New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-03

lection Of IT, One Of the principal grievances the
quen.y obliged g for the privilege Of shipping on
much ~ sis go The collection Of this
money Is brought about BY
The usual method Is for the shppngmaster TO Doy rom
the captain Of vessel either by money or presents ,oe
made with the boarding master 70 deduct from the sail
sT az ss . pa the privilege Of ship
Ping him. This Is called 'blood money" In many
tSs SAILOR and # Is often ne 50 Arranged that
trouble Is anticipated, 90 aecouns OF REFUSAL py
anchored 10 the stream before he Is taken on board so
he be hurried of ~ before he can take any
the Of destroying efficiency OF tho merchant
service and driving good seamen into other vocsons
sake oil position thus come to get the control OF ships
The remedy proposed for this evil 10 the insertion by act
Custom house, requiring captains 10 affirm that they
have not taken bonus for the shipping OF their crews
Various other modes OF fleeing" and robbing the
sailor are practced. Sometimes. after having been
whisky Organized bands are ready to prey upon
seamen as they land Often they are induced to
are ID" dTuesed and robbed ali they possess II
times happens boarding master obtains all the
HIM, and then makes him drunk and sends him of 10
sea in that condition. not only retaining his ready
money, but his advance note also. The wages or sea
men have recently been considerably reduced and for
voyages for which they we're formerly paid at the rate OF
t25 per month they receive only slS per month one
the objects Of the Seamens Protective Association
to increase IN the wages OF seamen An effort
Is being made To have seamen receive an average VI
day for their work.
THE SHIPPING ACT DEFENDED.
In conversation with TRIBUNE reporter. U. B. Ship
ping Commissioner Duncan stated the follow
points In reply to the charges against himself ana
the objections against the Shipping law. made by mem
bers OF the Nautical Association Of the Port OF New
York. As to the law having been pressed through Con-
gress by himself and his friends Commissioner Duncan
said that that was not true since he never knew OF me
who got it from San Francisco, where it was drawn;
copy Of the law was sent at the same time 10 the sea
mems Friend Association. The law was drawn by the
to New York for suggestions and assistance SIS os
employed by Seamens Friend Society to aid IN Sc
curing the passage OF the law but he never asked for an
without any solicitation his part. Commissioner
Duncan claims that the act amendatOry OF the shipping
has been rejected in Congress-, except the amend
eXemptng coasting aud lake vessels from the pro-
visions OF the law. and that 1t Is not awaiting action Ut
the coming session. rs has been claimed The system
advance he defends the ground that II was
unsafe and injurious to the sailors interests to pay the
be sober when shipped He be fairly settled with.
and must board bis vessel just as she Is
siones officers that his advance has been properly
tied While sober he receives his advance note In his
sioner TO examine his and that they are
and that the settlement has been made
At end Of the voyage, while sober the money Is
paid into his own hands To the charge that he uses
system Of favOritism, Commissioner Duncan replied
has little selection In choosing crew lie only
takes to that the men are sober, aud that they
understand nature Of the voyage they about to
undertake. With the exception OF one or two, who have
forfeited the right TO consideration the Commissioners
says that he treats all welbehaved landlords with
equal favor The OF so cents levied half the sea-
man and half on the vessel. every time a sailor Is
discharged is the fee OF the Commissioner. who
con sders that 1t is wellearned by the care which
no claims to take in adjusting the accounts and
balances of the sailor The Object OF the
rule that the sailor shall reship and pay
voyage and aerward desires to ship her again. is to
induce the to stay by the vessel and the captain
to retain them which considered TO be Tor their Dene-
M The objections to the law, and TO the method OF en-
forcing it, Commissioner Duncan says, come from ship
ping agents who have been thrown out OF employment
y the recent action of the boardnghous masters who
have resolved to deal directly with the masters OF yes
ses Of Immediately through the shipping agents.
who formerly acted as middemen The fact that his
office is continually by sailors seeking employ
the charge that object to the law and dislike ship
ming under It, Tho law he says for Two years before
inc country and under consideration In Congress- our
ng which time he thinks all valid objections 10 couid
have urged. It's administration III New-fork mas
been examined and approved by special committee OF
the Seamen's Friend Society III report adopted jan
TO- 1874 Two Of the oficers OF the new Nautical Asso-
citation, Commissioner Duncan says, have heretofore
applied to him for appointments under the law
which they now attack. Inc Commissioner
tanned In his efforts to protect seaineD About
week ago. he says, young man paid the mate OF the
ship Columbus IS for the privilege OF shipping on board
of her Aferward too many men having Deen engaged
he was refused permission to ship. lie came 10 the
Commissioner with his complaint. VINO undertook 10
prosecute the Of the vessel, but the District
Attorney refused to entertain tue cdse 0ectng that
it was too frivolous.