New-York tribune., 1871-09-27
HARBOR MASTERS RING.
a WORSE GANG OF THIEVES THAN THOSE
AT QUARANTINE, ~!

TAXING COMMERCE AT OUR VERY DOCks-A
SYSTEM OF BLACKMAILING sHIP-oWNERs By
STATE oFFICIALS-PRooF OF THEIR FRAUDS.
A walk along S6ttA-sk' on ,apy .&ftefnoon
viii convince any that the exacons Of the ouaran-
tine Doctor. Of the Port wArdenA and of the Harbor
Masters but too certainly bringing about the crises
predicted In shipping crcics generally Tho aoeolute
power with which the STATE statue invests the Haroor
Masters has made them arrogant 70 deErce that only
equaed by the bOdness with which the Health Ofcer
commits his extoron. They are declared the lud6es
Gbsolvte regarding all appertsinng to their dis
tcts They the power to stop the loading or un-
loading Of any and overy vessel lying at the piers
OF tho city, and they are tho judges ae 70
whether O vessel shah be dscharEing or not. Cases
are frequent where ships have been toTceo W
move 70 othcr piers than those OF when Sney
wore dschargHg for the that the
desired 10 put vessels, which would pay Dim hioio
money in the bcrths which they at the time occupied
1t will hereafter be TO what extent and to what
use they put this unwise clause OF the statute Ine "
thus clearly defines their fees:
Banks Statutes VOL IT, 49, G-The ters
SHAH power to demand and receive ire h inc ON 90 m
aners owners consigneeS or either OF tneln on hi
slips or vessels which shall enter the said port Of
and Sd Or TSS or re make ssn pG & 70 Be-
computed from the tunnago expressed IN See aSgED.
aud no noTe and also ona other foreign ships or yes
sells which shall arrive ct and enter ths saia port
double the amount OF fees above spec'neo'
This gives them average OF $500 per year In lawful
fees These they than uadruple by an Infamous
system of Matchmaking" which, out Of the City OF New
York has no parallel the world over Many OF tho piers
are lying idle aud the querist, In his perRmouatons
along the river 'front.' win take the trouble TO step into
the nearest oce rshipchandlers dry dock yard or
warehouse he will be told in every case, that 1t is only
because the Of vessels refuse to pay the harbor
masters extra ratcs The owners OF the whar who pay
to the City Dock Commissioners from 6o9 to $1,000 per
annum orc thus by this means prevented from
rooeiying the wharfage due then and, with the ship
owners suffer severely from the corrupt city officials and
their dishonest subaerns, Although the
have before been charged by the Press with taking
brbes from the care with which the ouprs have Gov
cred up their tracks with second parties and "stoo
pigeons 1t hns been absolutely impossible to get direct
proof OF their maeasanoe. TIE TRIBUNE (Which makes
1t rule to make charges not capable Of proof In
open COURT has long been In search OF this direct evil
donee, but has experienced untold difficulties from the
fear with which the like the Quarantine
officers, have inspired their victims. For time, each
person approached Oh tho subject, after LOOKING
suspiciously around tAeir Offices and carefully
examining the credentials Of the reporter, would
shrug their shoulders and say: "Our business is all
going to ruin way Of hindrring the work
ings Of our We dare not say anything to you
on the subject 1t comes to the ears OF our Har
bor-Master we shall have to bleed for It," Or this:
your paper doing good work for the shipping In
tcrests but really sorry that, with the number OF
trcsts by giving you any direct information, however
much may wish to do so." Another: al cannet tell
YOU anything; but here Is bill We have Juse paid to
Parker Gibbs tow-boat men Of No. 62 Souths, Of Sb
for bringing brig from TObn's stores. The
Job worth 80 at most but we must employ the tow
boats at their rates. we cannot get our vessels
loaded" When asked where tho extra $sS went the
gentleman replied: "That goes as commission to
somebody for giving Parker Gibbs the job"
Having short time since given q complete and COM
prehensiye exposition of the frauds OF the OF
the port together with the figures and dates thereunto
appertanng outrageous and destructive eKtortons
Of the Harbor Masters now demand . showing. 1t
would appear that the officials Of the City and State
have united for the utter ruin of the OF this
great port aud that where ingenuity fails to suggest
enching the robbers open force In direct v1o
lation Of law, accomplshes the work.
history OF the robbery this gang OF thieves has
been thoroughly ferreed OUT and the evidence here
with submitted convicts least Harbor Master Of
mxlfeasance in Office.
THE HARBoR MASTERS AND THEIR STATIONS.
The following is n list Of the Harbor Masters and the
ring which they have formed with certain tOwboatmer
OF tho city;
FIRST DistrIet-C G. Ellis; ONCE, southst corner Of
Jefferson; extends from Pier Eo Il up East River.
Second District-wm Penoyer. No. 162 sOuthst.; ex-
tends from Pier No. % to No. 4O East River.
Third Dist4et-JOhn c. suydam, No. 80 south-st; e1-
tends from Pier No. 10 to No. 20, East River.
Fourth DisIriet-Thomas II. Ferris No. 90 South-st.
extends from Pi6f No. Is to No. 19, East River.
FIN Distvict-John B1oe, No. 81 6Outhst. extends
from Pier No. ITO No Is, East River.
Sirth DisPict-Danie hart, No. 90 Coentiesslp; ex.
tends Whitehall to Pier No. 8. East River.
Seventh DisIriet-John W. Brown No. es West-st; ex-
tends from the Battery to Pier No. 9. North River.
Eighth District-A. J.aull No. 90 West-st; extends
from Pier No. Q to No. %, North River.
Ninm Dislrict-s sammons, Pier No. 81, North River;
extends from Pier No. % to No. -, North River.
Tenh DiStrict-Bernard Kenney, No. SSi Westst. ex-
tends from Pier No. I3 up North River.
Eecenh District (BroOklyn)-J II. Bell, opposite Full
ton Fcrryhouse from Red Hook Point to the extent Of
the port.
Tnese Harbor Masters wholly or In part, carly in the
present year. organized ring for the purpose Of evyng
"blackman" In the following manner A league was
formed with c. p Raymond No. 2c1 SOuth-st; William
Marshall No. % southst; Parker Gibbs, No. 81 South
st.; Chamberlain Hewlett NOa 80 and 1o sOuthst, and
Jaoob HenyOn No Westst, tow-bOat owners or agente
wherein II is said by Mr. Cushnan to have been agreed
that the OwbOat people, by exorbitan rates Tor
towing and paying 10 per cent upon their regular
rles in addition to the extra charges made on the ship
to some person appointed to receive the money
should have tho exclusive right to tow vesses In the
larbor OF New-York To explain II vessel is moved
from Martins Stores TO Pier No. g. the towboat agents
render bill the Of from e25 to eo-varying
according to the need under which the shpowners are
suerng to have their/vessel berthed. The legitimate
fees towing ay sO The towboat captains pay
over 10 the Harbor Masters receiver the 90 &3the
whole received minus the so less 10 cent which
latter this eObetween Of the Harbor Master retains and
then pays the S15 or so over to his employer.
Under statute. dated April a. 1865, 1t is declared sec
ton that harbornaster shall take or receive, d
rcctly or indirectly any money fees in addition TO
those prescribed by law" &c. This clause has been
violated times without number, and 1T this moment
one vessel at leaves her berth on the East
River without bribe to the HarborMsster.
Gov Hoffman has not been ignorant of the dhiculties
under which the shipowners Of NewYork are suffering