The New York herald., 1879-08-23
GOVERNOR ROBIASONS INDIFFERENCE.
The Shore Inspector Points Out the
Legal Dumping Ground.
SEA-GOlNG SCOWS INDISPENSABLE
A German Steamship Caught Throwing Ashes
Into the Bay.


partments will have effect in several ways. Accord
ing to the statement of Attorney General Schoon-
maker. published in the HERALD the requirements
the State such that there sre but two aterna
tives. Either the Shore Inspector must punish the
Police Commissioners for their offence or resign.
Should he decline either of these courses. public
opinion. backed by legal precedent, would necessi-
tate his instant removalb by Governor Robinson. The
Attorney General further relieves the case from any
doubt as to the proper methods by which the Pilot
Commissioners should act. The State as a superior
power assumes the authority to regulate
the affairs of the harbor. and municipal
offenders more exempt from the
penalties prescribed by the statutes than private
corporations even individuals From all the facts
Immediately succeeding the detection and publica-
ton of the evidence there is little doubt that the
guilty parties will suffer ard that measures will be
taken to keep the harbor channels open. There is
sudden and commendable activity among the muni-
cpal and State that the of the
tire country have been drawn upon them, and they
feel in the light of their that they
entitled to any leniency.
Pilot Commissioner Ambrose Snow was inter-
viewed in regard to the to be pursued by the
Board of Pilot Commissioners. The Commissioner
expressed his qualification &C the in which
the subject had been handled and the completeness
OF the evidence obtained.
II agree perfectly with Attorney General
Schoonmaker's views" said he. "we are now
supported by the State and the popular to
that the law is summarily executed Ever since
entered this Board l have studied the difficult
problem OF protecting the harbor We have fined
over two hundred corporations in a single year But
when it came to question between the State of New
York and two of the city departments we hesitated
to act Our duty of is to prosecute offenders
irrespective of their official position. The State
authorizes us. and the State would be the primo
mover in any suit at our instigation. The Attorney
Generals willingness to see the law executed shows
that he is likely to make up for his tardiness Of
fering us advice and assistance when we applied to
him for it before"
INDIFFERENCE OF THE STATE AUTHORITIES.
"Then you think that the State has hitherto been
slow in acting upon the matter?'
Certainly Ido We went to great expense and
trouble last year to bring the matter before the
Legislature. bill was drawn up making every line
Of the statute clear and the Penalties prescribed
Of the severest order voluminous data pre-
sented to prove that the harbor being filled up.
The lists of certified complaints against the nuisance
were used as evidence. and the great danger to the
lines OF passengers in the event Of cinder
reefs and mud banks forming bar across
the channel Hardly member of the Legs-
passed. don't say that Governor Robinson did
not think he justified in allowing lapse for
thirty days and thus fall through. But the danger
70 the steamboat. companies of being prosecuted for
their frequ offences aroused q desire on their
part to defeat the bill. l have since hehrd ii said
that the Governor was influenced in his decision by
these people, who convinced him against the facts.
There is doubt that the action of the Executive
not signing it injudicious and hurtful the in
terests of commerce and the people OF New York in
general. In fact. understand how he failed
to indorse SO popular measure"
"Do you think the harbor ought to be used as
dumping ground, anyway
"Not IL 1t can be avoided. have studied the mat
ter very closely. The systems used in this country
miserable when compared to those of Europe.
Liverpool harbor waters clear and its cham els
magnificent. This the result OF tho terrible strin-
gency of the English laws on the subject. Paris
uzes her garbage fertilizers. and is not troubled
with having her waters polluted. admire the whole
system abroad for, even if they are not unanimous
as to the proper means of disposing OF garbage each
country has a method that is elective. l often
ask the question. what would Now York do
with her garbage If she had waterr But
the plans for utilizing the garbage have, so far
not met with approval. There have been several
One was to creInatc the garbage in huge iron fur
naces The cost of erecting these tanks would be
tremendous. Besides. there were serious~ do ubts
raised as to the feasibility of operating them
cessfully. Another plan was to use The garbage to
u
several grounds. The persons who wished to con-
tract for the removal OF the sweepings were
only willing to accept the garbage portion leaving
the ashes cinders. &c., to be disposed OF by the
city"
.:what plan do tho Pilot Commissioners suggest
az remedyg"
well the first is to enforce the law in tho case of
every violator. But we have considered scheme
which promises TO be successful. Whom / WAS in
Ireland watched the manner in which the hopper
bottom barges were used in the Bay of Dublin.
These vessels loadci with refuse and taken far
pf its rp-
turn. There arc other European ports which have
this system in operation, ana / ann with my col.
leagues heartily in favor OF its adoption By having
these seli-propelling iron scows could have the
refuse taken out beyond the outer lphtshin vbero
the whole coast current would take 1T away from
shores
WHAT coMNissroSEns WILL DO
"What action is the Board going TO take reg riding
the charges against the Police and Dock Commits
sionersY
''of course we shall bring actions when the COM
plant is formally made: We shall he guided in our
method OF proceeding by our lawyer. William Allen
Butler. We shall have meeting next Iuesday after
noon, and will have our evidence to proceed upon.
We Will. as our counsel may advise. request the
Mayor and Common Council to convoy our COM
plaint to the Law Department OF the state"
"How about the Union Dredging Company
"Mr. Loomis, the superintendent. called on mo
this morning. Ho officially pleaded guilty to tho
companys scows having dumped inside the limits.
IIe however. asks for cemency, tho grounds that
lac was not present in person. and did not authorize
the acts"
A reporter saw Mayor Cooper at the City Hall In
reference TO the matter. 81 have little TO say
any actions against tho Dock or Police Commissions
ers, and, therefore cannot speak officially. dom
know what shall do until gee 90 facts in a formal
manner. Then shall hear what the accused de-
partInents have to say In defence"
F" You must be aware OF what the legal response
bilitics of the dt partmcnts aroY'
"They are intrustod with the removal of the
fuse. III any violations occur the state looks TO item
for redress. But don't wish TO discuss the case in
advance Just say to the public that shall do my
duty"
The opinion of prominent lawyer on the above
of al IA iou
ia the mattor are entirely errOncous His intention OF
hearing what the Dock and Police have
TO say is anatter OF investigation which belongs to
the state alone The Mayor and Common Uouhciis 8
duties in the matter are SIMPLY 60 do as they
quesed In bringing the complaints before the hi cher
authorities, and the State attends to its own Dusi-
ness.
THE POLICE cosMIssI6NERs WAKE Up.
At meeting OF the Board OF Police commissioners