New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-08
GENERAL WORK AT ALBANY.
THE NETWORK PIERS.
TIE NEN-lUhh TILho.
OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED REVIVAL OF THE
OLD sYsTEN-THE LARGE SHIP OWNERS AROUSED.
ley TFIEGRArn TO Tile rRfRuNRI

OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED REVIVAL OF THE
OLD sYsrEN-THE LARGE SHIP OWNERS AROUSED
lBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUSEI
ALBANY, April THE bill designed to fill
the purses OF the Harbor Masters by giving authority to
the Captain OF the Port OF NewYork TO control certain
piers was subjected sharp attack before the Senate
Committee on Commerce and Navigation to-day. There
appeared before the committee in opposition 20 the bill
George Bllss John H. starin Dock Commissioner Dim
oek, John Dale OF the THman Steamship Lne. Fw. j.
Hurst OF the National Lne John Coyerty OF the Anchor
Line. C. Il. Seaman. Of the Cromwell Line d. s Babeoek,
OF The sonlngton Line and s. G. Bosart Of the Morgan
Line They brought with them document signed by
the agents Of all the great steamship lines and railroad
companies. and by leading dry goods merchants OF New
York protesting AGAINST tho BILL II. b. ClaHm & Co.
and E. 5. JaGray Co. were among tho sgnerA Tho
document says:
The undersigned shpowners. railroad companies
carriers merchants and citizens OF the Cty OF NewIurk
which at present exsis. whereby the owners OF
regular permanent steamship lines under authority OF
law can take leases and the OF the piers aud
wharyes necessary TO carry on their business Ia ssd city
ments use OF advantage to the
eonmrrer prosperity and property Of the CITY and OF
resio alton TO the Captain OF the Port OF authority 70
interfere With piers and wharyos - leased or 80 to de
prIve such lines OF the right 70 use such places or
locate other vessels at such piers vharyes would he
return 10 state OF things which the experience OF years
proved TO b. prrnioous and which degenerated into
regularly organized system OF hlackmSil. and would
work The greatest injury the commerce OF Tho city
and tend 10 orye shipping from Its piers and wharves
We that whole business-the great bulk OF the
commerce OF this porshoud not be again placed at the
mercy or the " Oi any man or set OF officials.
Mr. Bliss made h long argument against the bill He
described the nques OF the system It proposed TO
restore and declared there need OF changes
In the present port arrangements. WHO brought this
Matchmaking bill herep he exclaimed. and
then continued: WAS II not OF the
Ia rhormasiersi" lie said that there no
demand for the passage OF the bill except from The har
bofmaeterS LIS passage would block plans Of many OF
the steamship companies VINO were endeavoring TO get
piers IN order TO meet the demands of the rapidly
growing commerce OF the port IL claimed 20 be IN
the interest OF the sailing vessels bur IN the past
year. the number OF sailing vessels had decreased pro
portiouaiey L. the steamers % per cent Toe needs OF
the sailing vessels were regarded by the Dock tOmins
soners and every provision made for heir accom-
mediation. II the committee desired TO Increase the
cumiurtce ~ New. York hs wOu advise them To draw
up 81 bal abolish some OF The impOsirion- CON
They might property beg1n by aDOlishing tne
harburmastcr- aud substituting i've persons 10 he ap
pointed by the Dock Commissioners az moderate
salsrIcs-
Mr. Dale said that before s75 although his company
had bu u "a shed ~ ITS own expense and pad hedYy
rent its per. had tO bargain regularly Win TIE
harhOrmastrrs for permission o. use A. II tie eKactOn
not fubnd strange vessels were pul ~ thelr
pier. frequently us before The arrival OF steamship
from Eir1pr
Mr. B,cArt sad that he had known some internal
ouudr-a suIug the harn 'rWA,tcrs II WAH an aDsn-
iutc FOR steamship company 20 haV' a
sLri t. IA orer To protect goods from tue ee-
mcut.. ~ tnis way their work WAS Immensely .Hp@-
de Tor thew could Wo.k 10 nl kuls o wrather. loin-
inr ard uu otIlu- vr-.tl~ TIE great dry-EOuds nlWs
had gnrd peftluu because n Vas Tor TIER luter
Ct that thrif g"01s ehou be swiity delivered
The committee decided 90 give another LeAfing on the