New-York tribune., 1873-07-31
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

PICION
ruE CAPTAIN OF THE PORT INVESTIGATING SERIOUS
CHARGES AGAINST FROST AND JoHNsoN-Io"
BOAT COMPANIES FAvoRED-oUTI1NE OF TIE
LEADING CASE, WITH THE DEFENSE.
Since the dismissal of the Harbor Masters
who years ago, preyed upon the commerce OF tns
port and by thei. eKtOrOns drove much oi tne carry
Ing trade to other ports there has been very little com
plant on the part OF shippers until recently within
few weeks there have been that Oerhs for YES
ses disposed of by certain Harbor Masters or per-
cons acting for them. for consideration beyond the
legal fees Informal complaints have been made 70
Capt f. b. Seaman Captain OF the Port, and he has
pressed his TO make example Of any
Of the Harbor Masters who may be found derclict
in this respect Section 10 Of the act passed April ~
1885, defining and regulating the powers, duties, and
compensation OF the Captain Of the Port and tue Har
bor Masters provides that II shall be the duty Of the
Captain Of the Port hear any complaint against
Harbor Master for improperly attending TO OF dischaIs
ing the duties Of his Office, and hs defense thereto lie
shall examine into such complaint and defense, and
have authority TO administer oathe upon such eNamha
hOns and IT, after such examinaton there shall IN MS
Judgment be sufficient ground therefor he shall send
complaint, with the evidence in the matter 10 le Wv
OF the state within ten days nom the receipt VI
such complaint by the Captain OF tue PORT ana uhi o
decision of the matter by the Governor he suspend
such Harbor Master the exercise of the duties OF
h Office ana during the period Of such suspension sGch
Barbor Master shall not receive or be entitled TO any
paw II he be adudsed guilty OF the oHense charged
II is understood also that Gov DIX Is anxious 10 OreaK
Ut ANYTHING like corruption OF Ttegularliy that may
exist and will dismiss any HarbOr Master against
whom ofIenses charged shall be proved There are now
three formal complaints under investigation by Capt
seaman. Two OF these made against Harbor
Master Johnson and one against Harbor Master f.
Frost
reuorter of THE TRIBUNE called, yesterday, Capt
seamau and stating that he mad heard that charges
had preferred against two of the HarDor Masters
asked II they were being Investigated Capt seaman
admitted that the investigations were IN progress ahu
that bearing had already been had In the case OF H"r
Dor Frost but that his was not concluded
Capt Seaman declined TO make public the details OF the
in.es CATION for the that he wished TO SEND the
papers TO The Governor without passing on the ire'S
the cases before him, he wished it be clearly under
stood that opposed TO any such practices as thoSe
OF which Nj Frost was charged, and he believed Tbs
was the case with the great majority OF the Haroor
Masters. lie knew that Gov DIX felt strongly on tins
subject and proposed do hs utmost TO crush ont
corruption OF COLLISION on tho part OF the Haroor
Masters.
THE CHARGE AGAINST HARBoR MASTER FROST
From Of the persons Interested the reporter oD-
tAned the following statement Of the oense with which
Mr. Frost is charged:
On July 70 the bark G. NJ. Tucker, consigned to James
H. Winchester was towed up to Quarantine by tug
belonging 70 Capt Gibbs, aud anchored there because
berth could Obtained neT Ou ud1 uc Sd"
HarbOr Masters Frost and Johnson the former having
jurisdiction over the piers the East River front from
Nos Is to 70 Inclusive and the latter several below.
Both assured him that they had no berths at
their disposal, that all the slips were full
Of vessels and steamers on Saturday after
noon and again on Monday Mr.. Winchester saw them,
aud received the reply 70 his request for BERTH
Later in the day Mr. seeley. sevedore, Of the firm Of
Cummings and seeey called Mr.. Winchester, claiming
20 have Deen informed that he looking for berth
for his vessel. Mr. Seeey said that If Mr. Winchester
would give the job Of towing the vessel from Quaran
tine TO Capt. Jake Haneau Of Wall and S0uth-sts. he
would that the vessel was given berth They visited
Can't Haneau proposed to tow the vessel up from
Quarantine for So Mr.. Winchester refused TO give more
than SI5 the regular price, and this was agreed to.
The vessel tOwed to tbe slip between fIers NO Is
and No IS, East River and gwen berth aohgSlue ol
Pier No IS without further delay. According t6sage
Capt Gibbs should have been given the job Of towing
The vessel from Quarantine he having towed her that
noiu lie sought an explanation from Nj Winchester
and the latter informed him Of what had taken place.
and the induce ments offered him to give the job Of
towing the Believing that there was col
lusion between Harbor Master Frost and Seeey Capt.
Gibbs made complaint against the former before Capt
HlRBOE MASTER FBosT's DEFENSE,
Harbor Master Frost was visited by the reporter IN
formed OF these statements aud asked what he had to
offer m bis defense He denied the most strenuous
manner that he had any interest whatever any
towing company. He had received offers Of the kind
alleged by Capt Gibbs and had been urged to become
Interested ID towing companies. but bad uniformly re-
fused III the pali charged, he was told by
secey hat berth he had secured for another vessel
the Conquest was needed for the latter, and he
nsked if the transfer could be made to the g. NJ Tucker
He gave his consent and this all he knew OF the
transaction. He received consideration Of any kind
from seeley and knew nothing of the inducements held
out 10 Winchester take the Job OF towing from Capt
Gibbs and give 10 another person. He thought that
Cant Seaman should have dismissed the complaint on
his representation Of the If there was blame any
where It should fall on Seeley.
Itwas stated by an official yesterday, that on the
examination OF seeey latter stated that Frost had
assigned hu the slip without receiving the name OF the
vessel that was occupy it. This would have given
him practical control OF the slip until the permssionwas
revoked and was contrary al the rules and regua-
lions laid down the guidance OF the Harbor Masters
The investigation will be very thorough and exhaust
I've Harbor Master johnson declares that the complaints
have been by persons interested in towing, who
have had former privileges ourtaed by the present
Harbor Masters and have therefore retaliated through
spite hoping get nd Of those who stand in their way
The details OF the complaints against Harbor Master
johnson have not been made public
THIEVES AT THEIR WORST.
vANDAIs IN AN ARTISTS HOUSE.