New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-02
OUARANTINE AND HARBOB ABUSES
ACTION OF THE CHAMBER OF coMhERCE-ihH
PROPOSED LAWS.

PROPOSED LAWS.
The Chamber of Commerce met yesterday
afternoon George Opdyke presiding. John r. Dousian'
Charles C. Duncan and Daniel c. Robbins were elected
members and George W. Lane was reelecbd inehOoi u
the Committee Arbitration The Executive Coinnie
tee recomme nded the appointment OF special oomhl@
tee TO consider Collector Arthurs letter ASKING lho
appointment OF committee to unite with o'Defb III no
revision OF the rates Of storage OF unclaimed goods inc
report OF the Committee Quarantine was then reau
and accepted. IL s substantially as follows:
The abuses OF the Quarantine In New YORK may po
CLASSIFIED az being: l. Unnecessary detention ana con
troll Of vessels, merchandise and persons, ~
fccted or not at the option OF the Health Ocer q *
orbtant charges 10 which merchants and vessel owners
are subject, solely for the promotion OF private
The risks and actual losses incident to unnecessary 0e
The following examples, selected from large num-
her Of cases arc given in order TO insure clearer com
Drebeusion of the nature OF the Quarantine extorton
which are now IA vogue: On cargo OF 800 hogsneads OF
sugar the expenses amounted to upward OF 1900 Ins
wa I'm addition 20 the legitimate fees OF the
Health Officer and included the ghterage cooperaee
f1w1g eXpces OF the vessel incident 10 detention and
loss in the weight Of sugar On cargo OF moasses OF
tho same quantity, the expenses rom inc same CAUSES
incudIng Leakage amounted 10 $3.50 On cargo OF
nde Of 6S g. the expenses and loss $3.50 On
vessel detained at Quarantine Tor perlol Oh ~ uay
by reason OF smaPox among 1e yp .eaaeT pyng
between this port and South American ports win no
consequence of delay $4,000 the average detention
| on each being II days, or a total OF 30 days. -
sci 10 load for New-York. During the last year. WINE
vessels were abundant the West Indies at y per hogs
hat tb@y cS1d be obtained at S 50 for NewYor Not
less than 100000 bags Of Rio coffee alone have been a.
verted from NeVIork 10 Baltimore during each OF the
past two years. A. vessels are driven away ny unjust
quarantine eXacons the port deprived to that extent
or It's facilities for exporting, cOn-ideIale alnoh. VI
tunnage being Withdrawn from the market " INC
abstraction OF these vessels
While il is believed the Health Officers exactions would
be recoverable by law, it il evident that under the pres
Quarantine laws, there Is no hope for Improvement
The main points OF the act prepared by yOur commit
submission to the Legislature, as differing from the
appeaabe powers OF the Health Officer In all cases he
Is required 10 give written decisions n regard 70 the dis
antne has shortened by the substitution OF the ls
OF May for the lst Of Apr and positive eyIdeuce j. r.
tnde has also been changed by the substi
tuition Of Cape Henry Tor Cape Henlope4
which enable them TO investigate charges against the
Health Officer, and rendering him removable for cause
the remuneration OF the Health Ocer 10 his actual fees
OF Office TO the compensation for vaccination ana ior
the dinfecton OF vessels and merchandise, az deter
mined by the Comm sioneTs oi Quarantine Chanslns
S9 n ecnaS S renecd an" and rgqed 6ut in
o nnt On the duties Of the Health Officer and
the Commissioners of Quarantine to be regulated by
ara made pavable 20 them for the benefit OF
the state. Also making it the duty Of the
CommiSeion fix the number and compensation OF
oil tbe etnoyfs of tic quarantine cst1bs Incut 10 ap
point or license them and to dismiss them AZ pleasure
except the Health officer and his deputies The Health
Oiicfr NAV however nominate the physician 10 the
Marine Hospital the persons be appointed police men,
and the crew OF boarding steamboat :. Permitting
captains and owners agents OF vessels and nerchan
disc employ lighters, and cOOpcrs ana steyedOres on
their account the persons so employed being sub
iect to the usual quarantine restrictions Assigning
the duties OF the Construction Board consisting O the
Commissioners Of Quarantine and the Mayors OF New
York and BROOKLYN the Commissioners Of Quarantine
exclusively and requiring them To proceed as under e1
listing laws.
The special Committee on the Harbor Master frauds
reported quoting length the report OF the Joint Com
mittee OF ship Owners Association, and recommend
ing the vesng OF the entire control OF the movements
Of vessels In the hands " the Pilot Commissioners The
following resolutions referred to the appropriate
committees:
That Committee Of seven be appointed by The Presi-
dent confer with the CustOm-house investigating
Committee; that the Special Committee on Quarantine
Frauds continued. and he authorized TO go 10 Albany
To- urcc their proposed bill the Legislature; that
Committee be appointed to confer with members or thr
Produce Exchange upon the subject OF trade summons
and rcBlctiou Uf tine Conspiracy law that memorials
hc presented TO Congress rccOull, udng the appoint
mcHt OF Commissioner, 10 regulate the shipping of sea
men. and that law be- passed foriddnc the emptyinR
udcT and other refuse the hGrbOr from steamers
as