The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-07
Attempt to Reopen the Miller
MIDDLE.
Benefits Ferry Bill Ordered to q
Third Reading.
NEW YORK RARBOR DLAcXMAIlERS.
Mr.. Judd's Expose of the Doings
Down the Bay.

nights and as consequence there was no serious
hitch in the general business transacted The early
morning train brought up nearly everyone OF the New
Workers, which extraordinary circumstance threw
the members Of the rural districts into fearful
state Of trepdation, they have learned to their
cost already this session that the Gothamites
never rise early for nothing. They somehow got 1t
into their heads that something was up, and so,
long before the hour for the assembling Of the two
houses had arrived the country law makers were
on hand in strong force, evidently determined not
TO get euchred ont of anything good that might
turn up by the willy metropolitans. However, their
fears that the New Workers had big thing to
rush along proved groundless, as no private
metropolitan pet measure was as much as limited
1T during the evening; even reform Jimmy Hayes
cOntentng himself during the proceedings in talk.
ing theology with the religious Houghton In such
loud whsperings as to call for the scowls of the
SOlemnity observing Speaker. Mr. Tobey raised
quite q breeze by introducing resolution to
REOPEN THE MILLER INVESTIGATION,
but when 1t was ascertaned that the reopening OF
the case was demanded from the fact that South
wick, the witness who went to Canada, some
where else, where the committee could not go after
him, had suddenly turned up ready to testify, the
breeze subsidized and the resolution was passed. 1t
Ii believed that Southwick will tell all he knows
about insurance and the Miller way Of doing it, and
as the committee must close the case in two days
they will no doubt apply the pumps to
him shortly after sunrise tomorrow. He
has been subpDnaed, and a careful watch is
being kept upon his movements lest he should take
Sudden fancy to leave for that wonderful bourne
commonly designated by writer's OF the period as
'parts unknown His testimony may change the
present aspect Of Miier's case very materially, but
there are those who contend that it will have little
weight with the committee when sifted down by his
crosse examination.
BENEFITS FERRY BILL.
Mr.. Bennett succeeded at last to- night In getting
his Ferry bill dragged into daylight out Of the close
closets OF the Committee Commerce and Navi-
CATION, where 1t has been slumbering for some time
past. He made motion to discharge the commit
tee from further consideration Of the bin and that
4 be ordered to third reading, when
Mr.. Fields, who finally withdrew it. The bin
was then ordered to third reading 1t win be re-
Membered that the bill 1t now stands compels all
the Brooklyn and Williamsburg ferry companies,
with the exception OF the Roosevelt ferry to carry
being compelled to sell lunches OF ten tickets at the
ferry boxes for twsnty,hye cents The bin reduces
the charges for vehicles from fifteen to twenty per
cent, according 10 their bulk
THE NEW YORK CHARTER
and the Registry bills were reported favorably by
Mr. Judd from the Committee on Cities. The char
ter, rs reported Is precisely in the same condition
with se that butts e Che screws On DOWN rraa
Comptroller Green in one important particular
- wit that nothing Ia the section authorizing him
his even disputing any claim ordered to be paid by
laws passed by the present Legislature.
THE BEACH PNEUMATIC RAILROAD BILL VETOED.
The Governor sent In his veto OF the Beach Pneu-
matte Tube bill TO the Senate, and its friends and
advocates are in distress in consequence. In
the veto he takes the same grounds against
the bill that he did last year. Mr.. O'Brien,
IN sss Senate o introduced rt bill which
small pipe men in New York, is considered very
important one Il provides that hereafter the Com
mon Council shall have the power to fix and regu-
Late the wages OF all mechanics and laborng men |
employed under the various departments. The bill |
. third time and passed at once by unanimous
consent Mr.. O'Brien made motion to have it
read third time and passed accordingly; but Mr.. |
Tiemann, with his usual blind perversity interpose6
his obectiOn 80 that II ii is necessarily delayed in
tts passage the mechanics and aborers In the SER |
vice OF the department may know who TO thank |
for their misOrtunes
THE NEW YORK HARBoR MASTERS
Mr.. JUDD presented this evening the report OF |
the Committee on Commerce and Navigation
corning the Harbor Masters abuses in |
that numerous witnesses witnesses we're examined mined
and the investigation disclosed sys-
tenn Of extortions which may not inappropri- |
atcly be characterized as organized piracy upon the
commerce OF New York. In addition to paying the
regular fees provided by law vessels are subjected
TO a series OF eXactions almost from the time of |
their arrival to their departure.
Frst-Ship owners and agents generally testified |
found on their districts, and then when applying |
ior bSrths they were compelled to negotiate with |
Second-These middle men are generally tow |
boatmen, wharfngers, and sometimes stevedores. |
ihey make the arrangements and receive the ex-
tOftlOn ices which are levied for docking vessels.
Witnesses testified that they had been compelled to
wait Tor days in some instances before procuring
bertns because they refused to pay the "stakes de-
manded. The amounts SO levied and extorted are
generally embraced under the head Of
ToWAGE FEESn OR "FoR SERVICES RENDERED.
Large numbers OF these bills were presented to the
committee, who swore that no services whatever
mad Deen rendered.
:. Third-A few firms enjoy a monopoly OF
tne towage business. Witnesses testified that
shey could not obtain berths unless en-
blackmaied them. A member OF one of these
1rms anwllngly confessed that he and his partner
paid s., 900 down for the monopoly and 2h per
cent afterwards. This was done in accordance
with an arrangement effected, and the witness un-
derstOOd the percentage was to 90 to the Harbor
Master OF his district, John Brice. II thus appears
that as individuals styling themselves the New
YORK HarDor and Llghterage and Stevedoring Com
pany" paid $4,000 and percentage to the Health
Onicer and his representative for the privilege OF
levying backmail down the bay, other parties
have bought and sold the same privilege ia port
F0urh-While the alleged sums collected were
Masters, they must have been owing to their exac
tons. Is II reasonable to suppose that they have
been willing to incur all the opprobrium for the
tOrtions and leave the spOils To others Though
opportunity was Afforded, none OF them took the
stand to rebut the damaging charges made against
THE CAPTAIN OF THE PORT,
who Ia placed over the Harbor Masters testified
that he had become convinced In his own mind that
looked with as much surprise as the committee at
the extent OF these exactions. He added
think In regard to the abuses in this port some
have outgrown Others and my knowledge OF public
affairs has convinced me that this is period OF
general corruption.n
Fy0h--While these abuses are not OF recent date,
having prevailed to greater or less extent ior
TWO years. The testimony Of all the witnesses was
20 Tue eject that they were now far more oppres-
siye than ever before.
StIu-The effect Of this systernatized spoliatton
upon the commercial interests OF New York has
oeen very perceptible Ships have been driven TO
na ,sn and to other ports. The report con-
Guides as follows:-
THE SHIP OWNERS AND SHIP AGENTS
cannot wholly escape the responsibility for these
snoSwng abuses. In some instances they have
.nu oneu .nese bonuses In order TO facilitate the
Iosenens Of their vessels and thereby encouraged
n onar ~ Furthermore, they do not ap
psas 10 nave displayed the energy which
might have been expected IN resIstino the
gutrages TO which they have been subected
ITue many OF them Testified that al M. .,aa,sa.