New-York tribune., 1879-12-22
SHIPPING LAWS OPPOSED.
THEIR ADMINISTRATION IN NEw-YoRK

offered nv tpe resolution introduced into Congress by s.
s. Cox. calling for information as 10 money
paid into che Treasury by Shipping COMMISSIONER has
excited much interest among persons familiar with
chipping matters II said that this resolution Is only
the beginning of determined effort TO learn the interior
working of Offices the affairs OF which have been only
partly disclosed; and that reliance Il placed upon the
result OF such Information shall be obtained 10 pass
the law in the hands Of a sub-COninttee on COM
merce which many advantages TO the shipping
interest. and which changes the position oil shipping
Commissioner from money-masing onice into sal
aired position with fair compensation.
objections raised against the present law
and the present Commissioner In NewY0rk were stated
to r TRIBUNE reporter by James j. Ferris VINO has been
identified for years with the interests Of ship
owuers shipmasters and seamen IN their endeaV0r- To
procure shipping law. He said:
- In my opinion, investigation made by Congress
siona committee Of the workings Of the Office at New
York would show that large amount Of money that
should have been paid into the Treasury annually has
retained Tne general department Of the employees
to those by law have been compelled to transact
business the Office has been dscourteous In the ex-
treme There are many facts which are held in
for investigation Of which the public does not DREAM IN
connection with the aiministraton OF the shipping
Commissioner Office NewYork, ard which II would
be imponuc further to touch upon at present."
"wnat do shp.masters complain ofF'
"The complaints OF ship-masters cover too much
ground for me TO give IN detail they say that the
Office IL at too great distance from the Custom House
and places OF the merchahts and they
BY regulations compelled too frequently to call
there They are invariably in the most disc0urteons
snubbed by the attaches If they dhr from them
IN any matter. ever. OF minor importance. Tney are
compelled TO lose much valuable time in having entries
made in the Commissioners books. IN having their
papers prepared for shipping in shipping their crews,
and In obtaining their papers for clearing They are
compelled before obtaining their papers to clear az the
Custom House, I'm a week before sal Ing.
TO pay into the hands Of the Commissioners. ia cash. the
amount crews advances well as the shipping
fees. Tney that the commissioner I'm nearly every
exacts the payment OF ices from Ooth master
aud seaman reshipment where the seaman contin-
uOusly p0yed They have been denied from time 10
time privilege OF selecting 10 sail In their YES
ses and have been obliged to take such men "a stay
around the Commissioner, office and those generally
inferior seamen. IL frequently the sailing of
the better class 0f seanen selected by mas
tiers go the voyage replaced by inferior ones on
some preext deputies Should tbe masters protest
they are given their choice OF waiting indefinite tine
for the original going with such sailors are
given to them Beng driven by the merchants. the
captains are obliged to succumb When their accounts
are rendered for settlement their these are
in many cases objected SIMPLY because they are not
perts kindly Offer their services prepare proper
ones Should the captain consent II costs M MN rom on
- 30 to $lOj should he object ee can look out Tor
squalls. The COnuiSs Oner oonstrues tue law oJec-
mary benefit, regardless OF Shipping interests"
"IaYe you any evidence OF the commissioners having
knowledge OF those actions on the part OF his snDord
!. Yes; the statements Of the captains themselves.
whicn implicitly believe"
"What DO the sailors complain OF 7"
rney COMPLAIN that the law itself Is burdensome on
educated. slmpc aud, IN Short mbece. Many of .heln
are welcdcaed. intelligent men, and can through
petitured Congress by thousands tc repeal or amend
the law. The more intelligent seainen who are ac
ufatlU vii he Of
In s favor Never in my experience OF thirty years in
SHINING matters weIe sailors m such deporabe con-
don as they present; and II has been growing
snpn "a conmssonsrs Act In ls72 ThSre is hardly
an in-anc- where sailor finds oyment for for
voyage that is NOT compelled to pay from
that employment and this has all sprung up under the
Can these statements be provedp
81 can prove everything have said"
REPLY OF COMMISSIONER DUNCAN.
Captain Charles c. Duncan. VINO has been the shipping
Commissioner az this port since the Office created in
1872 was visited and the substance
gwen above was stated TO him. lie saId in reply
sailors petitions can be manufactured By the yard
for any purpose. have yet heard sailor when
sober complain OF the law. As to the condition
OF sailors. long shipOwners and sipmasters viii
combine with sailors landlords ana shipping g-masters,
as they do now and demand bioodmoley before giving
a man a chance ship. it impossible To It.
have sent hundreds Of before the Ds,rct-AttOr
ney, but when the coTplananis were wanted rs Wit
testify Every sipmaser Is Invited t. avail himself Of
the facilities OF ny oilce for physical examination OF
the men, designed ny fhr Treasury Department TO Tr
vent diseased sailors going out. kut the landlords
oppose It, wishing the captains to take the men they
" How about GscOurtesy to persons doing business
Every man is treated like gentleman so long as be
will permit It. But some Of them are brutes and nave
to he treaied roughly. No r0wdysm Will ne allowed In
the Office. Tue complaint that are far the
Custom House Is not just We m the centre OF the
sailor populalion wlen is great eonyenence TO the
captains IN getting crews IN hurry. And ls only fair
that the men, VINO nave TO wait on captains conven,
iencc tor thlr pay, and have 10 and several
times before tney meet him, should have place near
helr homes. The masters need to the Office ouly
once II they bring ther crews with thrin rs most do
now. Disputes aud QutIrelS are often submitted To me,
and they adjusted at the Office. But no other CIR
cuns,ances require the attendance OF lhe masters lh.y
make appointments by messenger or elc
phOuean nave delay wha ever II money Ia advanced
ana fees are ever paid week before sailing 1t Is the
captains faut, nothing iced 10 paid until the vessel
clears after winch she sa ut any time. Neither is
any regular required for accounts: only they must
be accurate. Some cap,ains pay OF ou tne articles
alone It not true that we exact fees for reshpncnt
The law allows sailor bs reshipped for another
voyage without further fee anc We might consrue that
reship without cnarge loaG with the
vessel Some companies clear out the whole crew after
1t is charged that you do not permit free choice oil
"what is your opinion OF the Cox bill nowbefore the
Housep
will only money to the ues. and they lIke that II
places the Office IN the Custom House, which Is utterly
impracticabe Several hundred men have TO come To-
gether the Office often, and thew wanted at
the Custom House. IL IA far from where they live. ana
the accommodations necessary for them would be
expensive that locality. The present law Is good, al
though Vt exempts some of tine West India aud other
near trade the sailors which need protection II
do But now instrad OF putting the ship into
stream. and earting the down half drunk. it is
necessary for snip To leave lis dock with sober
set OF No sailor when drunk ship, s-n, lie
paid The result tnat the landlords keep the sober
II they 10 get them paid aud shipped. never
hear any complaints. except from some shipbrokers
and and owners who would like 10 pay their
men down-town and Tx their accounts 10 suit them
serves"
That IL not captain who wishes may have 1t
advertised That he will select certain day
and will get 200 800 on the toOr from whom ne
freely without suggestion from Some Of
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