New-York tribune., 1877-08-06
ENGLISH SEAMEN IN THIS PORT
IMPosIroNs PRACTICED UPON sHIp-owNERs AM


IMPOsInoNs PRACTICED UPON sHIP-OwNERs AND
SAILORS.
"There are more impOsitons prachced upon
British shipOwEers and sailors at the Port OF Sewfork
than at any other port In the world said Pierrepont
Edwards, British Yce-Consui, to TWBUNB reporter on
Monday For years past the British Consul General here
has in his annual reports called the attention OF
Parliament to the existence OF these grievances
but tho evils still remain. British shipmasters
suffer more than those OF any other nation. ana ths
to tho fact that Great Britain has no Consular
Convention with the United states, and thc
Consul therefore, has jurisdiction or maglsterial
power Of dispute between masters and sailors
The Consuls OF nearly all nations have magister"i
power and their countrymen therefore, not under
the necessity OF submitting TO the slow process OF the
courts and TO the npostons to which their dread OF
detention permits swndlers to subject them Both the
owners vessels and the crews are the prey OF lana
sharks: the former suffering from the operations OF
class OF unscrupuous lawyers the latter from the pao
tees OF the notorious boardng-house keepers
In his last annual report 10 Parliament Consulener-
al Archibald refers to evils which masters and sea
men experience al the hands Of these two classes Tho
abuses avs the report 80 which British shipmasers ard
seamen are subjected this port continued to be cry
ing evil have, heretofore so often and SO urgently
called attention 10 these abuses that it unnecessary
now To part,cuauzc them. Abuses OF similar charac-
ter though by no to the extent, appear TO
Doe suffered by American shpmssers and seamen in GER
tain British ports Public attention has been repeatedly
directed to this unsatisfactory condition Of things by
the press OF Now-York, and the necessity ier
remedial action the part Of The respective Govern
has been urged. The system under "hich BRUSH
sesmen are here enced forced 10 desert and masters
under the penalty Of unscIupu0u' and harrasinS legal
proceedings, are compelled to their wages Is IN
every way dcmora'izing The soamen themselves de-
rive no bcnc from the proceedings, ocousy taken IN
their names, by the boardine-house keepers. ana
by the lawyers whom they employ. on the c"n-
trary, in great number Of cases they BE-
come destitute, perhaps diseased, without any
legal claim TO consular relief are shipped on az tbe
caprice of the Boardinghou keepers usucienty sup
piled with clothing and compelled 3" @urA for advance
wages OF which they have received little or u" oor'oH
characterization. mufinv and other crimes, as wei ~
sea as IN poT Iuus encouraged men arc fnicf'u
more ana more uu -rsiecabr. wHJl0 0soa discipline ~
set az drftnce, ANA ie s2fce' 81 ""nith} s' ~ 't
not seldom 1e inprriilcd b) inciccncy "i "h uhse"
IDac are i'm ,l.. city uu'05.r ~ l!v Gra' Who's
Iam-., consist, sluo- exclusively 90 eStortnE money
froa The agents OF susu romI tnlra ihei m't1o1 oi
oIeIadn.. as cx l1ncd ry No.-CHsui "drds, IS pc
follows: "Ihe arrival ol English vessels i- Mften ' ''
through crmp-' ul runners many al the sailors '9
possible are brought under the iuluDnce Of me
legal shark Under the effect OF hGnor' ioF u',ls
alteration they induced to 9-sign over {" hh
tIrr claims sgst Vessei snd to give aim 20" ef oi
attorney collect tfC claims. "icn 'it snip o. ''''
ready % ,aiI ts. claims 10 wl,h number 0i ma-Ira-
ry perhaps bern al ed, are presented 10. P'
wall De lbrrd 3uJ Ec "'ll be- 1rre-iaji Eeu'f"Nt t4
20 rulni~r duh iii part
lent claims rtacr tenn 10 br sli,c cd r0 the delay ana
cost Of doicrse in court .,
at NcyY1rk from Cap. co. Good HOPE 0n jay -, u
mstraics lEr WORKING tins system oi Whai Shippers
call oacsufii Considerable sums Of money Nrie due
the nieii and bv mutual ut, tac Nas-er f-td go
pay The OF ai - p'rt, alt a, iAe N-iril '.i
ping Act directs FOO the presence OF the Consul III tHe
mcautHhe tw0 uf the ir the snip ana, lH 4ho
inc hands 0f O te. !aW! !oia, Woe ihi c To- -
si over 10 them their ciIrs against tir verse; th J."
give them the power OF g,tur1eF fD collect ti"h Ire
llwy... having mi! rowrr iO demand d 7ir Its Wa
demanded a mulch t!-tf sIm tutn Nt> Ita.E t.c
the men, and threatened, dLc-s i.rli ti iiAI'i7
were ict, 90 bring suit Doc me biit1 >.t,''
District Cont. and attach the vessel Atcr 'OI-i'h-
a the difficulties d. toe wa5 ~ r'-i~ u& the Hyu7t
cair and tempted by induce .-t Oi q ii ft.i'"
which TIE claimants e&iioD-u -2.ct 90 Dams ~ the
f.,l f. a.eut OF .ae vcs-, decided jo pt, iho sun
g.u..ll.t HiI ,ho yt5se. D.Du attach l. Nhc
,y,ud iu fhr hr+t- place, have been detained from
gong o sea uItI bon si1cl could De 0pinurd ihd
i.tu four uay- LONGER. op loi oi tIe ltait''
10 examine she bOHa-u % aad prove 'i.ir i'-
suouebiIty To Gcicud .le suil, cNpcdS'c testimony
must nave tai, i. W u .!tci 'r4& -i" i.''
should have Cou. tb liili u '"I4" iF' H'ti
0lnrat iu The absence 81 tlr Captain 70 OBTAIN J7.
y-lnrt Not long aE5 agent resisted ole "l -hrsc
,,it. ne found, a hruEn .i -n. t "f- tiF DO i1-
Vpr tnat Il you'd nave been rHe1er ID sciiit al me
Hl,t since tee COSTS lTctcr fiJh ar isrd thTa
Inr influence ol ticsc shp', upJ 'c rHicichct oi le
marine .rvIcs Is regarded as Frt -'iccrous, ant 10
mann t. ar,,r part OF 2.lJU dr-rruus Di hr's-h
.ri!leu al tis u1ri, JAS. sg @ ali l'lr. fin'dt
for tc-e evils the Con, u Jri rcs "iu 'e ivu'llN lN pe
-,uaiu- uf treaty. nluslste.ia power upuh1il bsh ihE
ia 4