The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-11-15

" YORK HERALD, THUf
cellent chemist, good engineer, an accom-
plished linguist and great admirer Of Ameri-
can institutions, he feels that the results of his
observations here will not only be productive
Of advantage to his people, but will tend to
draw closer the bonds of amity existing be-
tween the two countries. Although the form
Of its government is nominally different
Brazil 10 in reality more Of republic than q
monarchy. Change the title Of emperor for
that Of president and there will be little
left TO alter. The present Emperor, a.
well q his late father. has earned q
title TO the respect and gratitude Of
the lovers Of free institutions oil over the
world. Under circumstances Of great trial
and difficulty they not only never swerved
from the obligations which they accepted
under the constitution, but were always ready
to give its provisions moro liberal interpre-
tation than that exacted from them. Dom
Pedro can count upon meeting with cordial
reception from our people. He only delays
his journey until the Paraguayan war Is
brought to close, whom he will ask tho con-
sent Of tho Chambers to his vista prelimi-
nary necessary before he can leave the empire.
TIE Pisrs and wAarvss Of Now. York
The Senate Investigation.
The wretched condition Of the wharves,
piers and slips Of New York has long been
q serious annoyance to commerce and .
reproach to the CITY. Attempts have been
made from time to time to bring about
some reform, but they have failed to accom-
plish any real good. Such propositions as
were designed In reality for the public benefit
have been defeated by the combined efforts Of
those interested in perpetuating the existing
evil and many professed reforms have been
only the schemes Of outside spectators who
would have secured the profits to themselves
and suffered the abuses still to continue. The
Legislature has been besieged year after year
by both classes Of applicants, and so many con-
fiicting interests have been represented, and
the subject has been so thoroughly befogged.
that it is no wonder the bewildered representa-
tives from the rural districts have been driven
to give the matter up in despair.
There is at present neither head nor tail nor
body to the management of our wharves and
slips. certain jurisdiction is claimed by the
Commissioners OF the Land Office. The city
government own some of the piers and lease
them, making jobs Of all the leases. The
Street Commissioners Department has a certain
authority, and, Of course, never exercises it for
the public good. The riparian owners and
the lessees have rights often conflicting with
Others In their management the Pilot Com
mission-an utterly useless bantling of the old
fogy Chamber of Commerce-claims some sort
Of authority, and the Harbor Masters claim
some sort Of authority, and the Police claim
some sort Of authority, and there Is 80 grand a
muddle all round that no authority is effective,
and all is disorder, ruin and confusion. The
European steamers have been driven over to
New Jersey, and so bad have affairs become
that the commerce of the port il
most seriously threatened. The owners and
lessees care nothing about the accommodation
Of shippers or the interests Of the city, and
only seek to clear a. much money as they can
out Of their property and jobs Last year the
Captain Of the Port had . bill before the
Legislature which professed to be . measure
Of reform in the management Of the wharves
and docks; but It only sought 10 increase the
powers Of the Harbor Masters, who do not
now properly perform the duties assigned to
them, and to add materially to their fees. A
set Of philosophers sought to push through .
scheme out Of which they hoped to make large
fortunes through obtaining the control Of the
wharves and piers all ovef the city; but this
would only have been changing from bad to
worse and supplanting one set Of jobbers
with greedier set Another private jobbing
concern, the New York Pier and Warehouse
Company, also applied for moro Legislation in
aid Of their special interests.
The Senate ended the muddle at Albany by
appointing a commission to inquire into the
condition and affairs Of the piers apd wharves
OF the cities Of New York and Brooklyn, and
the gentlemen selected for that duty are now
in the city prosecuting their investigation with
a view TO future legislation. Their first days
experience must have satisfied them Of the
proprety Of some Intervention on the part Of
the State aud Of the necessity Of very
thorough reform. The Mayer told them that
the condition Of the piers was "disgracefu',"
and professed that he had no power to remedy
the evil. "They have passed into the hands
Of the lessees," says the negative city RKecu-
tive, "and IL they perform their contract, what
can be done with them?n He did not explain
to the committee that these leasings are gen.
orally "jobs" Of the ''ring," although nominaliy
auctioned of to the highest bidder. The
counsel Of the Citizens Association promised
them that their inspection Of the piers and
wharves " would be only a melancholy voyage
among ruins" Representatives of dozen
different interests pressed upon the committee