New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-26
COMMERCE UNFETTERED.


n,nsc.N suPPoRTEp BY THE GRAND JURY
A severe blow was given yesterday 10 an
organization which than dozen years ns hu
CIV the throat the foreign commerce OF TINS POI" % M
as IL lie carried by sailing vessels LUIS 10 'nu ~
zion OF the keepers Of sailors lodgngnouses' Ano
of calling vessels plying foreign ports snip
Car single voyage 90 that every master must provide
himself with O fresh crew whenever ne iesNes new
York These lodgnghouse keepers nave nere'oioro
usurped aud have constantly exercised the Sht 10 DC
fermlne what men should sign the articles OF vesse 70
a, the time when the sailors who have fallen into their
clutohes shall be allowed to depart and even to decide
aha aount of wages they shall receive. To procure
crew master obliged 70 aecede to their extoruons
The manner in which these men acquire their autoorao
power over who go down to the sea in ships may
need explanation.
Ont of the 5000 or 1900 sailors who this city al
any one time only or, at the most $50 can DC "V
yided for at the Sailors Home. Most OF the o'nefS
when in port, perforce seek lodgings at these poa
houses The entanged in the toils anu ioS
tered by the devices OF the landlords In every
HE way They are cheated and pluDdered as long US
they have anything left, and they are then leu in'o
until they completely in the power OF tne inaS
the house. sailor is hurried TO one OF these hoii
haunts the moment be gets port and is there uetsuou
nv avery termination TIL shackles ryeted aud ne
becomes little better than . bOndmsn for hfe' Inc |
landlord refuses to let him join ship whose master
will not agree pay his wages to the credor OF VINO
will revolt delivering him over al the emo OF the
chains the sailor TO the lodging house. His life is
threatened and actual violence lie often inflicted If he
tries ~ break away.
OPPOSITION THE SHIPPING ACT.
Prior 10 August, 1877. there no check 10 their
rapaCity and lawlessness The Shipping law Of that
date contained two provisions which struck at the very
root OF their power These were first that an foreign
going shall be shipped before the United States
Shipping Commissioner; and second, that these seamen
shall receive their wages themselves The energetic
fov,f IN
these provisions aroused wrath the lodging house
keepers as they the ground cut away beneath their
feet They strengthened their hands to work evil they
drew tighter the bonds of the Association which has
hold them together for the past II or years. they re-
solved combined effort for the overthrow or nuinca
tiOn OF The obnoxious provisions OF the Shipping law
special attempts have been made since the passage
Of the law away with its execution The fourth and
latest last week. when the President OF the Asso
sistOn Mr.. MOnahan, with two officers, named Hughes
and Wallis appeared before Commissioner Duncan, ana
read 10 him certain resolutions which had been passed
by the Association. These affirmed that, unless the
lodgng-house keepers hereafter receive the advance
wages of the sailors who lodged with Them the Commits
sioner would be allowed TO ship any more seamen
The officers stated that the entire association of 1877
members had pledged themselves to abide by these
resolutions The Commissioner refused to recognize the
organization in and vouchsafed no reply to It's
representatives Since that interview the landlords
have themselves out their threat They
swore that they would the hearts out" Of any of
their dodgers who should ship before the Commissioner
They hang around the docks intimidating those who
willing to under the rules. They boarded
ships in port and assured the masters that their
vessels clear for departure until they aceeded
% the terms OF the landlords for would be
Showed 10 60 on board.
A notable example was the case Of the packet-ehp
Neptune of the Liverpool line of G. A, Marshall Co.
soon The anchor fell in the harbor, Wednesday
last the taken from the ship by force and
captain ieeringly assured that he would have
chance TO clay his beefbones" at the bottom Of the
harbor before he shipped another crew, unless he
treated with the landlords. They haTassed and I'm
peded the foreign commerce of HewYork In every
possible and their power Of injury large. AS the
Shipping law provides that vessel clear unless
her shipped according to due form Of law, and
before the United States Commissioner, the masters
could not sail, if they wished to submit to the
eonspiratOrs.
BY the Vaccinations OF this organization of 1877
than 25 vessels detained IN port FOR several
days over their sailing. Among these may De
mentioned clipper ship NeOrchuss, for San Fran
cisco the North American, for Melbourne; the N. B.
Palmer South America the Eastern Star. for the
West Indies the Eureka for Havre the Sarah Melg- |
nett Liverpool the clipper ship Baltic, for San
Francisco; and there many others. :, The |
Efforts Of Commissioner Duncan 70 overcome |
these embarrassments were from the nature |
Of the case, only partially successful. Sail |
ors intending TO ship before him deferred |
by threats against their lives, and kept back even
after all bills due landlords paid. Neverthe
less large number of vessels supplied with men,
despite the keepers Seven were provided with crews
yesterday, but only by the use OF extraordinary
easures Sailors taken from their clearinghouse
under gnaFd protect them from violence. Some few
of the landlords secretly friendly to the Shipping
Commissioner, and willing TO supply men, but were
obliged to nse the secrecy for fear of their
federates In case agent OF the Commissioner
visited lodging O'Clock in the morning. and
took a sailor board ship coaked by the darkness.
only from the steahy silence Of his escape
not considered safe 70 approach the house with
cart to take away his baggage Such choking Of com
meTce, such eowing OF commissioners, masters, and
sailors, could not be suffered to go on
ARREST THE LANDLORDS
The grievances of Poor Jack engaged the attention OF
the Grand Jury Details OF the many tricks practced
upon him. coming from the lips Of retired boarding |
keepers and Others and supported by the state
unent Of the local United States Shipping Commis |
sioner, produced an immediate effect. The conse-
gueDce was that indictments were found against |
ss number n. of D oo6sp,s sailors
oppose enforcement of the Shipping law Yesterday
ts1 warrants were issued by DsirictAtt4rney - K. |
FwentysXth Precinct with the result OF capturing 50 OF
The keepers. The remainder could not be found. The
Of the crusade against the landlords spread |
quickly, and many Of them were warned IN time TO
zeal themselves The rs officers engaged in the whole
sale capture met with resistance In despite
che reputation Of the for reekessness An
immense crowd watched the proceedings in the Fourth
made DO hostile demonstration. The landlords seized
were mostly well dressed, aud seemed TO have turned
spOs Of the seamen 10 good account The hardened
rnfianism OF which many OF them have proved them
selves capable did not appear in the faces
and seeming above that Of common roughs. All but
Of them were married and the houses Of which they
seventh Wards. especially IN the Fourth Among the
streets Tansaeked for the members OF the association
ths lower part Of Greenwich. City Hall Park was
tbronged by Jeerng crowd, VINO noeked at Their