New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-09
HOW OUR COMMERCE. SUFFERS.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Here are a feyy of the pxactiOns whici

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: Here are few of the exactions which
seriously njure American commerce. vessel APP
preaching NewYork from foreign port Ia spoken out
side the harbor by pilot and If the master ia stranger,
the pilot aboard and brings the ship to her anchor
age If the pilot not needed he gets half pay for doing
nothing The fees for this service range from $50 to $500,
seldom reaching the lower figure. Even at this high
rate, piloage Is by means ASSURANCE OF safety.
Congress should regulate this matter, providing that
fees shall De collected only when actual service has been
rendered In what other profession would man he
allowed to insist payment rendered, goods
never Orderedi Then again. when the pilot has slowed
his person board the Doctor appears and under any
circumstances must receive s. for his attention II
tine health bill is clean, the vessel proceeds but
II not she IL brought 10 anchor, and cnures perhaps
rias Of exactous and ouragos which Of themselves
are enough 10 discourage second venture. Arrived 40
her desired place Of anchorage, however series OF
annoyances is begun, and for day the vessel is be-
seged ny innumeraDe runners ana understands eager
for fees and tolls Of all kinds all sorts of pretexts
The master OF the vessel rid Of these pests, comes ashore
a9ru WIN bls papers, ana hnds that he cannot move
without consulting broker any attempt tn transact his
own business results not only in failure, hut rnous an
noyances Even the CUSTOM House Is oagued with the
broker and the master finds that OF these people s
indispensable TO his but In RETURN fees de-
manded that almOst his freight. Ia order to dis
charge his cargo, he is obliged to conciliac larbor
Master who must have from so to 500 for towing the
If the charter party the foreign port stated that the
vessel must be discharged by the gnees stevedore
the mae Ter OF the vessel can but submit ana OF course
pay tic highest market price, otherwise he may mako
movement 30 that. If possible, claim may tie trumped
mp gainst his freight. Il matters little whether the
clam be Just and reasonable or not If the master VIII
not allow It, the merchant attaches his vessel and II the
master bonds her and contests the issue, the legal
charges will eat mp all that the vessel has earned upon
the voyage If anything is broken or any liquid mas
leaked ont during the voyage. even the Port Warden
matches before opening them. and also to note the
which any article found injured slowed, before 1t
master may S' rest " ASSURED si claim
made, If for constructive damages, at least
Tho vain nf hat LOST
nOinmedaiey noted his protest and IN case OF neGes-
must pay MI damages that may have happened to the
cargo while upon the In most OF our ports the
has pay heavy daily charge and the goods nothing,
the captain win find when he is ready to move away
n he neglect to pay within hours after the presrnta-
ton Of the b Il be doubled and collected, II the
skipper is headstrong and fOOishy PUSHES into law to
defend himself this imposition II he has any re-
pairs done or purchases any supplies he is charged more
than Is right, Tor the who introduces him to the
chandler the mechanic expects To 10 per cent Tor
that simple act and the amount Is charged somewhere
I'm his BILL while the broker, who does his business
insists upon as much discount before ne oashGs inc DILL
The vessel Is unl0aded The master begins to look about
other business for her Here he finds another obsa-
Gle; he cannot deal directly WIN the neIchanI; 40
before he Il told lie must employ broker to arrange
the counting room OF the meIchaht nc ms 70 Keep
his e. about him. his charter party or bills OF ladng
will be drawn as 10 involve him II he trusts To hrs
broker, il is chance If the broker VIII bother himself
much with the matter Al the Custom House he has the
experience that he had on entering repeated ana
when he comes 10 settle MS accounts wit te pr0k no
finds that he has been charged In addition to all nave
named, cent on al money
the same money placed in the hands OF the broker
by the masters Tor that purpose and te D0heF has had
the uninterrupted use thereof. He gets his crew on
board having to pay he gets new men, an advance to
each of months wages, and little fec OF 81 or per
man TO the shipping master and thinks he is clear
Of oyactons lie has hardly stepped aboard before he Is
informed that he must pay bill for "Outward ploiage"
OF from sI9 if the service Is acCepted otherwise,
half that amount.
who * 10 blame for this state OF affairs First, the
General Government for Knitting taxes 10 be imposed
upon shipping under municipal ana state legislation
secondly, the merchants who are slp-owners or nos
resisting TO the end every improper oAactlon, and
those who not owners for striving IN every Way TO
crcumycnt and deprive the OF their just dues
and earnings thirdly the underwriters themselves, for
retaining In their employ those who undoubtedly make
business Of their positions cntirely apart IRON ther
duties as officers MERCATOR.
heV- YORK., MAY 81, 1871