The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-04
hARBoR REF oRM.
Meeting Of the JOINT Committee on Investigation
Yesterday Message from the
Governor.

An adjourned meeting OF the Joint Committee ap.
pointed some weeks since by the Produce Elk
change, Grocers Board OF Trade, Shipowners A.
ISOLATION and Vessel owners Association was held
yesterday In the Chamber OF Cemmerce 6oaon
Humphreys, OF the Chamber Of Commerce. presided.
The session was one, but abstract OF tho
proceedings was afterwards given to the press. the
committee has been buslly employed since the last
meeting In collecting evidence ana mfor-
nation relative to the working OF the
present system OF harbor regulations, and
yesterday their report was considered out
the abstract does not state that any definite
action was taken upon any OF the suggestions
offered. At the last meeting two afidavits had
been prepared and forwarded to Governor Hoffman
relative to the harbor masters and the agents Of the
transportation committees, showing the extraof-
binary measures which had been pursued BY tho
former In their dealings with the public The action
complained OF is the following:-The law strictly
prohibits the taking OF brides or considerations OF
any kind by these harbor masters. and requires
that they shall attend to their duties personally.
In earlier years the harbor mostly Of
V. Of e ENABLE
rus ofyIoIALs axe MvNSnx roLrISAss ,.,,
ss Ss, Ia, :.S
large amount Of money and they these circumstances
with these oneia: becomes more and more nsupPorab
haa two sunsrsd thousand
g ssss$ = %;:.'; s:, ~ g.: !:
moderately estimated a - During toe past
years. AS sas g. .4s a's carry out
harbor masters called the owboa TO their AID
se:. S
sns wS,sS passed agent. and $
for any ship vessel to obtain berth in OF the down
STa o. rs
geek sr and many Sa
hands II the haTbor masters the New York side
The following Is an abstract from the report Of
the Ship owners Association
After a careful examination of the whole subject your
would respectfully snsec. that the bsst
@
hs % els qsn be PLACED under the IL
:: ss i ss1g ss & III. ss s s
aaar the Or oe and d
Ia IN order to ,a the % s o. av e OBJ
REDRESS OF oxrRvANoHs ea1 eaW 4
respectfully suggested that the DO laid before thi
s s e. i" sno
70 s" s S o GO Ds
e proper projection Of he various msrsanus q
to sS $ Will
an ,0 ID s w e. % sc ws
Grafton the subject.
Some years since an attempt was made to break
up the system, but the leading stevcdores who tes
uned to the corrupt0ns before the Legislature suf
fercd severely for years afterwards through the
onmity of the harbor masters who INSTRUCTED their
busi in m COm
state that they not deem 1t necessary to present
specific cases or the OF the sufferers who arc
systematically deirauded but the ext0rti0ns arc
every vessel that Hnloads none escaping without
being heavily taxed The committee consider thas
ns 81 All Vessels s
harbor but that, while such vessels are subjected
cnaee Be- paid BY s
who are benetted, directly or indirectly, by COM
The tonnage fees OF one and half cents per ton,
for harbor masters fees has OF lato years been coll
lected through the Custom House. on the entering
OF the vessel under private arrange ment between
these officials me amount collected In this way u
about the sum Of $40 ooo WHICH is exclusive
y $50 600 Of ocalIed legal tax upon tonnage: Mr.
meeting Of the committee that 1t was almost mpos-
| slbe to compute ~.
aries OF the present system. lie says Il is the duty
| b
heart to ascertain the extent Of the existing abuses
and then to apply the necessary remedy,
else rS commerce WIZ be apyen enI from ne
regard to health are also considered very imperfect
and 1t Is asserted that some active measures must
SAUL w. INSURE A THOROUGH REFORM
The aflldavits which had been prepared and for.
warded 10 Governor norIman contained state.
ment OF the abuses and irregularities above name0s
and urged upon him the necessity OF thorough In
thorough reform. The conduct OF the Harbor Mas
tiers III taking tribes was severely commented upon,
asked to assist in correcting the abuses. The Gov.
ernor promptly acknowledged the receipt OF the
snce the last meeting has prevened 1t from being
made public at an earlier day. The following Is the
Governors letter. S -
Exrour.vr onAsrr ss1 nnnS on Sf pse 1SrS
arSon he
ngemen Of rant, rsss; that you should h.ys Do
ia the printers hands What have written Tor commani
q he Sny T s1ss IT. ws
.vs w ha be shown 10 e % g
which oa refer as havnE been the new were
Ses they would have been promptly investigated but;
you know. neither Judges Governors Try parties
that sA. be glad
disssd effort to promote their ss oSIs nsess Very
Solos Hrnr4nrv President cnAaIEs Il: GAssii1Il-
The following is the part OF the Governors Mes.
sage which especially refers to the abuses com.
planned OF by the joint cOmmittee:-
been for many years all administer,
lions complaints in the against the Health O1lcer and
also against the Hab0r Masters Of the Port OF New
No proof has been adduced before me OF
| on the part OF the present oacers In In.
preferred against harDog master, Which were w.h.
| drawn On the 18th of December 1871, charges were
preferred another WHICH arc now under exanina.
on In the of the Health Omcer one complaint has
been laid before Although the law gave power ~
he matter Health Oacer promptly responded to my 70
quest for explanations. The complaint found con-
not with bis once proper nor With his fees but with
OF tho hospitals at Quarantine, and the Injustice
complained Of was promptly cured Under the law,
the Governor has no power TO remove the Health Oce and
the OF the senatetho period of the year when
abuses are likely TO recommend Gov
i.. " aa,aps nelna,nn 0 ~ uucer and