The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-01
CITY LLIGEN CE.
OUR COMMERCE..

Third Annual Meeting of the Vessel Owners
and CaptnIns' Association thIa Noon-Harbor
Masters Fees and Compulsory PilotaGe.
This noon the third annual meeting of the
Vessel Owners and Captains Association was
held at its rooms, OF Walnut street. above Front.
The attendance was large. John w. Everman,
Esq, President, occupied the chair. The third
annual report was read by the Secretary, Charles
II. Steelman. From it we make these extracts: -
"There are now enrolled on our books, in good
standing, S24 members and 26! vessels ,.-
"Tbe Treasurer reports the total receipts at
seoS949, and the disbursements for the year
ss97s 12.
OF the previous year. it will be seen that our receipts
during the past year were s769 S5 less than for the
previous year; Upon IKE comparison II VIII be
been largely decreased, the aggregate has been in
creased s249 This is accounted for by the expenses
OF the committee to Washington, the employment OF
additional counsel, and the increased number of
demurrage suits that have been brought during the
year.
ter's and Port Warden's fees, still continues to oc
cupy a large share OF the attention OF your board.
The case Of the Pilots Association OF Philadelphia
against Captain John Garwood, of the schooner X.
w. Godfrey which was mentioned in our last annual
report, still remains unsettled having been decided
in the Court OF Common Pleas In favor OF the Pilots
Association, and an appeal has been taken oy your
board to the Supreme Court OF Pennsylvania.
"In the matter Of Harbor Masters fees we have
been more successful, and are pleased to say that it
can be taken general principle that unless SER
vices are asked and rendered, no claim OF this kind
be legally collected. On Thursday February
an appropriation OF $1,000 to pay additional counsel
ees to contest the question whether our vessels can
not be compelled by law to report to him or the Port
Warden every trip. This request referred to
he Finance Committee Of Councils, where it still is
I'm this connection we would cite the case Of the
Harbor Master at Charleston, s. c., against the
schooner John NJ. Broomall. This was action
brought against the said schooner by virtue of an
ordinance Of the City Councils of Charleston mpos-
ing tax OF Is cent per ton on all vessels coming
was as fonows:-'The Constitution OF the United
States provides that "No State shall, without the
consent of Congress, lay any duty on tonnage 1t
the ordinance, had, that 1t has, the consent
of Congress to levy the duty thereon imposed. The
decree must be for the defendant and is 80 ordered
and adjudged
1--WE would also call your attention to the fact
that after the Sd day of March, 1871, the authority
under which the city of Baltimore exacts aud col
lects tax Of two cents per ton on vessels arriving
at that port will cease and that no such tax can
legally be collected after that time"
The report also contains the proceedings of a
special meeting of the association held on the
14th of ecember, 1870, relative to the depressed
condition of American commerce, and the mea-
sures in its opinion, necessary for the relief of
those branches in which it was more imme-
diately interested.
The annual report was then adopted
Mr. Henry r. Edmunds moved that a COM
mittee of three be appointed for the purpose of
consulting with the other vessel owners assoei-
ations with view of effecting consolidation of
the vessel interests of the United States.
In support of this motion Mr.. Edmunds de-
clared that he had learned from other associa-
tions of like nature that they wished such a
consolidation of all the vessel interests of the
country, in order that all matters for the i'm
provement of them might be consistently up
held. Believing that this association was the
wealthiest and the largest of all, they desired it
to father all measures tending to the general
improvement of the vessel interests.
Mr.. Halliwell moved that the Board of Direc-
tors, instead of a committee, correspond and
consult with other associations relative to con-
soldation. This was agreed to.
The following officers, to serve for the ensu-
ing year, were elected
, President-John w. Everman.
ce-President-Captain Henry May.
Secretary-Charles III. Steeman.
Treasurer-Francis Edwards.
When our report closed the association was
engaged in the election of twenty-five directors
hui hnllnf