New-York tribune., 1872-05-10

and dictatorial that the wealthiest shippers
had TO submit to their demands.
All this has been corrected, or Is happily
on the eve of correction. Exposure in The
| tribune of the scandalous frauds OF tho Cen
eral Order system as conducted by Leet and
| Stocking resulted in the fixing OF proper
charges, equal distribution OF the business
among the various warehouses, and the return
to the several steamship companies OF tnelr
share of the business, which formerly had
been inexpensive to the merchants. The rev.
elation of the undisputed fact that DR.. Car
nocban. as the Tammany Health Officer, had
accented bribe of $4,000 to permit pratt
cal firm of lightermen to monopolize the
towing of the port at rates three tunes
the legal charges, quickly put IN end TO
the abuses which had driven valuable trades
to other ports. The Congress investigation, Ii
it did not absolutely correct the gross outrages
of Custom house special agents and tho petty
swindles of the Inspectors, certainly caused
these fellows to be less bold and shameless in
their operations. The legislative inquiry into
the misdeeds of the HarbOr- Masters, though
not yet ended. has already relieved merchants
of many of the annOyances and infllctl0ns
which THE TRIBUNE exposed in their interest.
Further relief may be anticipated If the pend
ing bills are passed.
We call attention to the course of TIE TRIB-
UNE in these matters, and the relief which fol-
lowed its plain exposure of the guilty officials,
for the purpose of recalling to merchants that
they fell into the hands of these extOrtiOnists
through their own carelessness and indiffer-
ence. The merchants of New-YOrk have many
organizations, but little union and while they
have also great individual enterprise, they have
too little public spirit; or perhaps we ought
to say they have too little in common, and
the general prosperity languishes while per-
sonal wealth accumulates. They have various
associations, such as the Chamber of Com
merce, the Merchants Cotton, Drug, and
other Exchanges, and Ship and Vessel
owners associations; but do the members of
these not recognize, as We have for long
time past, that at times they are neglectful of
their rights and suffer infringements upon in
dividual merchants and shippers. because not
active as an OrgaDizatiOnf Several OF the
Chambers are particularly urgent just now In
furthering reform but is there not great fear
that they will relax their vigilance as soon as
present danger is past, or relief from present
infections is secrred7 The surest means of
protection every merchant will find in
the commercial association representing
his particular trade, and we know
no better advice to offer each than to urge
him to augment the power and increase the
activity of the Chamber and Exchange to
which he belongs, or ought to belong. Organ
izations of this kind can oppose and denounce
abuses upon commerce and shipping not only
with greater force but greater safety than in
dividuals can; and now that through the
efforts of newspapers and public opinion they
have been aroused to indignant expression
large measure of reform has been secured.
We look to the commercial associations to
maintain the liberties of tho merchants as
against the encroachments of Custom-house
Inspectors, Quarantine officers, and all other
forms of harbOr pirates.