The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-05
HARBOR INVESTIGATIONS.
An Inquiry Regarding the Pilot Law,
and HarbOr Masters.
What Some Ship Agents and Owners say-How
the Pilots Look at the Questionable Kind Of
Bonus Exacted for Favorite Berths
AZ Wharves-A Few Towing Bills.

The Legislative Subcommittee OF Commerce
commenced their Investigations into the complaints
against the Harb0r Masters ana Pilot Commission
ers yesterday morning at No. SO Pine street. Messrs.
David Judd CHAIRMAN ana Bennett were present.
The Chairman stated that this investigation was
not instituted IN consequence Of specific charges
against individuals, and might he more properly
called an inquiry.
John Maginn, pilot, depOsed-Was appointed in
1896; complain of persecution on the part of the
Pilot Commissioners; the law the subject OF pilot
age was repealed In 1S46, and law was enacted in
1853 appointing body called Commissioners OF
Pilots; was called on to take out q license under
this act and refused to do s0 was few days
afterwards notified that he was q suspended
pilot; appealed TO the Court of Common
Pleas, but the Commissioners procured a law nc
Albany rOrbdding appeal to any but themselves
suits and indictments were brought against HIM in
1860; was employed by the merchants, n0twlth-
standing the suspension the counsel for the Com
mssl0ners tried to effect q compromise with wit
ness COUNSEL Mr. Gilbert Dean friend expressed
an opinion that money was at the bottom OF the
question penalties were inflicted, which at the re-
quest OF MI. Dean were reduced to 800, but when
he came to paw The bill found 1t amounted to $500
there was bylaw fOrblddng pilot taking
sci to sea which he had not brought port was
law had been previously wiped out but was
re-enacted in order to prejudice witness took the
ship Ericsson to sea, and was fined in the amount
OF the pOtage OF the vessel; took this ship to
subsequently, and was ordered to turn over the
amount OF the pilotage, which he did; his friends
were eated by the Commissioners with ven
geance witness has been prevented from exercising
his functions OF pilot generally since 1853 but has
been employed by his friends, three Of whom have
hno oil Iuc Onapu fhavw rda
by the Court to obtain a relicense from the Com
missioners but refused to do so considers the Com
missioners exercise an arbitrary power from per-
sonal feelings; that they have made 1t kind OF
police ONCE; there are l2S pilots in New York.
others reside in the State or New Jersey; has been
followed by Commissioner, Mr.. Blunt ana threat
ened with his vengeance In every office that
pOys him; the Commission Is OF a partisan
character; no charges or inc0mpetency ever
made against Witness has been prosecuted by the
Commissioners Tor doing duty under his inspectors
+. I. ". Bellows, Vice President Pacific Mail
Steamship Company, testifed-1he Commissioners
pilots as thev wished; were lined for employing
pilots not licensed by the commissioners; never re-
sa 70 a1 9 ne n P1 OTIS VINO IN Their YES
forced the bylaw as matter OF iavortism; the law
operates 10 the derlment OF the company by the ex-
under IT, has Deenfned from 500 to $725 different
OccasiOns never heard OF the commissioners exact
Ing money for employing their pilots; one OF the
c0mpany's vessels was run ashore by pilot OF the
Commissioners 1857 1865 broad daylight; IL
was the steamship Baltic; the company would be
satisfied II the bylaw repealed; witness con.
slders they should be at liberty to employ whatever
pilots they think competent; thinks 1t would con.
duce the interest OF commerce II pilots were APP
pointed by the Port Warden; was notified by the |
Commissioners within the last TWO months that |
they were violating the laws and would lie pro-
ceeded against; thinks +, the company should be
well as those by the State law
Henry segune sworn-Haye been New York
nInk no az Ia
tory to the majority Of the merchants but consider
the reverse the case they own great deal OF prop
erty, and want intelligent men to have charge Of |
1t; the repeal oil this bylaw would tend to much |
confusion and incompetent men, knowing put little
again, 1t would be a sort OF premium on the Idle |
men OF the calling; many OF the Sandy HOOK pilots
brought in contact with more than one ' Of sScn
dscon,ented persons cannot not a6inS T. were
Cruising esisr for days and Weeks 'S Undergoing
great hardships, should be rec0mpensed IN some
brng to port SAFELY is only far; never nave paid
the Commissioners any premiums for this sort or
The question of the number of merchants in New
York IN favor OF the bylaw being repealed was then
aean @ aer ad thai
the Albany petition or year ago. THIS some OF the
pilots denied, and lnstanced s0me OF the merchants
who are In favor OF The law as 1t now is. The per-
centage paid TO the Commissioners Is for Office ex-
penses and benevolent purposes.
CLINTON Hunter swOrn-Represent Messrs Spof-
ford Bros Co., and mace similar objections as
previous Witnesses the ships orient and Calhoun
mad been run, one on the bar and the other on the
Spi, by pilots; there was no redress In the case of
the Orient sent word to the Commissioners that we
wanted another pilot to take the vessel out, and |
they sent US one; we want To our own pilots:
know them TO be competent nave been sued sew |
erai times FOR violating the bylaw In question: we |
could not always tell, perhaps, when our vessels |
were coming In, but could guess near |
enough (augnter)-dOnt think the Commission |
ers are OF any service; the Port Wardens |
could license pilots and direct them; if plot |
should lose my vessel there Is no redress have |
al mt
pllotage; once pilot was taken board one OF |
the firms ships ut MS request, although the master
SAID ne would not pay such pllotage, but the bill
was sent III with the charge and the hrm compelled
10 pay II; mad SIX or seven heavy draft vessels: |
never had heard of Haroor Masters 'ring:, once
paid stevedore Pier No. North River SIS in adj.
diton to wharfage Dues Is Interested IN the towing
business
archibald Heany testined-Is shipowner: has
mad dinculties about oii-shore plotaQe; been com.
peIed 10 pay 1t hleen or twenty times; this part OF
the law ought TO be repealed; don't know the CON-
inlssioners al all; complains Of the bonus PAID for
perths OF vessels but never could bring the matter
nome 10 ANYBODY; tue charges are generally IN
Guided In the towing Dlli; had bill OF SIS sent me
py owners OF propeller Trojan against the bark Tar
rytown Tor towing her only rom pier NO. East
River 10 pier No. same river 500 OF which was
Illegal; TINS Dill has never been collected nave paid
Dlls oil TINS kind, however, and regarded the wnOie
system wrong; am "a commission merchant, and the
more business done by me the more money make.
John r. Miller deposed-Ine pilots are privieged
class ana are opposed 10 the system; nad uiucul-
Ties with pilots and reported them 10 the Commits
sloners, but the latter generaiy rueu aeainss us
bonus for vessels Dertls. outside VI regular renIal
of wharf, mad been taxed 10 keep veSsels In tnelr
places Mr.. Miller submitted as vouchers several
checks. and thought the system was getting worse
iurIu IN a nnr |