New-York tribune., 1873-02-06
OFFICIAL RIVER THIEVES.
MERCHANTS ATTTIE MERCY OF TuEi HAR-
EOR NlASTERS.


EOR MASTERS.
THE OH RING STILL ARMED wrrH ABSOLUTE
pOwER--A gOW-EOATICNS UNION iN
LEAGUE WITH THE HAEBOE MASrERS-TilE
CuARGEs MORE THAN clUADRUPLEIN-sAM-
PIES OF EXTOKTION--fEE COMPLAINTS OF
sOUTn-Sr MERCHANTS.
More than year since TBE TRIBUNE In the
Interests She shipping merehanS, exposed deira-
bls state things existing aiong evrry foot. ot
waterfront and out 10 the very entrance Of hertpr
Tho robbery af the gres. oommetoe Of the city 'w"s
found 10 0egn sOes after vessels crossed
the bar at tho entrance the hsrbor. There ea'h
was compelled during ouetGisd Of the entipe
year, 70 anchor and undergo tne cxacticns OF
ring Of Quarantine ofieisls and specula-
tors both uusctupulous and ineXora5e. TIN po
s,on of Health 0fcer was segardcd Office worth
80 many thousands OF dolas per wear 20 the Rss to
which ts incumbent belonged. The o9,cia himself was
expected cast ASIDE an consideration FOR the growth
or prosperity OF the city, and 70 make bimsch and he
party whole" Tor .l OUTLAWS render * necessary bS
pCH,icaI connections
when the vessel had shaken OF these parasites, tux
owners encountered more unscrupuJus th1l-h les
co tiy riug DO the UarsOr Masters The Port Wardcus
IRE wharhucrs. and The towboaBen, all regarded cos
neroe something to be specuate6 upon n2 TRIBUNE
attacked the gangat Qnatnuue, and by an expose which
was al clear and explicit as SO defy con'Tadc
tiou, encouraged the mezchants 70 make desperate
appointed a committee which came 10 this city and THE
TEaCNE's statements were in nuWerous Instances
oie1 and Transcribed mp She official rccocs as tes
mony. The Chamber oi Commerce met, the smT-O"n-
ere Association Tie Board Of Trade, the Produce EX
change, and the various steaushp companies united IN
The crusade. Eyidtnc, in profusion We furnished OF
all rnanner OF corruption and on 0c paft Of The
Quarantine authorizes. As result. Though accom-
phshcd after months N unrclentng labor ls- John NJ
Caruochan was succeeded by Dr. NanderpocL The
merchants have the first expressed the ptpo>t sat
isfaction in tho choice II Gov. Hosnan ana shcr
noyances at Quarantine have disapf scared
E.roEu AT HALF HEAfrRE.
fla Harhor Nastcrs. however. were moro fortlnate.
The sun-comnits' appointed 10y the assembly, gaze the
sniect some COZ eratiou but the startling array OF
facts Developed 10 The Quarantine Investigation w en-
gagged the attention II the pIbic that these commercial
parasites crc pcruAttCd 10 escape The exposure BY
TIE TEIBUsE OF the shameless manner IN which tbe
Hdrbor Masters e1ort money from slpOWners had The
effect for a few wecta of lessening Che abuses.
but after the sudden return o. the Committee 10
Albany and the silence OF that body the subject the
auroyanceS reached tseir former magnitude To
day the annOyano reEter thana that have been
known since the adoption o. he system. Where In for
mer year, money 30 be Harbos Masters hrongh
n t0Vboatnen. OF quietly dropped in envelope in
g. HaTbor Masters etterL0x it is now asserted all
along soh-sr tnat the Harbog plaster or bis a>eut
gu., 90 ne 0rcesof tie shippEc merchants and d.
V.alds their fees for bCrths.
To, recommendations recently sent 10 The Assembly
for confirmation 90 not cuiucide with the yrws Of the
merchants OF this city. They have declared at public
meeting that they de sire that all mel appointed to such
Offices shall be retired ship captains and men
atted 10 lake charge OF q SesSei They have de
maudcd Ihat these shan be honest and shall
not owe then appointments 70 party considera-
tiOus. TIE .HH OF the LlsrchartB thus eN-
pressed has uOt been regarded II only remains To be
cen say the merchants whether there is to grow up
Iog scarcely inferior that which has existed. As he
80. urgc' The great cauge for the existence Of such
aJuees found IN the present saiutes respecting
HartJr Masters which it il within the power n the
present Legislature to repeal
y uAgBoR MASTERS ADsoLCu Br LAW.
The statute reads follows.
E-.s s'aigt,' Vol H. page te Sc, - Tx SD I'D ,l,5qJ %
r. OF toe Ea Eor Rivera within To. hl'' Of he OF,
e.. ,ah ,hrs or vos as ~ eaDosei ecetng
e',hwg,5 '' S.'s N 2 's I I M r . ofrts,r8c o- cs
II s.isoe ane as 10 i9 ss9i 9 bel tir, sai eofe
Shr Of taea bs.e2 co,.'a Q, i.s 'ot a.{.. nis ta
n h.,. & ss ol 80 4 he a Of tie eh, isrs
slrs tceeum7t esl ehsI - t'i Is ee,e
sh, neg he deop G ias 'sa srOor Aa.,cs
shall for every 'lca oieRse i0re pay 7'
The HaTpor Masters declared the absolute iCdgps
regarding the condition rights and privileges Of every
vessel within their districts There appeal 10 The
Captain u the Port within the reach OF tho shpoWncr
cn it generally happens that the latter prefers
NIT te env rather than ineu, by going The
higher Dh,l! the enmty Of the HarbOr Master, These
men ate vested with The power 10 stop
the loading 0i unloading Of any ana every
vessel lying al the public wbaIves. Tley have
the power 10 discriminate whether vessel shall take
cargo near the warehouse stores from which is
be shipped og IN the most distant part of the CITY.
ascs are known and will be stated. IN which the
eal loss from the fact that ovoIbt8rng HdrDOr Mas
ter has suddenly ordered and sced the removal Of
vessel rom pier at which she W. loading TO anoler
NJ a great distance.
SCHEDCiE on ENACnoNs.
II s stated after accurate and cafefui INVESTIGATION
that uut O fulgged ships nov at the warves IN
this ety an save Is tdOcked in Brooklyn occupying
piers leased from city nv private individually have
been assessed $45 Sl1O for berth fees that
OF the n2 haIks now in port only 2s lying
At BROOKLYN wharyes consigned 10 brins
strong enough refuse the exOOu, nave escaped the
clutches harbor pirates ia one form or another
Barks have paid from $50 Ia S5 each. The brigs num-
berng IN now al the piers, have Jared no better.
although impossible 10 ascertain detail, as clearly
Then expenses berthS slightly less than those Of
brirs The ~ schOouers been compelled 20 pay in
about the same proportion, though slightly less IN
amount The expense for taking schooner t. the
wharf n from so 10 s9o The total amount Of
accruing he Haror Masters froiu Tie 442 vessels now
IN port estimated not les than $1,000 The extent
af this v be- seen when the arrivals and departures
average 50 vessels per day.
uIEGNITY OF THE CHARGES.
Al the Of corruption has grown up. as has been
shown, out au abuse Of the power granted 80 The
Jtrlor Na,,cr iu the statute. The provisions for the
,,a,eut Of these officials most liberal and these
clargos ar, pad by merchants IN addition to The out
reons rxaciIous ioT berths. totally Unauthorized ny
tsV, The lew thus clearly defines their fees
n..a.. s..te W. H. ~ ~ g ISs l.To - master. ...n