The New York herald., 1868-02-25
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE.


Visit to He'll Gate Yesterday-The Owners Of
n9s The Hell Gate Pilots-A Bill for the
Relief Of the Former.
For years past there has been growing contro-
versy between the owners Of stemtugs in this harbor
and the He'll Gate pilots, induced by conflict between
existing United States and State regulations touching the
nav Of the Of the Sound the latter enjoying
special privileges in the matter OF plotting vessels
through tho dangerous pass or Hell Gate, while the
former being licensed regular pilots under federal
authority. and admit ng distinction indsosed
TO submit: quietly such reference. Finally this
test reached climax last summer and IL was deter
miued by the Association OF Steamtug Owners to
bring the matter to the attention OF the next
Legislature. aud seek its interference for the
removal OF the disabilities OF which they complained
This object accomplish successfully about
weeks Mr.. L. D. Herman, from this CITY,
chairman Of the Committee on Commerce. introduced
into the Assembly bill having for its object the
pshmcnt Of this purpose. The obnoxious portions OF
the law complained of the two following sections,
amended by chapter lis Of the Laws Of 1866
SEQ Any of said He'll Gate pilots. who shall first
his aerv ces my demand aud receive from the ,ster.
and Upward nay,satns the .aid channel or
plot and " whom tGs sans shall refused whesher
ward Or outward 1 bound pioass for every
ss s
po.Ae. shall 10 es.si under
be eharsesbs NOR, Than once for the same passage
y Il vs on rae m% In 'uss s ss.
o
snail pay 10 such e Gate plot sucS hall poee rom ,a
place which such li!,. shall offered sersces
the shah BE- hs eo
@ ps such e c Ss L. sr a' U sr
y fs II ay ps sna ssn branch Hen Gate po
snail p9 OF tow 'r any other person any vessel OF any
ysssS. Of less aan hfyays burden ana
eSss % s'qa na Gssd @ @ IN vsns the canals al 10 or shall
@ % East .ys S 'e eSmnsay sa ss;is % sss
board he hall be guilty msdeme pda' Dna ay a
joining my Se and
OF % 5 5 ssns sa % % 90 b. @ Ss
exceeding sixty days by both inprlsou
ss Aud plot ssoas ssR ssaR'S a. who 8'sa . not S
the pc raS
. ccn G sf & S % e In %
crew Of the vessel except when Ia tow steamer from
pair the OF hereby amended
so the seventh section Ia amended by
Tho effect OF those sections, u complained was
to require sl shipmasters sailing through He'll Gate
take regular Hell pilots called Al the
expense OF such piotage notwithstanding the vessels
may have b. en- charge Of tug masters perhaps quite
as wen acausn'ea Win .no cnannei ana compe-
The bill introduced by Mr. Herman proposed
the repeal Of section nine, above quoted, and
would give authority to any regularly licensed pilot of
this port to tako charge Of vessels any part OF The
waters surrounding New York. thus destroying tho
nopoy heretofore enjoyed by tho Ho cate pilots. In
accordance With the regular practice this bill was
ferred TO the Committee CONNER Q. being backed
up utter its Introduction by petition praying It's pas
sage, signed by over one thousand lug owners repre-.
seutng hundred and thirty thousand tons Of this
branch of the shipping interest
Tho committee being IN the city yesterday by invi.
taon of the Now York Association of Tugboat Owners
proceeded on an excursion TO He'll Gate 10 learn from
demonstration the truth or the position claimed in the
petition that no special license He'll Gate pilots was
Necessary to or evidence OF any special quail H.
cation for the NAVIGATION Of that passage The
party, Consisting Of Messrs kierpan. McKesyer aud
Burns, Of ths committee; Assembly, nan Reilly, Judge
Dean Captains Boggs Brown Scbeucx. OF the asso.
cation the representatives OF the press and about
hundred invited guests, embarked board the pro.
peer Fort Leo At Peck slip At about eleven clock,
and proceeded eisurey towards their destination Cap.
tain schenck ths while explaining 70 those on board
the steamer the object OF the excursion Encounter.
ing but slight difficulty from the ics the Fort Leo
steamed along the New York side OF Bsckwes Island
through the gate and far Wards Island returning
without stoppsge through the other channel Wien
the limit Of excursion been reached the several
points OF interest and importance having been pointed
out and commented upon tho boat put about to return
and the party proceeded below decks, whore the dis
cussion OF generous lunch became tue order OF
the day Having, With appel ies shsrpened by the
smell 81 the salt water and the froso breczes
of the SOUND done ample justice to the solids provided
wine and words commenced rapid DOW. Nj. sumner,
In toastng the health OF the chairman or the commit.
tee, Mr.. Ksrnan, referred to the objects OF the or.
curson, and The importance or the reform sought Mr.
Kernan responded admitting the justice OF these OBJ
servatons and pedging himself 10 their consideration.
schencs and OF The and ,hs
hary prevailed until the point OF departure was again
reached when the party separated universally pleased
with themselves, one another and tho hospitality they
had enjoyed What action the committee may take on
the bill in their bands foreshsdowsd but in
safe 70 hazard guess that viii receive their recon-.
mendAtion,
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