New-York tribune., 1868-03-18
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE ON FERRIES.

INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE ON FERRIES.
The Legislative Committee on Commerce and
Navigation, composed Of Messrs Lawrence ID. Herman
Chairman Jalaes McKeeyer Peter Trainer aud George
Van Brunt members from this city; Patrick Burns OF
Kings County 9. Cameron OF Chautauqua County.
held their second meeting yesterday at the Metropolitan
Hotel subpenas had been previously issued to secure
and Wilamsburgh Ferry Companies but the only per.
were Messrs George Law and James Howe. DIR Law
was the hIst witness exsmnea, .sI.,,vns anu ns
proved decidedly n evsrT we sspeden
known OF in the legal profession to elicit some
ferry boats but the examination only resulted in the
Committee ascertaning how much Mr. Law did not know
egas he Sfneps Mr. Law knew
10 but he did not know sDous
PAPERS as he read or saw them lie knew
that there was law OF Congress that required ooa's 5
he did not know from personal observation ion that tn sss
boats 50 supplied ne %pqa Ssv n1e a no
know exactly what the charter required OF the eompsn
me- n8i there how many required
nor did he know exactly where the epreserveis were
kept he did not believe the efficacy OF preseryers
he believed that more were drowned with than wthou.
them; the boats Of the company have corks piaceu NJ
each end Of the huS prevent their sinking he knew
thew were absolutely safe consequence OF the greas
buoyancy OF the timber and the large quantity useu III %
con- t oronSby acquainted with the minor details Of
management, and referred the committee " 'H0
Mr. Alden j. Spooner was the next witness & He , wa.
nor i'm WAY connected with the Union ferEy Noh'
many nor was he pecuniary interested in ts success
lie found fault with the corporation OF Newl ork lor e
acting so much for the leases OF the slips Iney S"n
sisted of Fulton, Wall, Catharne South ana Ham'oa
Ferries and prior TO 1850 were leased Tor Ten Yeas
so 5o0 nor annum Since 1860 they had been e0peeu 10
nav slOs 900 yearly TO 1870 which leaves at least s1'
ZOO much and restricted the power OF the Company 70
make further improvements, and TO clear passagewa
throu Oh the ice In Winter The amount mus oteIPa
during the ten years Of lease will amount at the eo'e"
Judge John Greenwood testified that he had been srSs
dent OF BROOKLYN SINCE the year ls2h ihese ie,L SRA,
should not at all he thought be made suuee, ~ ths
for New.York City II the act OF ls4o was iestoou
ferr,es wond ard could be managed in better
Mr. James Howe, OF the directors oi ,ne 0r
Ferry Company gave the Committee some lhloIma'gg III
regarding the general manag cement OF the COMPANY hs
believed the boats were the best that could posoy y
copstrueted The managers OF the Company Wete s' -
eTaly the Ughest stockholders They had no hiect
make money out of their investments the . ond ma.
was to do everything In their power Una. - RrooS
terialy assist in the development OF the { S enerseto
ivn Mr. Perrepoiut who Is one OF the nvo' shars
men In the Board OF Directors, only aeo eoS would
OF the capital stock He believed ina susSers EVER
cover the pecuniary interest OF all the ycnn1
nex Invention and device was examlnen anu, ue hs
found practcable was immedatey aPpnxx "A kee,
aved that passengers must use their IL 80 ~ AZ.
Lar aves and ears open and there woulu pe
oidentS paonle travelling Broadway Wete a..
To do 40 and he believed II vas jus, 10 dssnS the
them to the same p%sttsO regarding the pilot.
and emnloy6s OF tho h0e. Inc eCiu.nnoon
nro ai aord,ed during the remainder OF tne aitcmry
aototns the testimony taken bor0re tne h hsseth ia
1nittaSe iast Winter with Wow 10 asoet ,tss
| strnnr noints that were then elected Ino Sonoi'
| aiest a. this nOsnspe al X Qeleea