The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-01-08

The Prosecutions OF the New York Pilots
Ths :. Humane" Policy OF few Interested
The protested object of the Board of Pilot Com
is to promote "the interests OF humani-
y and commerce." BY preventing "improper per-
"Let the trse'be judged by its fruit !"
The sixth article recommends "that no vessel re-
ceive person as pilot, excepting on his producing
a certificate signed by this Board, or those issued
under the authority OF the State OF New jersey
This, it is to be remembered, is article Of the
established, II Is presumed, before the
rules and regulations were adopted TO carry it
into effect, and, OF course, before any pilots were
licensed under its authority; consequently there
were at that time the New Jersey lllots alone,
whose employment was recommended, about
twenty in number. How the interests OF
and commerce" were to be promoted by
committing the commerce OF this port to twenty In
however sklfu, the Board can answer;
at least the community will not be satisfied that
those interests were much at heart, when it Is
known that our commerce was abruptly deprived OF
the services of eighty-three skiul men, and mo.
nopoly given 10 twenty OF another State, to be aided
by the slow manufacture of others, from the refuse
material at the command OF the Board. Who will
say the interests OF humanity and commerce"
were at oil regarded, when eighty three pilots, hold
ing licenses from The State, are IN moment with
dra xn from the pilot service, and no substitute sup
Piled
/. is now proposed to consider the details and Pc
cuarities OF the pseudo constitution, rules and
gulations Of the Board OF Pilot Commissioners, IN
establish new constitution, there have been few
scruples in violating the spurious compact. The
7th article is as follows; The rates OF compensa-
ton to be such as were allowed under the act Of
the State Of New York, recently repealed" That
article Is well enough, and bears the impress OF
justice but unfortunately for ship owners over
whom the commissioners usurp jurisdiction, the
rules and regulations are not in harmony with the
oac nod tptio The 18th YeuulatoN pvQ
the tariff OF fees on inward bound vessels, taken
almost verbatim from the 30th section Of the State
act OF April, 1887, on the same subject. II, however,
further provides that outward" pilotage is to be
the same as onward" In effect, the pilot who
may navigate vessel to sea, is to receive compen-
sation equal to the highest paid in navigating the
same vessel from sea.
To understand the violation of the constitution by
the rules and regulations adopted in virtne OF il,
is necessary to quote few passages from the Ia
riff established by the 18th regulation, viz: For
every vessel drawing less than fourteen feet water,
81 foot For sa,aw " ,an iset
every vessel drawing eighteen feet and upwards So
per foot" The preceding quotations from the thir
tesnth regulation, are literally the same as the thir-
y relate to inward bound vessels but the thirteenth
regulation, and herein the conflict further pro-
vdes that "outward pilotage shall be the same as
inward" whilst the compensation fixed and deter
mined by the 9Th section OF the act OF 18th April,
1888, for outward is far lese than for inward bound
vessels The 5th section is az follows: For every
vessel drawing less than fourteen feet, 81 so per
foot; for every vessel drawing fourteen feet and
less than eighteen feet, 81 IS per foot for every
vessel drawing eighteen feet and upwards, 81 rs
per foot.
tits here proper to remark that the New York
State pilots have also articles OF association, the
End provision of which is as follows -" We shall
continue to charge the same rates Of plotage ON yes
sells as were established by the laws of 1857 and
1898, the subject OF piotage, and shall continue
TO cruise the same distance at sea as heretofore,
whilst the laws OF 1897 and 1888 were in full force"
Thus requiring only the compensation on outward
vessels, fixed and determined by the 9Th section Of
the act of 1888, whilst the merchant pilots receive
for outward vessels the higher compensation, pro-
vided by the 30th section, for plotting vessels in
ward bound.
The practical result is thus illustrated-the mer.
chant pilot receives for taking vessel to sea, draw
ing thirteen h feet water e. psI foo or sS tor the
vessel to sea, receives but 81 80 per foot, or
for the service. In effect, the New York pilot re-
ceiyes 80 less than the merchant pilot for the
Again, the merchant pilot receives for taking
vessel to sea. drawing seventeen feet water, ~, 90
per foot, or SAP 80 for the service. The New
York pilot, for taking the same vessel to sea, re-
ceives but as per foot or $500 for the service
in effect the New York pilot receives Sl2,75 less
than the merchant pilot for the same service Again,
the merchant pilot receives for taking vessel to
sea- drawing twenty-feet water, So per foot, or $50
for, the service. The New York pilot, for taking
the same vessel to sea, receives but 70 per foot
45 for the service IN effect, the New York pilot
receives SIS less than the merchant pilot for the
same service. Hf1
These statements establish two facts, first, The
ship owner who employs merchant pilot on the
outward voyage, 10 exposed TO much higher charges
than If New York pilot were employed.
Second. The 7th article Iof the constitution, de-
claring 'sthe rates. Of compensation to be such as
were allowed under the act OF the State OF New
vi Id s<Io kxr kA
regulation, which gives the same compensation for
outward as for inward bound vessels, inasmuch as
"the act of New York, recently repealed" provides
much less compensation for plotting vessel to
Upon what principle did the State Legislature
award the higher compensation for the inward pi-
lotage, but on account OF the greater trouble and
risk attendant on it, well understanding the one to
asked why the Constitution declared that the COM
pensation under the new system should be the same
as that allowed by the law recently repealed The
answer obvious-to make 1t spccious and palaable
to ship owners. Again II may be asked, why the
regulation violated the constitution, and allowed
greater compensation Tor outward plIotege than that
fixed by the law recently repealed The answer is
because il was well known that the merchant pilots
CATION inward whilst i was contemplated that they
should monopolse all that outward; and these
purposes have been inexorably pursued 10
the spirit of prescription avowed by the 9th
dILClc Vi Tue COnetltuliOu, WHICH IcCOulLicuub
that ono vessel receive pilot, excepting on
his producing certificate signed by the Board of
Commissioners Of Pilots, or those issued under the
authority Of the State of New jersey The pro-
gard TO inward vessels, az the skill Of the New
York State pilots may not be dispensed with for
difficult navigation-their services are anxiously
sought, on approaching the shoals and quick-sands
applying to take vessels to sea, which they. have
safely brought into port That unjust and illibers
course is daily pursued towards them, in disregard
Of the immemorial custom of the port-a custom so
which declares that in providing pilot for an out
ward bound vessel, preference shall be given TO
the pilot who brought the vessel into port, or TO
pilot belonging to the same boat"
Here is sufficient answer to the enquiry why
the regulation violated the constitution there was
purpose in it, and that purpose is found in the
trolling necessity Of employing New York pilots I'M
der the pressure OF danger, and rejecting them when