New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-17
PROTECTION OF SEAMEN.
THE SHIPPING COMMISSION SYSTEM.

THE SHIPPING COMMISSION SYSTEM.
AGITATION In FAvoR OF THE WARD BILL AND
AGAINST COMMISSIONER DUNCAN - BLOOD
MoyEYr-wHAT THE SUPPORTERS OF THE
PRESENT SYSTEM SAY
The opposition to the shipping commission
system has been unusually active recently ana TWO
aruey-attended meetings OF have been held to
demand a change The leaders IN the movement are
working to GUST the present shipping Commissioner u
Duncan They assert that the shipping act ~ IL no"
stands is Quxotic defeating the objects for which IL WIS
formed and making worse the shameful practices WHICH
was intended suppress The cxacton OF DlOod money
which has ever been the bane OF sailors iatehihs INC
purses of landlords aud spmasers with sums reaiiS
stolen from the sealnens wages, although bcarng the
name Of board biis chances to ship, led 10 the fe
form bu: it s asserted the act has failed TO root OUT
this evil The present agitation however, IL at variance
with the views of the Chamber OF Commerce. vi inc
seanens Friend Society Of the Importers aud Groccfs
Board OF Trade Of the marine Insurance companies anu
of large number OF influential shIpowners merchants
and shpmasters throughout the country, VINO nave
watched the effect OF United states Shipping act since
s passage in 1879 and declare it have been most ben
etca TO the sailors and most harmful t0 the 1" land
sharks"
House Bill No 3,lS7. better known as Elijah wards
bill. which Is now before the United States SENATE
transfers from the United States Circuit Court to the
Secretary of the Treasury the OF appointing the
shipping Commissioners and az it II expected that the
passage of this bill would cause the Immediate removal
of the present commissioner the recent meetings nave
been held for the purpose Of advocating IT, The leaders
make no secret Of their hatred OF Capt Duncan, and
speak of him in tie most uneompimentary terms
A reporter OF THE TRIBUNE called upon Capt Duncan
to learn his views the matter. This Outtufst Is
nothing new" said he. ut the fIht which has
been waged against me ever appointed 10 the
Office four years ago 1t il not battle with the Sailors
with the clearinghouse keepers ana aipasters 10
whom am an incunbrance, 1 able To prevent To
some extent the vile thefts OF DO0dmOney whlch theJ
practice upon the poor fellows Tile very names Oh inc
leaders in this movement enough to show It's little
consequence. Men prominent among them | have re-
pcatcdly, with abundant proof asked the DistTct-At-
tOrney prosecute Tor criminal practices hold let
ter from District Attorney Biiss III my land Whieh
just received containing names OF persons VINO
were prominent at the inhammatory meetings recently
held The sailors had to obey Their masters. and went
10 the meetings because they commanded 10 20, ana
OF their will OF because @! their own 0plhoh'.
THE blood money svstein.' continued the commits
souar ia substantially follows The boardingh0ise
keeper offers 20 give Tie master o. lhr 's"tl 't'Ih
ann OF money Tor the privilege of furnishing his crew,
say - each 10 then tells the sailors tlat he
must have - aptce for chance To snip, ana "a thcy
can get it in TO other way they Obliged 20 let hc master
nav fc audsbark E3 ou. of the months Of
each ne and landlord thus cheating the sailor out OF
that SUD- hard earned and much needed. Tue reason
why tie seaman submit To- th's sw.ndH@ Is bccause be
knows that the shpmastcr could VITA impunIty rcuicc
his wages that he would get even less thn he docs
now ana this makes him mold lis tongue and declare
hen brought before ne the law gels that lie mas
paid 10 Glance money aud sun rcd 10 wrong al INC
hands OF his boarding house Keeper"
Can't Duncan com ained thar his work OF supprossnG
dilator1ness of DstI1ct-tttoTey Bliss Nhen, WIN
great d.icuiiy he had obtained sailors WILING 70 ,cstS
against masters ana hUaiah5.uuSe ,he,l,l' "o n.
plrIcred them, aud he had asked the Dstrlc
10 prosecute immediately before nc witnesses isit ~
iy long voyages. perhaps never 10 return ne hh IN
yaiiay rccS ed 10 reply from That officer uhGl SIX or
eight months afterwaId LONG after IL had become IN
possible to produce the witnesses Inns HAu Deer ~
peated least MY times, itii he had become Itd o the
The official opinion of the Chamber OF Commerce CON
corning the shipping act and the hlDah ward bL 4.Ls
been expressed to Congress Follows IL IL now some
years mors that tlc law is been IN Operation
Ii sas, OF radical cnange nom nc Od sJseil
of shipping and paying Oh crews and u will bc rehdly
understood that opposition criticism ana personal Oh
iCc,iOns would arse. aud that any commissioning now
wise. II determined 10 enforce the act, would incur
opposition anu dtse II - not ciAtt Ill Jill ~
or Commissioners X perfect but the results OF
past show that the law has worked 10 te interest 81
b1 ,eaen aud s!ip owners. As think that se;uHeIa
wages hccH uniform, the sailors have been OF
better grade III seauaushlp aud ia morals IMAM before
and that detention las 0crurred 10 vessels IL the
procuring of crews. cannot therefore. see
former actions IN regard to the shippins act;
We believe tnat the passage OF the biil inirOducei
by the Hon Elijah Ward would only sTOy al tas
il most valuable in the shipping ac but would take fonI
the Uni ed States crcu conr.s ana place IN tie hands 81
the Treasury Department tic a. pOntin- power, when
we think would he detrimental to ts interests ~ well IA
pecuniaIy burden ~ the Government"
Similar views nave been pronounced by the American
,"i' snca ronntuic. OF New Yor1 by ii indue.-
tai firms Of New-York Nhirowuers. and by psi ship
masters at Scwlork belonging ~ various ports OF Inc
country.
OPINIONS obtained from aud captains
OF vessels yesterday were generally ia approval OF the
shipping act they Oblecicd IA the present manner uf
appointing the shipping Commissioner. They wish the
appointing Didt ed IN the hands Of tbe Secretary OF
the Treasury. Tine law they say has benefited the
sailor, Las Ia certain extent put q stop
extUrtiOns prcteed 10y the boarding OGse keepers,
who aHd al oppused 10 the Law In every part
charged by Capt Dunrans opponents that The OK
peses ~ his Office excessive and in violation Of toe
law 1t asserted that the multiplication VI fees col
being allowed 10 continue their services on
their vessels they Obliged to resn? after arriving IN
port, thus reducing their receipts by IN amount OF the
Another objection put forward IL that vessels Trad
in, with the Brush Provinces. West ndies aud Mexico
cuptcd from the operations of the law an 10 Is
ci.iIned provided by The amendment oI January,
1873.