The New York herald., 1877-10-13
THE SAILORS RELIEF FUND.
COMMISSIONER BLUNT's REPLY TO MR. FERRIS

COMMISSIONER BLUNT's REPLY TO MR. FERRIS
REPORT.
Tho following Is Mr. Blunts rcply to Mr. Forrs' re-
port on the Board for Lconsing Sailors Boarding
Houses, published in yesterdays HERALD:-
In answering Mr.. Ferris win DO brot as Is pos
sDle
The law creating tho Board for Licensing Sailors
Boarding Houses passed in 1866 1t organized, but
knew nothing OF It. lu December, 1873 was chosen
TO represent tho Marine Society. AT the first meeting
Of the Board was chosen president and secretary
and outdoor inspector appointed. Tho law
sisted. l went INTO court and got q verdict against
those resisting It, and the remainder took out licenses
which were only granted alter personal inspection
OF the premises by myself tho inspector or the secre
tary.
Mr. Ferris says there has been but one regular meet
ing OF the Board since was elected. Tie minutes
show that there were tour meetings In 1874. Notices
were regularly the members tho arst Tuesday
ol each month for eight other mcelings; but there
was no quorum. Finding they did not attend they
wcro discontinued by mutual consent and TO DO only
called when business required. There was regular
1870, at which iull reports wcrc made 10
January, 1877. Hc also ys:-"sccond, that nom.
ber OF the Bonrd has personally Inspected visited
examined the condition OF boarding houses TO tho
keepers OF which licenses have been granted; that
from 1875 up 10 the present tmc by and with
the consent OF tho other members OF tho
Board (as tho President himself informs mel,
Board" This is false. l never SAID 50. have
visited sailors boarding houses myself, and in no In
OF the Inspector oi tho Board, and havo
before mo the report OF the Board Of Health was re-
CURED before would grant the license,
THE SALARY QUESTION
The law allows but s a. 500 for all expenses These
rent, lawyers fees, salaries, &c. and In
has this amount been exceeded So Tor fat sala-
RES.
Hc says prosecutions havo been had for causes
other than the non-payment OF ices My answer Is,
that two instances have such prosecutions been had
both 10 punish The keeping OF sailors boardng houses
IN connection with brotLes, one OF which iaicd
and the other the defendant was sent to prison
four months. In case has any person been Know
ngly allowed to keep satlors boarding house In con-
nection with disrcputable place. As TO gong into
against br0thols, that Is the OF tho
police authorities, and asLhey have failed suppress
them u IS Idle to expect THIS Board to do so.
In no case, either has any distressed shipwrecked
sailor applied Tor assistance without obtaining II 10 tho
fullest extent needed.
Alter Mr. Ferris was chosen commissioner by tho
ship owners Association he called with his certificate
to the Office. had his paper prepared and directed
that he should see the books OF the OF the
cioty. Since he was chosen have tried to get the
Board together, but the illness of tho lamcntcd j. X.
Meyers, VINO has since died the indisposition OF
another Commissioner, and the unwillingnc OF one
TO meet With Mr. Ferris has prevented my dong so.
The Board, sncc have bcon at It's head, We sct-
tied many disputes with sailor landlords ana Sailors
have Obliged dcsertcrs to rcjon ,hcr vessels and,
think, has done good. GEORGE W. BLUNT.