Year: 1872

How "Jack'' Is To BE Taken Care OF and
Released frcm the Tyranny of Masters


and LnndIords-The Act to Go Into Ope-
ration Au gust 6.


The office of the United States Shipping Commits
sloner of the port Of New York. Seaman's Exchange,
lS7 Cherry street, was opened yesterday morning,
but not for the transaction Of business The act
creating this Commission states that the law shall
90 into effect the 9th OF August, that all ves
sells clearing and after that date will have to ship
their crews from the ollce of the Commission. Cap
tain Duncan, the Commissioner for this port, says
that the enforcement of the act will meet with
much opposition from the landlords and shipping
Intelligence offices, for the that it will de-
Troy the business Of both. And this the captain
thinks very necessary for the Improvement OF


'JAcK's'' CONDITION,


lnasmuch as he is ''bled" and imposed on by both
these parties. Heretofore these agents and land
lords used to make arrangement for the shipment
Df "Jack"--who, according to law, is entitled to
one months pay III advance-and draw his first
money for him. When "Jackn applied for his
money from the landlord he was presented with O
trumpedup bill for board, gin and extras which he
never received. If the poor tar denied having re-
ceived the things charged to him the clerk OF
the house was sent tor and asked to explain, the
one hackneyed explanation all the time, "You
were drunk when you called for these things and
what do You know about it ?" With this explana-
tion "Jack" has to content himself as best he can
He ships and when he is discharged he never gets
what has been promised him, and SO
he Is always cross and unwilling and sometimes
The act entitled


@cs s by tTs u Cou OF Se Gned
States to the shipping and discharge @ Of sea-
States, and for the further protection Of seamen, NJ
Is almost transcript rom the English law, and
was gotten up by the American Seamen's Friend
Society about three years ago, and placed before
the United States Senate by Senator Cole, OF Cali
fornia I1e @ seamens Friend a.; society @ have iabored
OF last June they saw their efforts crowned with
success.


About fourteen of the landlords have banded to.
gether for the purpose of resisting the law, as far
as 1t relates to foreign vessels, but their most
earnest efforts will be without avail, inasmuch as
the Custom House officials will give no vessel q
clearance unless they have passed the Shipping
Commissioner. Notwithstanding this opposition Of
the landlords there arc many, in fact majority or
them, who are working with the Commission.
When men are shipped both the men and master
have to sign an agreement, OF which there are
three copies, one for tbs Commissioner, one for the
Custom House and one for the master OF the vessel
The Commissioner will not ship man unless he Is
Sound and healthy and all men going before the
Commission will be examined Another measure
adopted by the Commissioners for the SAFETY and
benefit Of "Jack' is that when he is discharged he


CERTIFICATE OF CHARACTER


capacity, &c. and in short time men will be
shipped on the same basis as they are In England
Captain Duncan says that this is the many
seamen who are shipped from this country are dis
charged in England, where no seaman will be taken
unless he has certificate to show.


Hereafter the men will be paid off In the office o I
the Commissioner, who will see that they are not
cheated and that justice s done to them All the en-
ployes OF this department. are required to take an
oath that they will not receive any brbe, gratuity
fee or present from any one other than the salary
they are to receive from the Commissioner


All crews shipped on and after August will have
TO be shipped 1rom the Exchange, Otherwise no
clearance can be obtained.