New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-22


The testimony Of one Of the witnesses bcfor"
the Senate Committee, though not Of the most
sensational character, was an exceedingly inter
cstng and suggestive disclosure of the means
10 which multitude Of persons engaged IN
active pursuits are compelled 10 resort. or lhhk
they are IN order 10 get necessary things done
10 their satisfaction. The manager Of the snip
ping department ~ IA large establishment very
unwllllngly testified that he paid the dock
master 50 for every ship locked. ana $50
apiece ~ the customs inspectors. generally two
in each case. He occasionally paid sums Of
money 10 other persons weighcrS. for example
All these payments were entirely outside of
legal fees The witness earnestly insisted that
II was not a ease Of backmail. The money
was not handed over until the service had been
rendered. In his opinion all shippers In the city
were practically obliged 10 make similar pay
menrS in order 10 have their vessels promptly
loaded and unoadcd: that Is 10 say. they thought
IT advisable 70 do 50. knowing. Of course. that
they would otherwise suffer serious loss ana
Inconvenience.
This is fair description Of what may be-
accurately enough designated rs the mbrcIting
process 1t is almost universally employed. ana
there is doubtless general feeling Tint II has
70 be- II has come to be- applied IN nearly
every affair Of lfc whether important or com
paraiiycly trivial. The lawyer continually Uses
II in his professional dealings with th" deputy
sheriff: Ne householder In facilitating with his
or that official The performance Of litl" services
for which he has already paid once In tAN'S'
the traveller for attentions which his Ticket
ought to guarantee; The tenant Of flat for the
mniiors goodwill; the patron Of "a hotel or
restaurant for pretty nearly everything. i is
thr essence Of the whole irritating system ~
ilpS ~ pay double for zeal and expedition. rs
the witness declared yesterday. probably III good
faith. II is not blchmail IS that w"nl Is gen
orally applied: but II s1yorN # hlIckm1il never
ihclc~S IN every ease. and in many c1>'- IL j.
Mackmail 20 all nicnts and purposes II n>"l
ro be- almost unknown IN HIS country: hui u is
o,,tinc to be- more common and burl'nsomr
here than anywhere else. Is prevalence indI-
cafes u dcplurahr loss ~ sclfr'~p"i "n III" one
hand and II courage ou tAr other j. j. an an.
moving nud frequently Oppressive" tyranny when
disrr,lits rs well ~ burdens an who submit
To- il.
In ifs least dishonest. though perhaps not II,
least Irritating. form The tipping system cannot
he abolished 10y Law. The custom ~ adding
grltuliy 10 the price ~ a service. where Only
rrlvarc individuals and transactions are CON
rornod. can apparently Dee cradcni"d only hy
common consent, Iu' ihc law is cipam" 81
s,opplng the process which WIS described :" 'H'
committee Yesterday: or II not 10 oushi - h'
made. c,lual 20 that task \ public "'lr1I VINO
INNS, H.. brlr,l 20 ln bis duty obviously deserves
nuui.bw,n, Tho witness or do" shipping trad"
would NOT admit in 49, many words ih.i' "' ""'
,,l.rs I'm his line uf business hr.b" dochn1~''i~,
iusn.r,.r, AMI wrighcrs when th'y pay them
f,r IN. pronlpiur.s and energy which 'h"y well
know the legal foes would not pr"'ur. Hui u
* essentially Il bride which ihcy h'~i"W. n"N'
tbrlcss. TIL, man who gives may give 'h''I
fully from force II habit, nud charge 'h" lirs>'
mn to necessary EXPRESSES. aud ih" man WHO
takes may be- "A well meaning sort ~ person,
who follows custom without auayz.ug his mo-
iiv,. or his act But the custom i 100 ih" h"-i
dc,n.ralizlua AMI M the worst IT. is criminal IN
tendency II not in fact
The ease 81 The Individual who needs 10 have
work done quickly and thoroughly. AMI Knows
that he must pay an extra price for efficiency is
doub,lc,s embarrassing II his comsccnc" Is alert
or even merely # his temper j. independents
Hu, q general agreement ~ such indi' To
rcfns. 70 be- Died would seemingly end their
troublcs At All events IL + well Z" hav" ms
MAIN statement Of facts. unwillinsly revealed,
90 on record II ought lo be- The means OF bring
inc law ard authority 10 bear upon a rank and
growing abuse.