The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-07
It's Effect Yesterday at the
Seamen's Exchange.
Crowds OF Sailors Engaging Themselves Under
the New Act-strsnuous Opposition from the
Shipping Masters and Boarding House
Ksepsrs-A Conspiracy to Keep All
American Ships In Port-An An.
peal in Course Of Preparation


paid Visit to the Seamen's Exchange, situated at
1S9 Cherry street, to witness the first days work.
Ing of the new Seamen's act. Around the entrance
were gathered motley crew Of seafarers, discuss
ing the pros and cons OF the new law. Swarthy
Italians, sturdy BritOns and excitable Frenchmeu
were all volubly explaining what they knew about
the new state OF affairs Looking on the animated
scene from neighbOring street corners were to be
seen several sc0wling sailors boarding house keep
ers, who now feel that their prey has escaped
them and that the day Of sailors rights has
arrived. Passing into tho building Captain
Duncan, the Shipping Commissioner for tho
port OF New York, Is met The bronzed face and
well knit frame OF the former commander of the
Quaker City are too well known to the community
to need dwelling upon. In reply to question as
to whether he could spare few minutes to tell
the writer how matters were progre ssing at the
Exchange he said he would willingly give oil thu
information he could. Captain Duncan then said:-
''Weve done smashing business to-day and yeS
terday, and have had more men around us than we
know what TO do with. Look over at that desk"
continued the Captain, "where Mr.. Pentz Is engage
Ing sailors. You see there are three times as many
there as he wants. We have already engaged
twelve to fifteen crews, composed in round figures
OF some two hundred men, and all steady, good
fellows. When there is lack. OF sailors
we can send out our runners who will provide
IN all probability with oil we require; but that will
probably not be for some time, for as winter ap.
for every single berth that has to be filed We
have received great many visits from prominent
the mutual protection OF captain and men, and
have promised all the cooperation that lies in their
law Is Just the thing that was wanted, and among
their number may be mentioned Captain BarstOw, OF
the bark Sandy Hook, who has followed the sea for
ORDERS FOR CREWS.
Turning to several account books the counter av
Deputy Commissioner Jenks Office, Captain Dun
can stated that they were constantly receiving
orders for crews. those for steamships being kept
In a separate book from those OF the sailing ships
Among the vessels names which caught the re-
pOrer's eye were the steamers City OF Merida, Bien
ships were the Celestial Empire, Sandy Hook and
many Others from the stately "'Frisc0" clipper
PAYMENT OF WAGES TO STEAMERS CREWS
"KnOwing that the owners of steamers are de"
sirous of making all possible use OF the time and
labor of their and to facilitate business" con-
tnued the Captain, 81 have instructed the Deputy
Commissioners to go on board steamers and pay on
appearing here"
A COMMENTED oOLoRED BOARDING HOUSE KEEPER.
While speaking with the Captain a cOlored board
Ing house keeper marched across the room hold.
ing in his hand an advance note which he stated
he more than any shipping saa
institution solid Us brick" The following Ia
copy Of the document which gave so much salts
facti0n:-
FORM OF ADVANCE NOTE.
Three days after the nxed departure Of schooner p
Murray S his NsT xG 70 rads
Ss snS
TIE DAY OF RETRIBuTION.
Leaving the large singing 9 Mas ,s
,S power % eo1 of taess
broken. and it Is high time that such result was
arrived at Under the new act sailors cannot have
their and their ezeS sna
where they are fadded with drugged whiskey and
forced to give an order for their wages when
has run him sufficiently In debt Jack Is made TO
On board $ Sd RS fair l5 or g &c he h put
and his wages for his previous voyage are cap.
tHS y the al hG he En- his tse eon
Now the sailor must be present and sober
when paid of, his accounts must have been eX-
amined by the Commissioner and fairly made out.
and contain no false charges against him for money
THE PAYING OFF DEPARTMENT FOR SAILING SHIPS.
The operations Of this department. according to
till thursday, the 9Th. Each man will be paid sepa-
ratey, and offer will be made 80 take what
money ne may no sed W Se aEe M
Application has already been made for the pay
ment OF wages on board the Western City, which
happens to be steamboat, and will, therefore, be
p"'' CAPTAIN pUNoANs FINAL SHOT,
'Mnd mer said he, ~ do not call all the sailor
boarding house keepers bad men, for there are
some very respectable men In their number; but
claim that sailors have the right to board and stay
where they WILL like any other private individual,
without the interference of any sailor runners and
the most respectable manner. and to which sailors
return voyage after voyage; the pity IL that there
are not more ofthem."
TIE FALL OF TAMMANY.
In 1866 q State law was passed by which COM
mission of five was appointed to investigate tho
subject of licensing sailor boarding houses, and
was elected President OF it, and for four years
fought this battle sngle-handed but Tammany Han
se are eSt of upwards Of one hundred Of
these sailor boarding house keepers: Sixty OF them
are now keeping their houses according to law, and
ato fort ra III
their counsel, contends that the law Of 1863
was Inconstitutlonal have We. hopes pes tnat me
gain ] can cause their houses to be closed, and
ri do not can refuse to ship sailors from these
those conducted on a respectable basis. ! have
been lighting these men for years back, but think
the mort full of sailors, who would willingly have
shipped for SIS month, but the sailor landlords
demanded $50, and this sum nad actually 10 pe paiu.
But such cOnspiraces are at an end now and for
ever I'm this country. -
CONVENTION OF UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS FOR
Last Friday convention took place at the
Sailors Exchange Of the United States Commits
siOners for Seamen between Maine and Maryland,
at which eight or ten OF the principal ports were
represented. The appointment for. the Southern
respective Circuit Courts when necessary from the
magnitude OF the trade. IN minor ports the
Collector is directed TO act as permanent or tem-
Thanking Captain duncan for his courtesy the
''f'' THE OTHER SIDE OF THE QUESTION. =
On Monday evening gathering OF over hum
dred members OF the Sailors Benevolent Boarding
House Association took place at Botanic Hail. East
Broadway, Deputy Sherif Monahan, OF 110h Cherry
street. presiding, and IL was unanimously resolved
that should any one of Its members ship sailor at
the Sailors Exchange on board an American yes.
sci he should be expelled from the association and
il was further agreed to try and ship sailors on
foreign vessels and to prevent, by all means IN
their power, the shipment OF sailors ON board
American vessels II was thought by the associa-
ton that the war against Captain Duncan would be.
oh nj n IL
have their board bills to pay they must ship where
the landlords please.
~ THE SHIPPING MASTERS.
II was rumored among the shipping masters yes
ter,lay that test case, by means OF mandamuS
against the Collector OF the Port, Will DC brought
forward to-day and the case chosen Will be brig,
~, ~. ans,rnd dc craw Last week Int On account