The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-28
TIE POLICE AND THE BOILER OWNERS.
Indignant Men Defore the Police Commission
crs-A GrIexnnco TO be Set Hight.

Great dissatisfaction has existed for sew
eral years past among the very large class Of
manufacturers and others In this city who use
steam boilers at the thousand petty annoyances.
impositions, and oxtortions alleged to have been
pre- tiscd upon them by certain officers OF the
police force detailed to inspect boilers, and also
10y n Board Of Examiners appointed to examine
and give certificates to engineers permitting
them to run stationary engines in the city, This
feeling Of dissatisfaction has Mt last grown so
strong that the boiler owners sought an oppor-
tuhit, to lay their complaints before tho Iullce
Commissioners who have control Of The Whole
matter. md yesterday such an opportunity was
Commissioners Wheeler and Erhardt were
present and were waited upon by committee
Consisting Of John :. llulip 81 40 Broadway
siationcr and printer: David w. Odornc OF III
Elm street, umbrella mnnufacturcr. and several
others with Mr.. Thomas Darlington their coun-
The committee and their counsel gave de-
tailed statement Of their grievances. which
were particularly DIRECTED aeain,7t Capt. ,Nulc,
Scrgt. Icffnris. and Examiner Horton. From
these statements II appears mat there is law
OF this state to the efoct that no owner OF a
boiler shall employ an engineer unless he IL
first provided with n certificate of dual ification
from practical engineers. countersigned by tho
The Commissioners Of Police have heretofore
construed this ~ giving them the power Of des-
gnating the practical engineers who shall give
this Certificate md that no certificates OF any
other practical engineers shrll be considered us
ol any avail Two police officers have been de-
tailed for this purpose. and have. tho petitioners
allrgc. held Il perfect dcspotism over all qppli,
cnnt-. rclusing the most competent ana skiliul
engineers IN I'm arbitrary manner and giving
certiil 'atcs to their fnNuritCs however Ignorant.
worthless or dissiputod. Also debating To-
boiler owners who they should employ. and
threatening with arrest any person who ven
tured to run counter 10 their Wishes. strict
system of espionage WINS exercised over the
places Of business of all boiler owners, To COM
pei an acqucscencc i'm the boards selectiOns.
/ Engineers also. without the slightest color Of
law. were compelled to come annually for re-
examinations for which fees were exactcd.
In the mntter Of boiler inspection the annoy
ance was ~ great. the inspectors calling for the
purpose at hours when they knew it would be
inronyeniont or impossible TO let down the
fires and apply the hydrostntic tests without
great loss. On bang paid however for IN
imaginary carriage 20 the place Of the hydraulic
pump and tine feo fOr losiponrmynt the c,rtn-
cate WIS forthcoming. Those allegations were
supported hy documentary cvidrnc" from John
Sutherland and ether prominent citizens.
The Commissioners listened with attention TO
tn statements ~ the committee and their coun-
sci and expressed their readiness t. remove all
cause ~ complaint suggesting n further hear
iug. for which % tine Will hn fixed. Ii appcaiS
that there nre-ahout three thousand stationary
boilers IN this city. and. as may be- Imagined
the grievance L. an extended one.