends the articles and becomes at
leas. for that yoya age, an American seaman.
WIN our legislators, when they meet suggest remedy
Tor these evils2 IEY