New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-03-02
H-4RBOR PIRATES


THE uARBoR-MAsTERs' RING--How MERCHANTS
ARE MISUNDERSTANDING BLACKMAIL.
The abors of THE TRIBUNE against the evils
that have sapped the foundations Of the commerce Of
New York and driven much of her trade to Baltimore
AMI Boston, will not with the removal of the nefar
Quarantine Ring Other abuses still exist and
flourish despite the exerons Of the merchants, ana the
appeals which THE TRIBUNE has repeatedly ad-
dressed TO the Governor and the Legislature.
Such outrages and exactOns daily
inflicted on the great shipping interests OF
NewYork by the iHarbOr Masters Ring cannot escape
the attention OF THE TRIBUNE, and the extort0nate
officials need not hope for silence on its part Based
upon the statements forth former articles the
subject the Legislature has ordered an investigation OF
the abuses Of the HarbOrMasters, and the Committee
will shortly convene in this city.
Invested with legal authority which gives them SUI
premacy over the commerce of NewYOrk, the HarbOr-
have in their power to enforce the collection
extortonate fees TO extent unequaed perhaps by
any other set public officials. They have never lost
sight of the clause in the law which makes them the abb
soute Judges as to whether a vessel ia loading unload
ing or whether berth is occupied vacant aud it is
frequently discovered by the unfortunate sbipcaptan
whose vessel Is mOored in Slip that his berth has been
declared empty" and sold 10 some one else. 1t not
seldom that the loading unloading OF vessels stopped
before completed, and the ship ordered To seek anOthe
pier at which to discharge
The regular fees the Harbor Masters established by
statute give to each an average income OF 5000 per
wear. The text of the law is
Banks statu,es Vol H. 49, -" The Hor Master. sa have
power from the commander owners or con
suee or of them sll ships vessels which Hsn
wharf thereof onea per to be computed
from the unnpe expressed in the register o. tnomen Of ,GI
ships vessels which shall srriye :, and enter tue "' port
This very respectable income arising out OF the rea
sonabe charges laid down by law the HarborMasters
more than quadruple by shameless fees levied ior as
nary services. They make practice OF taxing every
one with whom they have any dealings, ana altnough
selected from the ranks OF and shipcapenters
are as anxious regarding the letter OF the law az 'e
Lord Chancellor Of England. So carefully do they inter
nre the statnte that the owners OF the wharves ana
ners although paying from $500 10 5000 per annum 10
tbe Dock Commits sioners prevented by them oteh
for DAYS at time from having their docks full and thus
lose fees to which they are justly entitled.
still dissatisfied with the direct taxation OF vessels
when they reached the docks the Harbor Masters en-
tered into compaet with several tow-boat companies
for the better systemazing OF their exorons ana 10
screen their exaction from public knowledge The boat
firms I'm question are G. =. Raymond No 26l South-St;
william Marshall No 60 South-st; Parker Gibbs, NO.
80 Southst. Chamberlain Hewlett, Nos. 70 ana loo
South-st and Jacob Kenyon No. ~ West-st. As eA-
planned to TRIBUNE reporter by one OF 1.-THE ring the
game consisted in charging exOrbitant rates Tor te
| towing and after paying 10 per cent 10 middle
! man appointed 10 receive the money, turning over
the remaining surplus above their regular charges TO ms
nerson for the Harbor Masters benefit For this eXtOr
tion and enrichment of the officials these firms were
70 receive the exclusive right to tow vessels 10 the docks
Of New-York The compact duly entered into, and
the Uarbor pledged themselves to uphold this
direct outrage upon New-YOrk ship owners To explain
more fully II Is moved from Martins stores u
Pier No g. E. H. send to the owners
q hill OF from SIS TO <5O-varying according 10 the
urgency with which the hpOwners desire to have then
vessels berhed The legitimate fees do not exceed SO
The tugboat captains pay TO the HarborMasters agent
tbe whole sum received minus the $40, and this minus
the 10 per cent which the mddlemGn retains IL paid
again bv him to the Harbor-Mastcr in person The bills
tins presented do their faces any evidence
of collision between the Harbor Masters and the tow
boatrien; vet the IprOOf be readily elected The
past season has abOunded in eases OF eXtoron ana h
have been renderedor amounts varying from $50 to Sl2O
for services worth from SO TO $50 This extoron be
rcmenb red is carried the face OF statute dated
April o. 1863 which declares, in its eighth section, that
"no HarbOr-M shall take or receive, directly OF
| indirectly any money fees in addition to those pre-
scribed by law" This clause Is dead letter and a
this moment scarcely vessel arrives Al or departs from
her berth on the East River without bride TO the
| Harbor-Master of the district
The effects Of the evils from which the merchants anC
| ship-owners seek relief are 10 be seen IN the empty
docks the decayng PIERS the wretched streets near th'
North and East Rivers and in the gradual yet sure de
cline of the shipping interests of the port. Men natu
rally object 10 investing their capital in business WhcI
Is 10 be subjected either through mSgovcrment or un
| wise statutes, to the e1tOrtions Of unnumbered lam
! many yulturcs.