The New York herald. [volume], May 22, 1878, Page 4, Image 4

About The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920

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OUR REGISTRY LAW.
Shipowners and Importers Unani
mous for Its Repeal.
AMERICA AT A DISADVANTAGE.
Restrictions That Follow the Improvement
of Our Commerce.
THE CARRYING TRADE
The subject ol repenting our presout registry laws
end pataiug a Iroo navigation act burring foreign ships
solely train tbo Aiuorlcuu coastwise trade uu3 taken
earnest y hold ol the minds of tho shippuig merchants
ot this city, and tho Hkk.w.d's advocacy ot such n
change has excited deep interest among tins important
class ot tbu community. The interviews of protnl
ueut American shipowners, given further below, show
the unanimity of sentiment existing In furor of a
modification ol our present prohibitory navigation
laws, under which Americans cunuot buy a foreign
ship, and cannot even repurcbaso an American vessol
It It has once passed out of their possession. The
law requires Dot only that the ship entitled to tho
Amerlcau Hag shall have been built here, but it enacts
also continuous aud exclusive American ownership.
These laws, passed iu 179:1 and 1793, wore originally
devised to protect Americau commerce, hut it will
he seen that, according to the opinions ol those w U
known shipowners, they have been since tho intro
duction of iron steamships mainly instrumental iu
crippling American shippiug and drivlug the Ameri
can Hag from tho ocean. The provisions ol our regis
try laws as taken lroin the It .-vised Statutes bearing
principally upon ibis question are us follows:?
?urn law or hi.cisthy.
Kkction 4.13H?Ve??i la limit within the United States
and celoiiciug woolly to i lluoni tlieiuof, mid vessels winch
may be captured ill war l y citizens ol the United Mules
and Inwlmiy cuo'lenitiod as prls.-s, which may ne ohjudc-od
In be rurleited lor u breach ol tho lawn of the United
Status, being wholly owned by eiti/.em. mid no others, may
be registered as direeteu iu this title.
Isac. 4.11(0?'1 He Secretary ol the TrouBiiry may issue a
register nr enrolment lor nuy Te?sel hulli in n loreigu
country wliaiiuver such ves.el snail be wrecked in the
Hinted Stales and shill be purchased and renaired by a
citiseu of tlio United States n it shall be proved to the
s..tislnotion ot thu .secret .ry that the repairs put upon
such vessel are equ .1 to tlirea-tuurtlis of the cost ot thu
vess 1 nheu so repaired.
There are many other provisions, but that contain
ing the essence aud .spirit of tho law is comprised in
the Urst usmod section, and it is, tbereiure, unneces
sary to cucumber tbo present arliciu with lurtber ex
tracts from the H- vised .Statutes. The subject gains
immediate importance from the probability of au
Aoalo-Kussiau war wlieo, no doubt, hundrods ol
Ainerioau shipowners and oven others w.II be euger
to buy such Kugiisli ships us will be offered at a *acri
ttce irorn thu fear oi mo depredations ol iiussiau
privatoers. in viow of this particular contiageucy
the iutorviews which now lollow will be road wiih
special interest.
KAIIDOIt COltMISSIONKK SNOW.
llarber Commissioner .Snow, oi the shipping firm
ol Snow tiurgess, in Eoutn street, said:?
"If we had a iree registry act we should placo our
lelreaonan equal looting with foreigners so fur us
tho cost ol our vossols is coucorned. For the lust HI
teou years we havo been struggling against loreigu
compotltiou ul tho grout disadvantage that wo wcro
unable to buy cDuuper vessels than U.oso made in this
country. When the English were building exceed
ingly cheap iron stoamors, propellers, Ac., wo could
tiuve gone over aud bought them but lor this law,
and wo should he owiuug and running mem under
the Americau Hag now at a profit, ll mo present law
were repealed we could buy Knglul, snips cheaply in
case ol n war between Knglund and Kusstu, when many
Kuglo.li shipowners would bo glad lo get rid ol their
snips thriuicnou by Itus-iau privateers, at a sacrifice.
\V lieu I he war was over wo sliould thcu lutvo added it)
u natural way lo our Americau tonnage. Uudor
the present Registry law we nave teen our
commerce dwindle uowu to nothing. The re
pen i of tlio law would bo at least u step
inward placing ui Americau snipownurs ou equal tortus
witu our loreign competitors. All other n.ilions but
the United Males?as lur as 1 can ruinoinhcr?have a
lice registry law. When England found some thirty
yours ago ih I woo len snt h could bo built cheaper
hero tin.ii iu England she passed tier Free .Navigation
uci, otiublipg English shipowners to come bore und
buy clit-up A merit an vessels."
?-.Mr. .-now, it is objected by those interested In the
const wish trade tout to nl.ow English ships lo ruu
lioro would ruin that interest ?"
I' \TKHITIS1I AT A UlSCOC.VT.
Mr. hoow replied to tins oy ibequizzicul query?''You
allow KngllM.incu to como nere and run a railroad,
a vesae!
why not iiiiow ihem io rim a voiclf if a foreigner
cud come aud c. fry tho people or tiieir freight cheaper
than the Americans ore doing now, it is all the nutter
lor ino American people ul large, il an Englishman
can come and run a ierrjr lo Hrouklyu lor ouo cent,
wnile lur American lerrv company charges two ceuls,
don't you mink me people wouta be suurllcif with thu
Obiing*?"
"Do you believe American interests would 're
pronu-u by the roj? al of the law?"
"We should prolit, no uuubt, by transferring many
English vessels iui.tr Hag just as Kurt pesos did dur
leg the rebellion when incy bought our ships. 'I lie
gruat diondvautagu wuicii we suftered tneu in cuusu
quenca oi in s law was tout we could not gel our sUips
buck alter the rebelitou woa over, Hie law did not
putntii ua lo j urul.usu back a amp whlcb had ever
ouco gone out oi Americas owner ,hip. Iu this ro
sped llio law he rs disastrously upon our Shippiug
interest. Suppose we Had a war Willi Mexieo. il llio
law were n ponied i could uouiMi ? lly pu I my ships into
loreigu ban-is aid uudor loreigu Haas, lo jirotect litem
against Mexican orsuerr, ana slier tbo war was over
i rouid gel tbaiu back. Not au now, aud curing lire
rcoellioii sliipow nefs bud to sell ul a sucr.UU'- ihoir
ve.-sola which were llueaiem-d by southern cruiser:."
"The -bipiruiidera alau on, oso the repeal.''
' Wi ll, ' Mf. m.ow answered, with .-nine indignation,
"our ligialillol) bee been lor tue last Uliren or twenty
yeurs lor ibo bench' of American shipbuilders. 1
mink tometbing ought to no dono lor Sliipowuere
now. i.esidii l elievoil would lend to jiruiuolu tbo
sliipbuilaiug indu try. Having ouco piirchueed a
great mativ cht'iip res.-eU abroad, and having unco a
turpi! capital invested hi lbs tiusine s, our ittffnt
wounl hi. lo bU't'i oni' new ships lien- il they could bo
bunt hero wiih n ten per cent of tue coat ol building
tbeiu in Europe*"
CIIAKLKn n. tl All Mil A 1.1.
Mr. Charles ii. Marsha I, iuu shipping mcrcbanl at
Mo .*fe tiuruug sup. was strongly m iavor ol u repeal
ol our regljftry iisi as atiTOcaleg by tho IlKKALh.
"1 liavt alaay* beuervd," Mid nc, "tbai our nuvi
gallon la as Ii .\ e neeu a great detriment to our com
merce und nave been iar.ely reipidUilrle lor toe foot
tnui Aiueiic.iu "Hipping has dwindled down to its
prt-seul proportions. At one tunc, prior lo the iouoi
iiou, wo w-re on u level willi ine Kuglnn luerchunt
mr.i.e. Wliut was tlies run-on of mat? Bcci<u-o ut
tlio. lime ships were built oi wood, aud, pos.-ossn.g
immsnsu lureats with iih xbausiitde siore.-, ui tiuiUor,
we could buii i woo ion shijis cb< a per mau itiey cou.a
be built iu Euro tie. Hence out present ii 'ViguUou
law was no obstacle to us tbeu. Rut in 18-'>4-b& there
cams itie change from euiiii g vessel* to a.enmablps
uud from wood to iron. Uoforo mat, In 1*49, Eng
land bad pit?set its presnii ire-- iinrigaiiou law
and her uie-rchants bad come over to buy our
Cheaper woodcu ships. Then Kuglnnd bad ov< r us
the au".Mill 10 wllCIl we previously jo-sessed oVcr
her. .-he could bund irou snip- cheaper man we
rouid. mid we, ny our law, were prcveaieu from going
ovor lo Euglaud to nuy ksr Cheaper iron snips. I he
war came to siiil lurtnor rciurd tue divenpmoni ol
American Shipping, lor tbo depredation* ol the Ala
bama, iin< Duudwa!), Florida und other Conlederato
cruiaers made snipping an uncertain nud rt*ky cuter
prise, so that cap.ta. ut-r.imo unwilling to embark in
it. limine, u d|r?d*tioni ceisod hi 1 s<J4, and iu ail
these lourteen yea a tMfe have been uo sign* ol
rvcwperai on in this c>untry. Having oi o? loal
our commercial j resugu by the chain oi t reuru
si-hces w n.cn I have dstatle i to you, w-> have
not he-en .iblc to r? < -v r . N w, my beltol is that if
aitui thh rebel.Ito t-.e navigation law bin neon ro*
pea mi, und il wa In i b td a m iuer.iui tsriff so ih it
int articles that en ?r .com ? uiinirucuon cl snip*,
such as to, per, iron, rerduge, A< , could have bo-u
gok cheaper ocr merchant mart e would n .ve re
gaiueu n lost reel ?g. liet)oit?"< we w? re beiwoen
tlie IWo iioruA 0 . . . 1 I ? - . < otll-l I..I i I I I Ships
Iron nit- i'l ? foiioe in* ? ln? tar.IT, and wc
Sotnu net i ?/ y seaese prohibited by llio law. the
Herman*a . I rebel, cou.i do wlmt wc wcra
pro . i one. . r on, detbg j to- y to a id go oi cr to riant laud
tbu bur iuu *i,ip? more cheaper man they cuuid
beiId 1Mb al home. Wuatisti.e CCaaequeuce? We
saw see Germau Franih iiuci doing ihe bu-i
pess between ill* United Mat- a and Europe Winch
Amaru ul! hues couid bava di nc- l>n?| Wo only been
allowed to buy our >ln|H on die Clyde, All that we
Athenian suipp' ' ass H that w- may be allowed to
buy die tools with which *? do our business (nlnp-i)
wlierefof We can g I tti? in the choaj.eat, and that the
Jaw shad not compel us to work with iooIm nearer than
thosecf our rivau, and therefore drive u* out of the
business. "
-'Would a war bstwtrn Kngiaod and Russia build up
ocr shipping interne's It the IbW were repealed?"
so na. lia.it i-noei'Stia oi-kvko
"fospeak .rank y, i tnepresent elate el depression
1 do not oeusve mat oer shippiug business can be
?cut up except vt--y t orn /. Oi c-ur-o a portion of
the Koglisn i?hB*ge w-ul i l-i brought under Ihe
AmerivaC ii g, slibodib the American ownerslnp
iv. ui<l prnieib y tM amy temporary and i-nililoue.
Van nan not impose -ifif rt-KNeilon* which coaid com
i el Knclsttnicn lo r r ineir rlupa to Amt-fioe
luM-iy i". L iiu ne, l/vnn /'? sales Yi n c iiii--i pre*
vvni'ihn Ksgiisliiiieu from selling hi* snip io ilto
Amur teen lor $1 an I ibeu tHtflbg It back alter the war
i* over. Nor iio i see a Way by Which you ran pro
hibit the Amerteaa buyer irom giving a mortgage
upon tho ship to the British vendor. The gal n would
still go principally to the English owners. But 1 do
not look ai the Immediate reward. I think this
would he a very narrow view to take ol this question.
1 believe, upon hrouu and permanent principles, thai
I tie only nay lo brum us buck to couiuiurciul pros
perity in to puss a tree uuvigution law, and to remove
tne other grievous burdens resting upon American
shipping. In this dtaiu ships ure isxed us personal
property, in Kuglnnd ihe.v are not taxed at all. Our
consular lees ure mucii heavier than those imposed
upon any other nation. In 1870 ibe tece
collected by tlio English consular service
amounted to $170,04X1, while thuso collected
by itio United .stains Consuls amounted to
$ti40.i>ou, being a most onerous tux upon American
snipping. As Mr. Hewitt said m his recent speocu,
"the English consular service is maintained at an an
nual cost to the British treasury ol $800,000, while
our sysinui is maiu tinned by a tax ou commerce, pay
? ug'lis entire cost and putting a surplus ol $118,000
into ihe treasury." Kugluh shipowners have the
right to buy nil snips' supplies, such ss coltoe, tea,
sugar, beer, Jce., Iroo oi duty, while we must pay
duly. You see thoro at wiial groat disadvantage our
laws pluce us."
Mr. Marshall was in favor of exempting lrom the
repeal tho coastwise irado, which, ho said, was a
vested interest and might bo ruiued by a sudden ces
sation ol the protective system that had built It up.
Wheu asked whether the repeal would not burl
American shipbuilding ho replied that, according to
Mr. tian.se, Mr. Kuach and others, it could not, as
they hud loudly canned to be able to build iron ships
just as cheaply as they could he built in Kurupe.
KoBKKT U. MI.NTPBM.
Mr. Iiobcrt B. Minium, ol (iriuuolt. Minium & Co.,
said that certainly tlio American rhuiper could not
; lie expected to compete successfully witu mo Ueruiun,
| Kronen or iiuitau as long as ho was prohibited uy law
lrom buying tonnage us cheaply as they could. Mr.
Mn turn gavo tlio history ol tlio decline Ot' American
siiipbuildiug substantially as detailed by Mr. Marshall,
llad Americans been able lo buy Kngiish iron ships
when they were vastly cheaper lhau thoirs the Amur
lemi II ig would have inatiiluined itsell on a par with
tho Kngiish, German and French. But these naviga
tion laws, which tiad come dowu lrom Cromwell's nine,
had inudc that impossible. "Our govcrumon t says
to us, 'You shall not buy your tools ul the lowest
cost.''' Mr. Miuturn was wilitua to exempt the
coastwise trade lrom tho operatious of the tree navi
gation act, not bocaiised ho believed it would bo In
jured, but to remove its opposition to a repeal ol lUo
present law. With their urrangetnents, agencies, kc.,
so perfectly secured, aud with the favor which Would
always be given to American lines, even mo coast
wise trade had nothing to tear lrom lorclgn opposi
tion, "That is u mutter merely lor the consumers,"
be said, -'lor they really have lo pay lor tho Height,
and it they ure willing to leave the coastwiso carrying
trade In tlio nanus ol an American monopoly wo
ocean shippers are salisOod." As to tho results ol u
war belwueu England aud Russia Mr. Mialuru
thought that American shipowners would un
doubtedly be bent Hied, provided only that
Russia was really able to tit out privuleers such us
would seriously harass the Brlttsu commerce. The
English claimed that us Russia bad no fleet worth
spcakiug of io keep the Brush mou-of-war occupied
tno iuitor would buvo ample lime to luoic utter uuy
Ru.-stau privateers, il British commerce was really
harassed the English would uo doubt be glad lo soil
their ships cheaply to Americans.
"But u is sutd mat they would only nominally soli
tbe.r ships, to take them Duck alter ihe war?"
"Well, the Amerlcun snipping men would not lend
tliom their protection lor nothing?it mey could not
buy iho ships outrigut they ocruinly would secure u
commission. But tu repealing the law stmigeut pro.
visions should be enacted, as recommended by tbo
il mi alii, to secure genuine Amcricau ownership. Tno
new law should be so irtmod that any evasions
ol U by lloiiuous trimeters ot ownership could not be
accomplished without lalso oaths and without incur
ring serious penalties. As the American government
is buuud to protect every ship sailing under tho
American flag bclitious ownership would give this
protection to ships that did not deserve it."
Mr. Minium was lirmly ol me opiuiou that the re
peal ol tho law would i esult in a gradual Increase ol
Lite oceau tonnage uuder the American flag. Tno
statement ol shipbuilders that iron ships could bo
built hero as cheaply us iu Kuropo was cue that should
be received with qualifications. 11 the sulpbuildcrs
really thought to lliov would not so energetically op
pose uuy cuangc in tno law allowing Americans to buy
mcir ships abroad.
L. M'K AY.
Mr. L. McKay, of McKay k Dix, No. HO Water
utroet, also thought thai tuo iiassugu oI a froe naviga
tion uul would grcutly increase Ainoncaii ocean tou
uugo. lie dia not believe that iron ships could bo
hum as cheaply hero as they wero iu Scotland?at
lea?l hut upon the same epeciOoutions. Mr. McKay
said tOat, although no and his partner were American
citizens, nearly all thoir ships wero sailing under tbo
British llug because the conditions ol British owner
ship wero so much tuoro favorable and easy than
those of American ownership, Tuoeu ships were
mostly built in (Quebec, wboro tboy could be got much
cheaper than here.
VIKWS 0P ItlFORTKRS.
Mr. Wllllum Ltoby, or the llrm of A. T. Stewart ft
Co.. said that the proposition mudo by tno Hhkald
i-> the ruu.tt common sense proposition tnat can bo
iii.tae to uu American merchaui, and why wo are not
Iu a pL'Sillou to act on It Is simply unitizing. The Im
portuned ot obl.uuiug lor ourselves the prolils ol
i ho carrying trade la evident, and Ainerioau
merchants ought to be ublo to buy snips
wborevur they can got them cheapest, no
manor In what coitutry or under what
H rg itiey wore hunt. As to the influence of the pro
posed eliaugu ou Americuu commerce, Mr. l.ihby said
lio did uot mink it would be iu increase the volume
much, i xcept (hut by keeping the prollts of tho car
rying trade at home uud thereby, as lar as We are con
cerned, lessening ono elemuut of the cost of prod uc
tIon, it might giva nil ludiruct stimulus to importing
uud exporting. A similarly Indirect stimulus might
he given to shipbuilding, and so a modification of tbo
law mignt go lur toward bringing about the very
result .niicli was sought to bo accomplished by tbe
oiiuctnicnt ol tho law.
r. II. Tit l'HUSH.
Mr. F. I?. Thurber, ol ihe llrm of H. K. k F. B.
Tliurucr m Co., importure ol groceries, said mat, like
most otners, this quesuou has two sides 10 It; but tbo
weight ol argument Is on tho sluo taken by tho
Hksai.u. tin tbo oue hand, It is desirable that Ameri
can shipbuilding should be losiered; but, on tlie other
baud, lor ihc good ol our people lu general, it is de
siruolo tnat AiueriCau shipping merchants should be
permuted to buy loreigu ouill ships and run tliem
under the American Hag. lu the eveul of
w r between Great Britain and Itussia, ss
Amoncau commerce in hnglish or ltussiau ships
would Do vudiiugcred, it would be to our advantage to
cover vessels ol both nationalities wnu tbo American
Hag. lbo result could nol but help American
freights, because iu case ol war there would boa
great demand lor neutral vessel*, and if AmoriCi bad
vessel- she would get her share of tho freights. "As
an instance ol the sensitiveness of commerce 10
tnesu ipnstious." s?ld Mr. Tnurbot. ''about
two inoulhs ugo in one of our iraporlu
tions ol teus lrom China we bad to stipulate
tnat the goods should not bo shipped ou an hugnsb
ves-o , or il Ihey were provlslou should be insde lor
thu war pi em i u ins, II auy, and Ibt* circuinslauiiu alolin
was ruoutu to ere uu a prelerence lor any otuer Hig."
lie was not inclined to .-ay that lucre trautlurs ol ves
sels to tno Ainiricuu Hag, w ithout actual change of
ownership, should not he pci milled. During thu iaio
war, when tho Alabama was pruymg uoou our com*
uier. many ol the transfers to Hie Kuglisb II ig were
Wordy nominal, vvnilo tho sbips wero osiensinly
owned by huglisbioon tho proUts still accrued to
Americans.
ARSON I'MKLI'S NTOKZM.
Mr. Anson Phelps Mokes, a member of tbe llrtu of
I'help*, Dodge .S: co., said that wmlo be was an auvo
cite ul suro .lieiv tree ira.io in ships he was yet glad
to suo the JlstiiAbb calling lor even a partial mouiU
caiiou ol the iisvigut'ou luw*. "1'here aro only ihreu
things," said Mr. Blokes, "prohibited by our larill
laws?ihesc arc couuterielt money, obscetio lltira
luro ami ship,-. If ships aro good things to liavo
tho ouly quesiiou should he, llow can wo get
i hem cheapest f and ihorclore we ought to ho
able to go into tho iiiurkot and see who
will sell cheapest. While a Iree trudur in the opti
mist sense," continue.i Mr. .-tokos, "1 would be glad
lu see any measuru ol relief sucu as 10 allow vessels
ol laigo touusge to register lor the foreigu trade, even
il smaller ves-ols wcio not allowed to parttcipule in
the coastwise trude, or to see vessels admitted on
paying n small rale ul duty II ires trade In snip- can
not be obtained. Free traders do uot ohjuct
to u lurill lor revenue, hut wheu promo
tion begins i ii o revenue begins to dodiuo.
il wo caii hi any way reduce thu cost ol geltlug snipe
thul would rn lar l>u nn .dvnutagc. " Mr. .Sluktsdid
noi thins that tun citacl ol snowing foreign buiil
snips to rc..later under tno Amor o*U II ig would bu
uny r. mark.ib.u stimulus 10 our luruiitu commerce, but
lbs gam in the prullis ol the tarryiug trade would
bo qnne chough to Jusllly it. Ho thought
thai we prububly could nut run -ntps quite as cheaply
us ths Kuglisn, because tbo Knglisn seauiou, b ong
at less t njhiuso lo support lunr lamilies than Ameri
can soatnvn, can work lor iowur wages. IJut Hint
would not materially reduce the prollts ol tho carry
ing irntle. "1 am g.ad to see," said Mr. Hlokes lu ouu
elusion, "that the 11 sit alii is payiug so much atteu
Hon inqnastiona ui political economy, as ihe study
Is becoming ono ol more and more interest."
otmkk iikm views.
Mr. li. U. Arnold, ol toe mm ol II. O. Arnold k Co.,
coll ee importers, ol No. lgi Front si reel, said it wu
v-ry unlortuuulo that our l.w* were such its to pre
vent our buying ships in Groat Bruno or other
foreign countries, ns I. deprives us ol Hie greater part
ol the Carrying iraue. It the cintugo proposed by tho
II Kit a 1, o could bo nucuiupliahed, Ilia currying irado,
instead ol bolug a drain ou u*, as It is
now, would givo us that portion ol the
cotl ol goods, Winch wo llOW |I y to ihu Oilier Sldo ol
the w iter. Ho -aid, however, ilial actual change o|
ownership should bo enforced, as it would, bu
tlioaglii, be very poor policy to ?now a simple iransler
ul II igs. Jin did uot think Hi it tho puioliasu of
lort igu snips by Americans on an oxiooded scale
would have any rfloet In increasing llio volume ol
our commerce.
Mr. tioion Humphreys, ol ihe Crm ol K. D. Morgan
At o , sug ir, c llro and loa importers, ol Kxchangs
pi ii o. s.nd lie woul l hold up hi* bands lor llio carrying
out of tlm ItsiiAl.n'a proposition It is absurd, tiu
thought, tnat American* cannot ar ill ibcmsolves of
tho present nnu possible I u. ure depression ol shipping
price* in buy ships, "I saw somownore ibe* omor
?my. old he, "th it Knglund uns already ft,Ok) niieiii
ployed snips. Why can't we buy ilirmf f uou'l
ibuik it wuul.l no tnucii to meruit'e our commerce,
but We would enjoy tun prolils ol tbooarryiog trade,
Slid that i* a veiy |nrgo item."
Mr, l.ucKeint.yer, ol tlm llrm ol l.iicknnteyer, Kunotli
H Go., genonl diy good* importers, ol No. 47ft Broome
street, said mat Uu had no doitot tbat in case cf war
It would oo advantageous to have is rn inv Oautral
ve-*els ?? possible II war break* out hetwieu hug
land and It linn n wo tih'l loilch Kngll-b ships snd
most therefore routine ourselves in g Tin French
mid Anieiic.in v.* e.*. ah oilier nation* can huv
American ve-.-ei* and it i* thu height ol sitiptdiiy
that wo cm t buy the vessel* ol other iistioi.s.
Wneibor American* are permitted to bey loreigu
vvsetis or uot there will But be lu oveai et war say
lack or vessela, for (he supply oi vessels it alway s In
proportion 10 (lie demuuos of eommeroe. Kuglisb
vessels would bo transferred to (be French and Uor.
man Hags. We need ships more for exports loan im
ports, and our export trad* may bo somewhat stimu
lated by tlie purchase 01 foreign ships by Americans,
but the obiel beuoflt would accrue lu iho profits ul iho
carrying tr*c>, flie. law ought lo be so ehaugtd. it
has existed a, ippg (lOre, uud yet ships are not eve a
now built because all).
Mr, 8chles<ugor, ol tbo tirm of K. Warburg & Co.,
silk importer.-, of liroouie street, expressed a general
view oi the suujccl similar to l lie oilier importers,
but bo tbouiilit tbo proposed change. although de
sirable, would meet with u good deal of opposition
tram lUosu interested In shipbuilding. If tbo chautio
is made the registering ol lorelgu vessels under too
Amuricau tlag ought to no made a source of revenue
to Uie government.
AMERICAN TOXNAUK OWXF.O IN TltlS CITV.
Accordiug 10 the lust report rendered by Collcotor
Arthur lor the ijuurtur ending Msrcn 31, lo tbo Trass
ury Department, the tonnage ol American vessels
registered at ibis port, sua owned liore, u as fol
lows :?
outkiuuding American tonnage of satliDg vessels in
the foreign tradu owned In N uw York alone, 372 ves
sels ; toauage, 047,1100. 04.
Vessels temporarily documented, the lououge be
longing to ibis port, but vessels owuod at other places,
3Uti ves.-eis; toauage, 140,318.00.
Wooden mourners belonging permanently to this
port, 37 ve-sels; toiiuago, 67,657.111
Temporary wooden steam vessels nailing from other
ports, but lounugo belonging to this port, 7 Vessels;
tonnage, 6,000.70.
Permanent iron stoamors belonging to this port, 21
vessels; tonnage, 52,670,60
letuporurv iiuu steamers registered here, but owned
at other ports, 4 vos-eis; tonnage, 3,100.05.
COASrWISK STEAM hits.
Permanent onroimont ol sailiug vessels, 180 vossels;
tonnage, 78,352.70.
Permanent wooden steam vessels; touungo,
138,221.22.
'letiiporary Iron steam vessels; touungo, 40,165.28.
Temporary sailing vessels, 13; louunge, S78 82-100.
Wooden steam vossels; tonnage, 0,970 26-100.
dotal number ol vessels, 2,280; total lounago,
374,907.32. fatal cousting traue under tweuty tons,
3,817.00 tuns.
AMERICAN VSHHFI.H HOLD TO FOREIGNERS.
Within tUo past lilteen months two steamers,
fllleou ships, lour burks aud five brigs lormerly
sailing Irom Ibo port of New York
under too American llug have been pur
chased by loreigaors aud are now sailing under
loreign Hugs. Ol tneso vessels twelve are now Gor
man, eight Norwegian, two English, one Spanish, one
Swedish, one Portogeso and one Mexican,
lfAILKOAD PUliOHASING AGENTS.
THE MEN WHO BUY THE UAILBOAD SUPPLIFS
IN COUNCIL.
Tho flrth annual Convention of the Railroad Pur
chasing Agents of the Uuitea State* and Canada was
hold yesterday morning in a parlor of the Si. Nicholas
Hotel. Mr. A. C. Armstroug, o! the Lake Shore and
Michigan Southern Railroad, president of the ussocia
?Hon, called tho meeting to order. Among those pres.
eut were A. G. Thompson, seorotary and treasurer of
the association; G. C. Breed, of the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad; W. S. Cuddy, St, Louis and Iron
Mountuin Road; J. H. Holway, Atlantlo and Great
Western; H. H. Elliot, Eastern Railroad of Boston -
W. C. Alderson, Lehigh Vulloy Road; E. p.'
.Miller, fuaionapolls, Blootningion and Western
K H. Iddings, North Pennsylvania road; A. 11. Camp',
beli, Missouri Rlvor, Fort Scott uud Gull Railroad - C.
M. Higginson, Chicago, Burlington and Quincy; t! C.
Purdy, New York and Uawego Midland road; A. W.
Sumner, Northern Contrsl road; O. N. Lull, Cum
berland Valley ; Goorgo Tozzar, Indianapolis, Cincln
nati and Lalayoitc; A. C. Warren, Old Colony steam"
ship Company, and It. C. Moore, New York and Bar'
letu Railroad, lo understand the objects of this Con.
veuiion It may be as well to explain tnal a rallro.id
purchasing agoul is ouo who puronases all the supplies
for a railroad, lrorn a luck up to a locomotive
so tli.it com (normally bo U a person ol no
8.!n.Bi l1V)p0rta,??'" ir,Te J""41-1* -'l*? tbeso oltlciuls con
cluded It would he u guod idea to meet once a yeui
aud relate their experiences us purchasers ol railroad
supplies lor tne Ileum!t o! the road* they roproeeutcd
Cue agent would be sure to know more thin another
about tho use ol this tuiug or that?ol lubricating oil
of cotton waste, axles aud tho thousand things needed
to luruish aud conduct a railroad. One agont might
ho unconsciously buyiug one article at an extravagant
rate and using It without ecouoray, while another
agent might have discovered how it could bo used so
us to save much expense, and thus au interchange of
views and experiences must uocossurily redound to
their mutual luformatiou aud udvant.tgo,
AX OLBAOINOUS DISCUSSION."
Tho Chief topic ol discussion yestordav was lubrl.
eating oil, a subject la which tho delegates takes
special Interest, One man tu Chicago who oils about
lorty railroad coaches a day uses 200 gallons ol oil a
mouth, uud another mau at Council Blulls who oils
Illlecn couches ? day uses 260, which goes lo snow
tho ruauli ol using diflorout sorts ol oil and grease It
is estimated lliut when a tram oile.i with bad ludit
niotil goes round a curve it squeezes out twenty.
Uvi- por cent ol oil beloro it has gone tlvo in.ie,
lu estimating cost por mito run, would
bo against oil und in lavor of rrosse
Ou Southern railroads summer gressj it very genor-'
ally used aud is thought to he abetter lubricant than
oil. To oil an eight wheel car it takes about a quart
uud a half to saturate the wasto aud givo it a good
start. V nrlous tests aro used to tlnd adulterations In
oil. Coilonseod oil can be detected in lard oil by
using nitrate of morcury. It is dilUouit to delect the
odorless parafllno oil when mixed with lard oil Tho
trouble with laliow oil is in neutralizing ibu acid it
cont iiUK. The .stearic acid lu tallow innkos lime balls
In the cylinder, in tbe matter 01 cotton wasio opiu.
ions diUer as to the superiority ol the white over the
colored. some hold that ihe jalUr is coursed
with so mucu coloring matter that it dons not take
tiie oil so readily es the pure while. In tho use ol
wasto there is a diflereuce, part of It being lor lubrl.
eating and part lor train aervice lor cleaning lamps
and brassos. t hough wool waste is much used there
is a pri-Judico against It In lavor ol cotton. Ills to*
elastic for packing purposes, but It has one advantage
that It stands up to ihe journal belter, it ool wasto is
excellent log packing tsndur boxes.
OTIIKIl Tories FOK OKHAT*.
Among other aui-jecu mat will engage tho attention
of lb* Louvsutlou during it. ansMons will bo draw,
bar spriugs und a correct method ol Moating ihcmt
tho be.t test lor car uxies; also lead lined brasses
also tli* disposal ol certain kinds ol old material-of
rocutting flies; the system ol keeping ruilea e- the
quu.iiies ol railroad iron und other equate suhjicts.
tho Conruniion, at six o'clock, adjourned till this
morning. Muro delegate* arrived ycleruav evening
and still more are expected to-day. ihe a'gaula say
thoy can Isurn more Irom cacn oiher lu a convention
ol tins kind in a low days than by trusting to lUeir
Individual experience lor a year.
TiJE PILOT OOMUlSalONEilS.
The Board of 1'ilot Commissioner* mot yesterday.
Ambroso Snow 10 tne ciuir. The bylaw intended t*
compel all pilots not atlucucd lo vessel* lo pay a per.
cculage lo tho siatiou boat was withdrawn. A com
plaint was in a do against Pilot I aio Gay nor by tho
captain ol ibo ship Corhoi Cast o for dereliction
of doiy wmio In charge ol that vessel, und ho was
summoned hefuru thu Board. Pilot Joseph Noiaud
was lined tit) on complaint ol It. B. Di.dwiu.
A circular w*s roceived irom ibo . ruasuiy Depart,
mint iu rui uion to Hgnts on pilot ooats, as lollows;?
TllKAStlSV Ukl-AIITMKNt. I
v..,. .. . " AslllNutON. May 17. J*7rt I
S. iOL !TOK* or. ,W01" aub otiii n OrrtcKits:?
it ha* neen brought to the Htivnil.,., ol u,e a p? im nt
setl.'n 4*'dd'N^I."rrT*lU i'" ll,# ol lolell..
m. ! .*; "? the itsvued Plaint**, which read* as lol
low. >?) mg pilot .iiihIi shall nut tarry tne liahts re
(juirod lor oiuur .aldng veassis.bat shall carry a wnite
shall a. 1 ?i"JH 'a" rt" around ihe lion son. and
than a.so exhibit a ilare-ap light rve-y dfteen minutes
rul. InYh.^o.""1*- "I ,trlVU' the provisions of the
,,e,"4Ujr proT,d?",u
?"'?? "*ht ni*y he hoisted to a
??ay. or that It mar b" set In any position that will teem*
: ? ? ? oiiiahai.ro with loo objeei ol the law, which
u th<i carrying ol a nistiaviiislilng while light at or near
the h.Ulit "! the masthea , while the pilot Lit I. on hM
s V 1 "" I W.i\* tf ?"I'h'f *???*!' Willi UUOta.
Vassal bN cIr#"U,1^'I'vb#o'.''"Bhid ?? each pilot
e""?' JOHN SIIKhman, Secretary
Tho Commissioner* will call lor some suggestions
from the Board ol Phois iu relation to mo notice, and
win tuke action acooruiugly.
Inspector Conway report, d a violation ol tho Hsmor
laws by the slouiuiug K. U. Webster, Caput, n Bartley
, ? , rvcr, also n*r owners, Means. Sh.y A Kuapp,
lor having, on May lu, unloaded lour scows ol mud,
each scow . ontainmg 200 cubic yard-, in toe water* oi
lowci bay, south.southwest Irom buoy 10 uistalit
n r.!,'."?".'1?''."" 1"" ,'""1 tAkcn irom
the slip loot Ol Cbambers Street, o. iw.ou piers 20 and
30. North River. The Union Dredging cimp.,,y are
the parties doing tbn dre.igmg, under contract wub
.? Department oi Docks. Captain Conway also stsiod
I. ..w "!i ".0l" "V '">?"> removed from
ilio Norm liner, this matter was rcierr.-d to ino
connect ol tin- Board, aud lie was instructed to prose*
cute these parties without d.-lay.
THE ALLEGED LAND GltAlE
The Alderman lo Law Commute* yesterday pre
sented a report relalivo to Hie application reoenlly
niMlo tu the Supreme lourt by the Central road for
tho appointment ol uominissioners lo lako all tho
land ou ihe west sido ol the city betweou Bixty-Ullb
and tfeveiiiy.second streets and Twsllth and Ibir
teentli avenue*. 1 no report scuiouh mat the laud
n 1t 'lol.0.n" " "*!on*4 to l"0 ?"y, which holds
it 111 irmt lor in..- pcopio j.01 ?e tim-j ago the com
pany obtained control o| tbe streets beiwoc-u filty
niiitli aud Billy flltii strvets, west or Twelfth avenue,
Sl lwl 'V "nU 1'"'Vi-li 1 ing tlieir use by
1I10 public. The report lurthor states that If
the company should succeed in their design the publlo
Ta.w ^ e*? "dna ,roD, *" ">?i P?rt ol the city lying
TwnTi.h n'/i*Vu Seventy.second streets and
. i." . m0ih Hie corporation
would also have te?H* 0,600 loot ol onr whti^front.
thus preventiqg free hcBes* to raluahle public property.
document concludes with remarking that ibo
committee news with alarm the new mietnpt of a
powerini corpora-Ion 10 appropriate to its pfirdio use
so Valuable ? p.,ce ? 1 |.r?per 1J. Hi.,1 .-irer.is Hint the
Coiporation tunn el nn-i in. commirs.ouers of ti.e
biiiklM Jfund be r. questvd loiakosli noressary ineas.
uros 10 protect the int. resie ol the city in the matter,
The report was adopted by a unanimous voto,
The Case for the Prosecution Attacked
by Medical Experts.
LIVELY TILTS BETWEEN COUNSEL
A Chemical Analysis on Both Sides of
the Great Trial.
Judge Knapp, who presides In tba Court oi Oyer
and Terminer, at Jersey City, bad no Men when be
discharged tbe jury on tbo general panel till last Mon
day thai tbo trial ot tbe Kev. Georgo XI. Voaburgh
would extend beyond tbo woek. From present
Judication* it will reaob into next week.
Yesterday was In one rospect a Hold day
among tbo physicians, no fewer than thirty-two
being present, somo coming from Newark,
Kiizabeth, Brooklyn and this city. There also ap
peared clergymen ol different denomination* who had
not previously aliened the trial. Although the court
room' and gullery were crowded thero was
no coniusiou. "I'ho atiuospuero la suffocating,"
said cx-Menator Winffcld, one of the counsel
tor tbe defence, "but tho ventllntiou la so
poor that 11 tho windows bo raised tbcro
will bo a terrllblo draught." Tho entrance ot Profes
sor Doremus caused a flutter of excitement, as it wits
IcareJ be wus going to repent his experiments with
sulphuretted hydrogen. Ex-Mayor Siedler, who Is
troubled with domostlo afllicuon, entered In tbo
morning sossiou lor tbo Urst time und sut beside tbo
counsel lor tbo delouce. Hhorlff Laverty also began
to manliest un iutercsl in tbo trial as bo sat undor
tbe bench during the day.
Tbe examination of Dr. Carpenter was resumed.
1 examined Mrs. Vosburgb prolessionally on tbo 1st ot
Maron; ber goooral apposranco indioited no suffer
ing; her longuo was clean, wltb tbe exception ot
a slight wblto ooutmg on the back part ot It;
ber pulse was 80; tbe akin was natural to tbe
touch; ber appetite was very lair; tbe eyo bright and
clear; iu short, abe looked healthy; abe waa not suf
fering from auy disease excopl costlveness.
Tbo Attorney General objected to the question as to
tbe condition of Mrs. Vusburgb's bowels prior to bis
examination. Ex-Governor Bedle contendod that tbe
symptoms as described by Dr. Curpeutcr on tbe 1st ot
March were incompatible wltb the poaitlou assumed
by tbe prosecution that Mrs. Vosburgb wus poisoned
one week beloro. Tbo Court ruled tbat tbo question
was admlssiblo, as tbe condition ot tbe patient at tno
time the witness called was a continuation of ber pro
vious oouditlon.
physicians in consultation.
Tbo Doctor couitnuid:?Mrs. Vosburgb told mo abe
bad been aufldring irem constipation lor six weeks
and tbree days; 1 prescribed castor oil and warm
water as an injection; tbe remedy was effective on
tbe following day, at I learned wbeu 1 called two days
alterward; on tbo 2d of March tbore was a consulta
tion oi physicians as to ber case; In that consultation
Ibere were Dr. Austin Flint, Dr. Wilkinson, Dr.
Samuel Forrnan and myself.
Horc the Attorney General objected to tbo wllnoss
giving any evidence as to wbat was done at that con
sultation, Inasmuch as it took place twelve days alter
tbo alleged polsonlug and was culiod not for tbo pur
poso of ascertaining ber oonduiou at that titno but in
view ol ulterior legal measures. Any opinions giveu
by the pbysiciuus at that consultation were loon.lod
on a narration of what look placo several day* bolore.
Tbo Court admitted the statenionta ot Mrs. Vos
burgb to tbe puysicians In rogard to ber provioua
couullion, and tbe witness proceeded:?The consulta
tion lasted un hour and a half; ber condition was the
sumo as on tbe previous day, except tbat the coaling
was cleared oil the tougue; rheuinsllo gout manliest*
Itsolt ill the slnmsoh or any internal organ as well
us in tne Joints; It is migratory In Its character;
in my diagnosis of her ease ou tiiu
1st of Marcb I investigated the condition
of ber stomach and ber rheumatism; gout la the
stomach would produco pain lu the eloinaob. louder
ins*, vomiting, pomuly cramps; it lite visceru were
involved there would be diarrhma, tno ekiu would ho
hot nnu dry und could bo rubbed off in small branny
scales; tho tougue would be eualuil witu brownish
white lur; th? pane would bo slow ml ma patient
Oee.ama deoiliiuled, when It would quickon;
tho strength of tho patient would depend ou tbe
ability ol tbo sloinuoh to receive and relulu food and
would bo affocied by vomiting and indigestion; II tbo
prostration be very great tho patient would lie ou tho
buck; il 1 saw a patient lie on tbe side with the Uoud
buried Into tbo pillow 1 womd conclude tbo prostra.
lion could not be great; never saw a patient in col
lapse lying lu such a position; 1 do not present my
sell hero as au expert.
The Attorney General?Then 1 objeot to auy lurtber
testimony ou tho part ol this witness.
The Court directed the witness to prooeeu ana coun
sel for the uetcuco read the testimony ol Dr. Cornell
as to the symptoms he lound in Mrs. Vosburgh's case,
and then asked the question whothor tbo long list ol
symptoms as read were present in a case ol rheu
matic gout ol the siouiaeb. Tbo Doctor replied,
Willi boiuo humor, that ho nevsr beard ol eucu
a list of aympioiu* existing logttour in
any siicu case, aud bis answer provoked
another burst ol laughter at the expense ol Dr. Cor
nell. The Doctor continued:?1 never knew ol a caau
la whicn the pyloric oritloe ol tho stomach waa closed
lor thirteen days; uuvo been in tbo profession thirty
two years; used tartar emetic in the early years of iny
pruciioe; could not uingnosv a cuss presenting toe
symptoms you nnve read lrom tbo tostliuauy nor
could suy othor man. (t-aughter.)
y What do those symptom* indicate*
the Attorney General?Uh, woll, 1 suggest, Your
Honor, il tun he propor the jury might rosigu aud
IoaV" tne cuae to tlio Doctor. (Kimewtd luucbier.)
I ho Court rciuarkud that inu question might he put
In u modified loriu, and tno witness continued:?Mr*.
Vosourgli luanllosted. a cuusllluliousl tendency to
hysteria; there wero no symptom* requiring u epocillo
ticaimeiit; my Judgment wus that there waa uo loc.il
difllculty and that she needed nothing more than
general treatment.
roan ivs cuntsaiuctuky txhtisony.
y. la II pussihio lur u person to wuom uriar emetic
has bcuu given in Uoara which have out kilieo lor
two, lour or six Weeks, to suddenly cease vomiting
ana suddeuiy reiaiu mod* A. It is impossible; tno
stomach could uut become loleraut ol loud and uri.ik
lor several dsya?perhaps wo>-ss; while li.e rncu
mutic gout lucre-sos iu the siumucu there Is a
proiiortiouuto decrease oi it iu tbu other
uieuiburs; It olteu happens that paiioots
alter a paroxysm ol gout either iu the stem ich or
lluibs become suddenly much belter Ihsu they have
been lur a loi.g t me; lUul peculiarity ol me uisease it
well expresseu by lis medical name, molasiuale, or
trsnsier lrom one member iu another; oryucss of the
skill oould not, in my opinion, exist in o case of
poisoning by tartar emetic; the couiiltou ol the
bowels where anliiuoiiy is uUmmistered lea proiu-o
dlarrlicBi; the symptoms tliil shouid hsvo beon
proseut were a llngliug seutaliou ol the touguu, cold,
clammy surface ol the skin, cramps lu the stomach,
menial derangement such as donriuin, increased .-e
crotiou lrom too salivary glands; lu case ol taking
unumonial poison lis rlleci ou ouastlpaliou would ue
to prolong it; ll diarrhuii existed much ol the poison
would pass out ol iho system, aud vico versa; tartar
emetic is a sudorific.
"You c ii tell us, ol course, Docior, what a sudorific
Is ?" "Woll, lo be on this stand Ju-l uow 1 lUlim is
one." (Prolonged mile liter ihrou, u Uiu enilro court.)
Alter soino lusiimouy as to tue ellloucy ol ooltain
uniidotes the Court here took a recess,
AVrKk KKCKS*.
Tbe cxewlnallun ol Dr. Carpenter was resumed:?1
observed no symptoms ol tartar emetic iu Mrs Vos
burgb; II it Uad oecu given to her lor three or lour
weeks 1 shuu.U have ooriainly delected ibu symptom*.
Ua crosi oxauiiuauoti by the fiistriot Aitornoy lie
?aid:?It is iwmiy-llve yesr* ago amoo 1 uo ministered
tsriar emetic; ll was regarded a* lliu best remedy to
alley Imtl limitation of tno lungs, suU was consid
ered an excellent speciUo lor all diseases ol the
cnest; lea Is rciotnmvBdrd lu every work
that 1 have read as an uutidolu lor actum
nial poisoniug; the tannin ? tho remedial
agent In the lea; whou I culled on Mrs. Vosburgb sue
had a good appetite, although lying 111 bod; waa not
surprised to llud hor III bed, as sill' was nccuslomtil to
II lrom lunu to time as long as 1 have known Iter, on
account ol her general Uehully ; had heard the ruuiurs
of polAociug a lew lioura neiorn 1 called; the
symptoms ol rheumatic gout, gastritis, bilious
Cholio aud anuiliohlal poisoning rosuinble each
oilier. I he District Attorney then quoted
several medical works lor Ilia purpneo ol aliow lug toe
cxisieuce ol different symptoms la certain diseases
than those described ny tlio witness, to which the Duo
tor coolly replied, "Dociors, like lawyers, will dis
agree," n remark which provoked some merriment.
Mr. WiuilcM?Doctor, nuns *u Irritated sioinech
preserve a good appetite r A. Certainly not; II the irri
tation is not soveru there Is olten a great craving lor
loud.
Mrr. Elisabeth llnnberry wn* tho next wilnees,
mid alio testified:?1 Was called on lliu last lay ol
February lo alioml Mrs. Vosburgb; was there when
Dr. Carpenter called, ou lliu 1st ol xl iron; 1 remained
lu attendance till the lltli ol March.
Mrs. Mary Ann Mutneled examined: ?I was at Mrs.
Vosburgh's house on the 2d of Marco ; I admioistored
three injections by dlreoiluu oi Dr. Oirpenicr, and
they produced Iho desired result In my presence.
Tne evidence of theao two ladies oonffieted as lav as
the dales were concerned, ana Dr. Carpenter waa re
called to fix the date again. Aa he was approaching
tho witness stand Mrs. Humnod was stepping down,
and a mutual explanation look place.
ANoriIKH TII.T RKTWrxn COVXSRL
Tbo docior ou using the et iuu said that Mrs. llum
tteil had Just acknowledged lo him Hint she was
wrong aa regards the date, but right as lo tho day of
tho weok, whi tbe Attorney General proieeted. y
"Here," he said, "l? ? witness placed on the itand and
on* is culled to explain what the other mount. 1 ask
that all this bo ruled out as incompetent,"
Ex-Governor Utdle (warmly)?The Attorney Geu
eral ought not to say that. Hero Is a matter in whicu
a palpable mistake has been committed in a matter
ol dutr, in which the mistake Is natural, and we want
to ?ot it right just hero.
Tuo Court thought the correction quite admissi
ble. and it was so placod on the rocord.
Dr. James Wilkinson tesufled:?I have been a prac
tising pbysiciau twenty years; was called to a consul
tation at Dr. Carpenter's hodso with Drs. Flint,
Formau and Carpenter; proceeded thonco to Mrs.
Vosburgh's and made a ju rsoiial examination ot her;
saw notuing in ii?r that would indicate poisouing by
tartar cmotic; never knew or beard ot a cam in wluch
u person greatly prostrated lay otherwise ibuu ou the
bucg ; In oases where tartar emetic has heuu atiinm
?stored in largo doaes lor a lone time, but wboro death
has uot ensued, 1 would expect to Qnd tno .-l>in moist;
have found it so in every Instance in iny personal ex
perience; the books have it otherwise; turiur emetic
Is given us a sudoritlc.
Cross-examined?Never saw a case ol aiitimoplal
poisoning; 1 don't think the stomach would begin to
rclaiu looa in less than two weeka ul.er Hie cessation
ol the uiimluistratlon ol the poison.
To cx-Govorncr Bodle?Vomit il analyzod wonid bo
a good teat ol iho presence ot anumooy.
Dr. Samuel K. Foriuuu tcstiticd1 have becu a
pruo isnig physician lor twenty years; wus called to
a consuunion in Mrs, Vosburgh's ruse with Drs.
Flint, Carpenter and Wilkinson; delected no symp
tom >hat would indicate poisoning; lartur oinctic
would produce vomiting obstinate, long aud severe;
the d* posits 1 lound in Mrs. Vosburgh's case ure ohsr
acterisilo ol gout; I do not Know ol any of Iho samo
character In any otuer known disease; f iiuvo given
tartar emeilo, but not Irvquuntly; my uobos ure one
eighth, ouo-sixih and onelourth ol a griiiu;X(Iavo
never given us large a dose us two Brains, I hough it is
olion oono; it depends altogether on the utlcct you
desire to produce. Ex-Governor Dedlo askod what
amount ol tartar euieiiu would be sulllcium to cuuso
death in a person ol Mrs. Vosburgh's weak ooudiuuii,
and tukiug Into uccouut her weight, ubout one hun
dred pounds. I ho doctor was proceeding to give his
opinion wliun Jildgo Kuupp declared tuo court ad
jouruod till ten o'clock this tnoruiug.
Tno delouco will call Frolcssor Morton, ol thoSto
veus Institute ol Technology, In Hobokeu. who Ims
analyzod some ot the liquids lound iu Mrs. Vosburgh's
house "nd which it Is supposed contained pouon,
Professor Morton, H Is undersiood, will luxe a docided
ground against theories already advanced lu tnu case,
so that the trial during the next lew days will bo very
interesting. In view of the immenao crowd that at
tends the proceedings the gallery iu the court room
has beenugain thrown opoo.
THE NEW JERSEY POISONING.
SECOND DAY OF THE TBIAL OF E5IMA BETHEL
FOB POISONING MB. AND MHS. BISHOP
DAMAGING EVIDENCE?SUE ACCU8KS A SON
IN-LAW OF AN OFFBB TO POISON MBS.
bethel. Can dsn, May 21. 1878.
Tbo second day of the trial of tbo Bethel pomoui'ng
caso tu ilia Court ol Quarter Sessions of Camden
county opened with Incroascd Interest on the part of
ibe public. The evidenoe of Prolessor Stephens,
ol Girard College, was direct, conclusive in
its details, and could not be shakon by
too most rigid crosa-oxarolualion. Jamos E.
Hays, ol the Caindon Bar, has boon added
to the list of dolendant'a oounsol. There had
been so much confusion iu the previous portions ol
tuo trial that Judge Woodhull found it necessary to
address the audienco, and to admonish the officers of
court to attend raoro closely to their duties of pro
sorvine order.
TIJK FAMILY PHYSICIAN BKCAI.LKn.
Dr. Dauiel Stono was recalled by the Common
wealth. Ills testimony In brief was to tbo effect that
tho symptoms in Mrs. Bishop's last illnoss woro de
cldcdty those of arsenical poisoning.
Messsrs. Joseph E. Uujor. tbo undertaker, George
E Major, lus son and assistant, and Adam Sharp, the
night watchman and sexton at tbo oenietcry, testified
to the burial and exhumation ol the liodios.
Dr. AHred Brown, of Oamdou, druggist and chemist,
loslifled that he went down to Berlin u short llmo ago
l0 examine tho water of the town and tho pump on
tne Bishop place; no traoe of arsculo was found either
iu the water or in the esrlh uround tho coffin.
TUE MAYOR OF CAMD8N.
Mayor James W. Ayers testified tnst be lesldos at
No. Arch street, Cundon, and is Mayor ol the
city; lor some timo lcuow Mrs. Emma Bethel by sight,
but cannot recoiled wbon be llrst saw her; the oson
log I llrst saw her she mado a statement; previously
she was tola that the must make whatever siatomont
sho maao voluntarily; tne Sherill sont word to wit
nrss that a man wtabod to see him at the Court Houso;
it was ttuiod that a min nanieS Willitts had mat,e
complaint that Mrs. Bethol had poimued Mr. snd Mm
Bishop. uuJ lie wanted a warrunl lor hor urresL
TUS BTATKMEXT OF IBK ACCl'SSO.
The follow ins is the statomeut made by the prisoner
boloro the Mayor:?1 am twenty.live years ol ago; am
a married lauy; married to John Bethel. The stale
muut I am about to make Is voluntary ou my part. I
understand how moustrously serious tho matter Is
that it involves. 1 unuerstaud that It amounts to
murder. 1 am tho wilo ol John Ualiiel; was married to
him about eight years ago; have beou separated Irom
h m lour yoars. 1 knew KIcKlilb Bisuop and Hannah,
nlfwife! for threo ybars. Tn.y resided In Benin. Mr.
llmbop was about aixty-seveti years of age unil Mrs.
u!^op Blty-tureey ears. They had two chlldren
i' .i.pffo W Bishop who is a widower with lour chil
dr?n sad HM. Hsr'rnst Wt.l.tM, w,.e o. r rank WWIeus.
who have hvo children Horn seven to twelve years old.
1 huve ono child living with uiy husband s people in
Mlllville. My husband livos in I'lltsuurg. I "ret rout
to live with Mrs. Bishop as a working woman. It was
,n "bTsuusmunt then details somo niisen or
niaccH whero tho woman haa Bred as ? servant?in At
Ftniio Guy, Camden, Ac?prev.ous .o her going to the
Bishops'. 1 ho statement proceeds:?
Mr* Bishop was taken sh k about the 1st ol Mareh.
.She bad beou complaining ol a pain id ber beaOand
oreusi lor a loug timo. 1 boiieve II was on tbo
ol Marob tbal sbo was Ukou dowo eick iu bar bed.
bhu look somo medicine celled "No. 0. She had
been taktog ihla lor weeks previous to being
confined to bed. Up to tbo tune ol l.er sickness no
one bad lived in tne bouse but Mrs. Bishop, Uer Ibus
band, llio sou George and bis lour cUi,l*'?u
Monday tbo w >s taken sick sbo soul lor Dr. Stout
and be came about three o'clock. Previous to
?,,? coming no had ??ui two powders, with direc
lions to give her one aua it .ho threw It
up to give hor the other. I gave her one el them
and ado threw it up and would net take
11,,, eihsr. I g?y? thu powder to her In a
teaonp with aUout a leaspoonlui of water. Mrs "elsy
itishno was thero, and when the Doctor wont away be
clisumo powder, and lo.d me to give her one
every hour ... a little wa.er. lie came back
at eight o'clock in tbo morning. 1 gave ?'?
?ie powder, about every hour while tho
Doctor was awny and sbo did uot get any bet or.
When tne Doctor camo in the oveniug ho r
medicine, aid gave it to mo to be mixed .n a umbler
a luuM.-joeiul every hour tnrough ihe night. On
Friday tlrs. Willetis csine, und ou llio 1 hursday lol
lowing Frank Wil elts. bcr liOsUaud.
sti K ACCI'SSB IUH AOCtlSSR.
Alter outing supper be Sal up suurs with Mrs.
Bishop ten or ttltuso iinuuios und tneu came doen in
the kiicnen and sut witu iuo lor somo lime.
Mid orae, "Mother Is right sick; don't you
"ink soT ' I said "Yes; hut She Is better than
slio was." llo replied mat iiitile (bid wile)
aeemod 10 tblnk she would never got well, and lie
.aid, with an oaih, thtt It would be a good thing; f
? or didn't. H? took a paper irom bis po ket bat
was done up. lolded the sumo as doctors loid powders,
nad ho said to mo that II I would take ona ol lbosr
powders and give it to hor that ho
llio 160, lliot muUk, IU I?y l **.\ 4^w?
not lor llftv tunes liny 1 would not do It. 1 asked
bun what it was and he ssid, "N .tiling hut arsenic,
and he unloldcd u and shewed It to mo. and it was
wi.ile. Ho ussed mo again would 1 K'*o it to bcr, and
I tnld |,i iu no. 1 would not, and lieu 1
lold him 1 would surely 1.11 "I h Via mm
"No " with an oaih, "don't mention it i? him ana to
BO one else, lor." he said. "1 w.d give l? l? her my
sell." ?nd men uo told tuu it l would promise to say
notnlng about It ho would g.Ve me |.M?0 alter
in,) were both out ol the way nod
straightened up, ?ud uo could got a hold of
me money alter the place wns sold, lie sworo lint II
I opened iny Hps ooce mat he would tnko my life, and
he said no persou woul i have anapiolun ol Wir bsiaj
poisoned, and he Unl-hed by saying "1It hoar one
word Ol this that you liavu said as coming from me 1
will come oul here 01 ? tiiybt
T|,m nit lh*l ill*Di and ho wool
home ibe in xi morning >u ih? early I*"*'"
on Friday inoiiilug und be dldti I come back until
cat no lo lb? luuorul. . ,
I bo siaicnioni ol?o gift* Ibo womftft *
the aim uer circumeteuces atieuding me deatu ol Mrs.
|) IK bop.
rns MAHKIKIl I.Al dnTKR OX Til k HTAXP.
Mrs. Harriet w ui??? ie-iui d that she is a daugli cr
oi Kick,ub aii,I ttannab Brsb.ii ; alio has ueeu niarrleo
twelve years last March t?. Franklin Willeti and use
four ehildrou; known Rmma H?mel sineo a year ego
last thanksgiving; 1 ream, in l'e. ^^^.uamub^ my
ubouk tniriy-ciglii nines Irom 1 liiUdtlpttln, t y
beabaed's business while we reside il? a?.dcu was
oonducior on Camden and Atlantio Keilroad; be s now
a leiluw isiuier m W.uowrigUt'a sbop; reeetFed ? let
ter irom hraii.er George uoulymg mil mother s
sickness; made preparations to go, and Willi lour
cnudrea nrnved in Berlin on tbs t f.'l.Ii-v
Bishop was taken sick;arrivod at UslI past,el?yog
ui, Friday morning a..u lounu mother In bed sick,
Km ma Helliel wis m the bouse, ami don trccol,cot
any other; Ui tier mid mother had the farm
in Wbiub they lived; do uot recohect baying any
convers?11on w11h Emma Bethel except 1 uquirmg
about symptoms ol moioef s ?'-*"?"**.fL*?'?
flsmrasllou ol stomach and breast; llrst .
doctor the lollowiug dsy; molUer IJ* 1 {'H(
deal hctisr during tbo timo 1 was * [
her limbs seemed to bo psrily ? '"J
lei?'e "ny mortil ..il.-r on IM lu??*;
s.rs?.r?*?tss7*.ra nS
wss only more w.lu no. maim lb"
not give lo r mother uuy poison or anything elso,
was with my mother ihu rh>1 r?dsy t<? . b
Objection wss mods by ooussel lor dsfttoo sod tuo
preceding question withdrawn. I did not giws say
arsenic lo my mother nor any one else.
Objected to. l'tie question it she knew ol any one
buying given Uer mot tier arsenic wot also objected to.
On cross-examination she said:?Have bad a
prior exuminuiiou uoioro Mr. Jenkins, the ques
tion* being propounded by turn; Mre. Bethel al
ways culled Mrs. Bishop "Grammy" In uddress
lug ber; Mrs. Uetbel did not say anytblng
except that Mrs. Bishop bed iniliininutiou ol too
bowcis aud stomach; did not tuke oatiro charge of
Mrs. Bishop during my etay; do uot know who gave
tUu medicines when I was gone; Mrs. Bethel was
wim Mr*. Bishop while I wet not In the room; my
husbatid ja not nt present financially embarrassed;
my lather yulned his (arm nt $4,600.
VICKY DAUA0IXQ TESTIMONY.
The most Interesting una important witness, except
llio chemical expert, was put upon the stand ut the
afternoon sesstou. It woe George W. Bishop, tho sou,
an engineer on the railroad. Hu testified that neforo
his mother was taken sick Emma Bethel complained
ol crumps, sud said sue wautod him to get her
somo maierials for u lotion; they were a ball
ouuco of nlum, a ball ounou ol arseuio and a hall
ounce ol borax; 1 think sho told me two or tbree days
alter that sao had usod ibem in the kltoheu; wbul
sho did not use she sud sho hud burned in the silting
room stove; Dr. Briiton's urug store, where 1 bought
the things, in on Viu? street, near /rout, Philadel
phia; 1 had known Emma two years belore, but she
hud never complained of such pains.
ANOTIIKK IIALP OUNCK OP ARSBXtO.
On another occasion, two weeks alter, whilo motbor
was still alive, Emma asked me to gel ber halt an
ouuco of arseuic; 1 asked her II she did not wuut the
alum uud borax; sue said that sbe bad ibem. or oould
get litem, 1 don't remember which; 1 got her
the arsenic a day or two alter at the
same place. Dr. Briltain's, No. 122 or 140
Vine street; 1 never saw Emma use either pack igo.
This witneas was of courao rigidly cross-examlued.
lie tost died in detail ol tne uianuer ol Lis mother's
being takcu sick, of tho Illness of wbich sbe died; tt
was Mouuuy; tne witnoss went up as a passenger on
the train Irom Camden, arriving at about halt-past
twelvo at New Berlin; when ho reached tho
house he sat in the kilubou and the shed; Emma
was gelling dinner; tho teapot was ou tho stove;
mother was tho only ono who drank tea lor dinner;
She drank tea very often; wo hud veal potpio una
vegetables lor dinner; sr.e was taken with vomiting ut
tbe uiniicr table and sbe said sho fell very sick when
1 got up lo ask hor how sho felt; Emma and 1
helped her lu lo tho lounge and she lay down; 1
think 1 spoke about sending lor Dr. Stout; I do not
think that it was Kiuuiu who suggested It; I left home
right alter dinner to take lbs tram lor Camden, wliero
1 bud to take down the ovenlng train; that evening,
when 1 got home, Emma told mo that the dooior bad
been there and tliat mother was no bettor.
PIKST UKPOKTS OP T1IK KOISOXIXO.
On tbo night motner died 1 got home aboat twenty
minutes pasttweive; Emma let me In aud told mo
mother was worse, 1 wont to bed after looking at bur,
because I bad a sick headache and I supposed Emms
und Aunt .-allio wero taking good care of ber; 1
was oalled up and into her room scvsrsl times during
the night, because they thought sbo was dylug; whan
I asked tho druggist lor the hall ounce ol borax, the
hall ou nee ol alum and the ball ounce ol arsonio I
told btm that 1 wuntod the arsonio to poison rats; I
don't know exactly why 1 told him this, except that
1 thought be would give It to me quicker; while
mother was sick Emma asked me the second time to
got hor arseuic; I got it of tbo same druggist;
this lime bo aske<i no questions; I did not hear any
thing of the suspicions aoeut mother being poisoned
until two or tbree days alter lather died; when 1 came
hero Emma said to me. "Uourge, what do you think?
There is a report around tuul I poisoned grandma.
If I woro you 1 would have a post-mortem oxnmtoa
non held." Altar the post-mortem examination of
father's body Emma said that there was oo use lg|
making nn oxamluatlou ol mother's body, as she had
attended to hor herself aud knew she had got eg
poison.
THE FERRON MURDER,
ARRIVAL OF THE SCHOONER MARX B. HARRIS?
STATEMENTS OF EllNEHT TABBOTT AND TH8
CAPTAIN.
Ernest Tabbott, the shipmate of John M. Wright,
tno soli-eoniosseU murderer of Bernard Forron, the
boatman, was taken Into custody yesterday upon the
arrival of the schoonor Mary B. Harris, ou board
whlob vessel tho crime woe committed on tbe morn
ing or Murcli 10. Tabbott, who is twcnty.two yon re
old, suys that be first beard of the murder from Cap*
lain Crowley, of tho Harris, when tbe sohooncr
roacbod Windsor, N. 8. At half-past seven
o'clock on tbe morning of the 10th of March
Tabbott says be rowed ashore In tho yawl boat of the
schoonor, arid leaving tbo boat at the dock, went over
to tbe ufllco of Mr. Lewis, the agent In this city. He
rcmutnod tboro till two P. M. On returning to the
dock bo bailooed for somo tlmo before be oould
attract tbe attention or Wrlgbt, who was at tbo time on
Doard tbo Walter M. Young, a fishing schooner, lying
about oue bundled yards from tbe Harris. Wright tucu
come ashore (or turn and explained lhat bo bad boon
rowed arhoro by n boy and had taken tbo yawl baeic
and rowed to the Youug, wbero ho bad taken dinner.
He did not notice anything strange about Wright's
manner then. About a week or ao after ho noticed
thai Wright would not on any account remale en
ueok nitar dark. riubs'-quontly Tallbott saw Wrlgbl
very busy scraping tbo II <or ol tbo cabin.
TKLMXU Til K HTOHY OV UIS CRISt K.
Tabbott wns ukon to tbe jali, where lie wee nor
milled to convorso wltb Wright. Dotoctivo Looncy
being whore be coull boar what was said, Aftor a
brio! interchange ol comments Tabbott asked the
prisoner, "How did you do ttf" and the murderor re*
counted to utm the particulars of tbe crime, which
have heretofore beeu published. He raid that when
be throw tbo body overboard lie thought it nevor could
como to the surface again, and that when be scraoed
the cm Din floor it waa lor the purposo ol getting rid of
tbo blood stains. "By tho way," said Wright to his
sbipmato, la concluding nis story of tbo orltne, "I
bope you have not used that barrel which is bstwesa
uecks, under the cabin floor, lor 1 think tho eld roan's
blood dripped into it loruugb tbo splints. If yon
Una tbe barrol 1 think you will see that there is blood
in li. Do not use It for koeping drinking water until
Jou havo washed It out." Tabbott was then taken before
udgo Ferry, who rcquuod that be should furnish
bail in the sum ol $600 lo appear as a witness in the
ease. 'Ihe warrant upon wnlch he was arrested was,
upon tbe consent ol the District Attorney, discnarged.
Mr. Lewis became bondsman lor Tabbott. The Irons
taken Irom tho schooner, and which were need by
Wright to sink tbo body of ble victim, wero not
missed by tbe Captain until bo read of iho murder in
Novi Seotia. Captain Crowley said, wnen he learned
of the murder, Hint though be believed Wright w?e a
thief, he oeoid not tbeu supposo that he would com
mit murder.
THE RIDGEWAY DIVORCE.
After being about e yoar before tbe New Jersey
Court of Chancery, the suit of Dr. Kldgcwey for di
vorce from bia wllo ou tbo ground ol adultery
reaohed the siege ol Dual argumeol' on tbo oxidases
yesterday bcloro Vice Citaneellor Van Vltet at New
ark. Kx-tiovernor Joel Parker, counsel for tbe do
lendaut, opened the argument. Ha insisted at great
loiigih unit iho ebargea against Mrs. Kidgeway wore
entirely nnsuhstautiuied and that she was tbe victim
ol the Kidgewav lunnly, who doslred to coutrol hci
properly. Tbo counsol lor tbe complainant wlU
inuke a counter argument to-dny.
A DE8PEUA1E SUICIDE.
Mrs Stewart, wile ol Cbarlee Stewart, of Armonck,
towo ot North Castle, Wseicbeiter county, committed
suicide on Sunday by banging herself. The husband
hnd boon so sevcroiy aOllcted for a period of about
twelve years as to render htm perleotly liolpless, and
had been supported by hie wile who went out to
work. On Wednesday ol laet week she went to pur
chase some cider, but tailed to return. U was subse
quently ascertained that she wcut to the house of
iiquire Woolsey and there attempted to commit sui
cide by jumping into a well. She was delivured over
to tlie charge of Mr. Stephenson, tbe poorin.titer of
the town, at whose house she managed to haug bcr
soil. She waa about lorly-lwo years old, aud for
about a fortnight past had shown signs ol meutal do
raogemeui. Coroner Schirmer held an inquest oo
M und iy, when a vsruict was rendered lu accordance
with the soove lacls.
MATRIMONIAL COMMISSIONS.
A novel suit to recover $76 for ooraraitslon lo a
matrimonial affair baa been brought in the Second
District Court, bulore J udgo B oom, Brooklyn, by
Coleman Newman against sarah Jaooba Tbe plaintiff
Is the sexton ot the rfyuagogue Beth Israel, ou Uoeruin
place, ni which place of worship the defendant is a
member. The latter la the widow ol the lait William H,
J.iOuhs, clothier, who died leaving property said to be
worth $60,Odd. 1 bo plaintiff claims to have intro
duced Mr. Frauk Morris, a well-to-do and handsome
young inan, to Miss Fanny Jacobs, daughter of Ihe
drlcndant. From the courtship that ensued the
young couple ustned engaged and have since been
married, ilo says that tho outer Morris paid hi in $:I0
lor bis success, aud be uow alleges tbat Mrs. Jacob*
promirod him $75 commission lor procuring a hus
band lor her daughter. The deleodanl domes having
made any such promise. Argument in ihe ease was
?el dowu for luiure uoarlng.
RUB i AILED CARS.
Augustus Owene and Edward Mann, drivers on Ihe
Blecckrr street line of cars, wsro arraigned before
Judgo Morgm at ihe Tombs yosterdsy, charged with
assaulting John F, Filipstrlck, a journalist. From
tbo affidavit of iho cotnpidiuiiai It appeared that be
entered lbs car st Houston street to proceed dowu
town. After travelling about two blocks hs oe
poiuod Ills litre In the box A short
tune afterward the driver opened tbo door snd
demanded bis faro. Ho replied that ne bad pai l. Thi
driver thereupon, he claims, became abusive and
threatened lo eject him Irom the ear. Mr. Fuxpatrioii
declined to leave or to pay a second lire. Alter soinS
growling the driver resumed his station, but had nut
proceeded tar wnen hs again opened tho door eud
said, "I have a good mind lo threw you out, any
way." Iinlneiliitloly nltcrwiird be hailed another
driver and bulb melt st-ixed Mr. Fiixputrtok and
ejected him from tne tar. rue prisoners pleaded B'?t
guilty. Judge Morgan Held tnem in $300 bail each,
wbioh waa luraiaoad by the ooupM/*