The New York herald., 1873-11-10
SAILORS GRIEVANCES.

Aggressive and Unfafr-A Petition TO
Congress To BE Framed.
There was an organized meeting Of seamen who
felt inclined to assert their rights at Cosmo.
politan Hall, Catharine street and East
Broadway, yesterday afternoon. Nearly 500
OF these "toilers OF the sea" held c0ncave,
In order to express their views on the sub
ject OF "Impressment under the New Shipping
Law" Mr.. henry scanlon was made president by
vote, and Mr.. John Carruthers oiflcated as secre-
tary. committee OF ten was then appointed to
arrange matters with view to . general dress
parade, 'with drums and horns,n that win enliven
the streets OF New York on given day. After this
announcement the president briefly described the
object OF the meeting, and asked for opinions on
the subject from any intelligent sea-faring man
who had drought upn that day In the anchorage
OF Cosmopolitan Hall.
Mr.. WILLIAM JOHNSON, the first OF the tarry stars
who affected oratory, said that he thought the
management Of the shipping office In New York
was conducted upon an erroneous and arbitrary
system, and therefore was radically wrong. 1t
was not fair that one Of the runners from that
office should enter q seamens' boarding house and
say, 81 want crew, they must be Germans"
American seamen had, literally, no show what
ever: they were tied down by Commissioner Dun
can and had to ship as his almighty will directed,
or starve ashore without chance to ship.
since boyhood. In the 0lden times he was always
allowed to ship on board what vessel he pleased,
ships departure he was allowed to do So Now he
could not Under the new Shipping act he was
not allowed even to choose the vessel in which he
was to serve. Mr.. Duncan had promised to pro-
tect seamen, and he had done SO with vengeance.
The sailor was far better OF In the hands Of the
boarding house keeper than In the clutches OF
man SO arrogant presumptuous and Jewish by
nature as Mr.. Duncan. (CheersJ The shipowners
were greatly incensed at the measures taken BY
fba I'M al
ised to back the sailors up II the men would only
stand firm and demand their rights, appealing
against the obnoxious law which Duncan, by
chlcanery, had caused to be passed.
The PRESIDENT then read letter from prom
inent shipping merchant 10 which the Writer nd sx
volunteered to lend pecuniary aid to abolish the
bill II such assistance was needed.
considered himself good sailor should ship under
the Duncan law. This motion was carried unani-
NATHANIEL LIeHEFoor said he had signed pc I'll.
tion last year In favor OF the act at present in
vogue, thinking it would tend to the beneft OF
himself and ehlpmates; but ne had since I0und the
Seamen's Exchange to be fraud, and that men
were robbed with greater facility under the act
tnan they ever were outside OF It. It was vas not the u
Commissioner Duncan, who would not allow man
10 snip unless he was Prussian, Dane, Swede or
Norwegian. American and other English-speaKing
sailors had no chance.
JOHN CURRY MCLEAN, very intelligent mariner.
exemplifed In true nautical fashion the astonisn-
serving nine years abroad, and finding the old law
changed He had always been accustomed to
pick out the vessel in which he wished to ship; /;
now he mad to go In any old ..ime-juicer" that Mr.
Duncan had an interest in. The Commissionership
oot ana sNd
America would soon find itself utterly unrepre-
sented abroad by the merchant vessels from whose
gan-ends 1uttered the Stars and stripes OF ree-
The following resolutions being offered and ap-
proved the meeting adjourned
" 49,
snppIns som%issionsT: Tor dasrsn ports n the
United states and for the further protection Of seamen
stand star the necessity Of the act as the dereni acts and
guaranteed US freedom in making contracts with
any agent Or master who chose to employ mp
being dischsiged while the present act prevents our
e%sioyers ensssIns Is Without the nervsnon o. these
titled aristocrat' who treat the seaman he were
best % us s5 n nag sn
ieensp oi manhood prevents the Sones isrs rom
Srngins at the iees Of these SoT,morants who while
and whereas the scos and sneers q these yrans and
@ ;i%sR @ rs
can Sive US the redress the case demands. Already
o ssss % Sq o
sr At that Is
sf q asi sss ss; ss sl %
that We are b s earnest in in this matter beis w
chairman 10 make ali necessary srransemcnts for z
street demonstration OF seamen at early day with
banners and music. .f8
Resolved That the committee have full power In rais
ing funds deray the expenses and that they call
me shpowners .our best friendsn e lend "a Us their
the obnoxious law repealed.
Resolved That the thanks Of the seamen be tendercd
TO all parties who have taken steps In any way towards
the repeal OF the act
Resolved, That we beg of the public presshat great
and glorious instution-to advocate our cause, and
thereby show that the sailor has the most powerful
friend In the land.
Resolved That the steamship comp ancs be requested
10 allow the Of their vessels In port half day to
participate In demonstration they II possible,
greater sufferers by the act than the sailing ship men
Resolved That the base assertion OF these
that who would rob the sailor
OF the repeal ofthe act is by denounced the
tricks resorted 10 by 10 deter
friends from assisting us in the cause g4n
Resolved That with feelings Of the greatest pleasure
learn or the magnitude OF n formidable petition being
prepared by the shpowners and masters FOR the repeal
OF the same act. #a
At the conclusion OF the meeting ut least 500 sea
men stepped to the front and signed the petition
to Congress.
ACCIDENT AT THE FERRY.