The New York herald., 1877-02-14
THE SHIPPING ACT.


PROGRESS OF THE PROTEST IN CONGRESS
AGAINST THE SYSTEM OF JUDICIAL coMMIs-
sloNs.
WASHINGTON, Feb Is, 1871.
Tho important question raised between the United
States Shipping Commissioners and the owners, cap
tains and sailors Of vessels in all seaports of the
United States has some prospect OF new settlement
The Shipping Com mssioners act OF 1872 was deemed
10 be in several respects unwarranted II was the rst
pnssedby Congress taking away the power OF ap-
pointing government officers from the executive de-
partment and handing II to the judiciary BY its
provisions the Circuit Judges were empowered 10 ap.
point the Shipping Commissioners In their respective
Districts and the Secretary Of the Treasury, who Is
ntrusted by with the direction Of other matters
connected with American shipping. had no power In
the selection Of appointees. The act required that
every time u sailor returned from cruise he must be
discharged and reshipped II his services were again
wanted, by u Shipping Commissioner. BY this pro-
vision every Commissioner got fee for each sailor,
which, though collected from tho shipowner, ult-
mately decimated the sailors wages So adroity was
this provision Of the act enforced by the Commits
sioners that vessels sailing from Portland to ST.
john n b. for instance, had to discharge their
reshp them considerable expense at the end Of
o voyage Of only iUrty eight hours
WAS DONE WITH THE FEES.
The act required that all ices upward OF S. 900
over TO The Treasury Department This provision
evaded by several commissioners II alleged dur
inc an investigator by the Senate Committee Com
mcrce that Commissioner c. c. Duncan at the port OF
New York, received about $50, 900 ~ iees none OF
which found their way INTO the Treasury In ms es.
tlmony before the committee Mr. Duncan explained
that he employed iour OF his own at salaries OF
ST. 700 each. He cited other expenses account for
AN AMEypxENr RESISTED
In 1873 amendment was passed, whereby vessels
sailing ports Of the United States the British
IN
were exempted from the operation OF the act VI 1872.
Tho Commissioner at New York omitted 10 comply
with the terms Of the amendment alleging, IS under
Stood defect IN its constructions though both the
secretary Of the Treasury and the Attorney General
decided that the amendment legally prescribed The
duty OF every Shipping Commissioner Mr.. Duncan
insscd however mat consng vessels should be sub
jcct conditions vessels bound 10 foreign
ports. In the meantime the coast lines IRON
New York 10 Stonington and Fail River, and
from New York 10 ports as far south as Savannah
suffered distress and annoyance Commissioner Dun.
retained and continues 10 mold TO- ms construction
the laws being amcnabe un aer his judicial appe,nt-
men neither 10 the Secretary OF the Treasury nor TO
the Attorney General to other executive oicer
WARD BILL
known as ,' The Ward bin,3 was iniroduced in the
House last year by Hon. Elijah Ward It amended
trs ACT OF ls72 passed the House and Is now before
Shipping aa Commissioners shall be taken out
the Secretary OF the treasury second that these Com
missoners shall salared olcers that coasting
sel1 una vessels saling 10 tue west luucs anu sue
British North American pr0vlnees shall be exempt
from their authority aso that snip owners tees shall
be reduced and tho ices OF made nominal IN an
tc.pation collection which will just about pay the
expenses Of the system These classes arc Interested
IN the Ward bili:-
Frsf-rhe ship Commissioners.
iSec0nd-The shpOwners' associations.
Third-TEe ship masters ana captains associations.
FUurth-rhe marlllme exchanges
FiftI-All seamen-
REFoRE THE coMMrTxE
All but the first class advocate the bill, and havo
asked 10 be heard In bOdies before the Senate COM
mitteo the Shipping Commissioners to be heard at tho
same time The committee hesItated ut first 10 hear
oral arguments and requested written ones. In rc.
sponse 10 their notification they received bushel
basketu OF printed arguments, nearly all IN favor OF
the bill The committee Undertook 10 consider these
arguments the other day, but were without quorum
or the reason that had prevented their consider
o tho matter during the entire scssiontnat hvc
members busy political investigating CON-
mIttocs IL is learned to-day that the subject Will
probably be referred to sub-cOmmtt navinx time
10 deal with II, and that shipowners IRON New York
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston, Savannah, Bos-
Portland, and the Shipping Commissioners VI
the same ports will be allowed speedy hearing
Numbers have madc application, and day Or TWO Is
likely TO be granted for The argument