New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-13
Icy TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRInUSE.l

THE PRESENT SYSTEM.
Icy TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON, April 70 Representative
Pierce 0; Massachusetts,, from tho Committee on Com
merce reported to-day the following bill relative to com
pulsOTy pilotase fees:
BE enacted, de-, That owner, agent. MASTER or as
sgnce OF any ship vessel. duly onIoled aud licensed
and engaged iu the coasng trade or fishery shail 10y
employ, pay pilot not voluntarily employed on en-
tcrins departing from any port or harbor or entering
passing through leaving any channel passage or
strait within the waters OF the I'm ted states.
The report accompanying this bin is very long and
carefuly-prepared document 1t begins ny citing the
eighth section OF Article OF the Constitution OF the
United States which authorizes Congress To regulate
commerce the several States comforting upon
that body power legsate the subject OF compulsory
plotage 1t then reviews briefly the history of egsia-
ton upon this subject, from the establishment Of the
Government the present time. The net result OF all
legislation upon this subject appears TO DC that with the
exception Of the granting Of equal rights 10 the pilots
from States bordering upon the waters which form the
boundaries between two States, the prohibition OF Gis
eliminating charges upon vessels owned in different
States and relief from State and municipal regulations
relating 10 the potage OF coastwse steam vessels, all
other matters remain they placed by the act Of
1789 in the control Of the several States The report
then takes up and discusses briefly the laws Of the several
states relating potage dealing especially with those
OF Maine NevYork Pennsylvania Delaware, Maryland
Virginia, &c.
1878, was 1876 They % vessels, valued at $780,
OOO The business the Committee says is competitive,
and the cruising ground distance OF from 80 70
800 miles port The fees as established by the
Legislature are given in fun In regard to Hen Gate
pilots it said that they do their work in small two
cared boats that these represent the extent OF their
capital invested in the business They are not subject
to the risk exposure hardship OF those who ply their
vocation upon the The scene OF their abors is
confined a distance OF 90 miles, aud they obtain trans
poration and fro mostly through the favor OF passing
vessels The number of pilots employed there is AZ.
The shpOwners' Association says tnat IL or - would
perform all the service required The Committee arrives
at the following conclusions:
it appears from the statements Of the laws OF different
that great want OF uniformity exists IN these
ports subject in the matter 0 nptSc IN many
Of the States IT appears That laws sun continue 10 a.
ports which is clearly contrary to the provisions Gf INC
United States statute OF lSGO IN Ne"-l orh aithOuGh
there Is no law the suhcct, the pilots have regIa
by which vessels owned IN Sunoik County are eA-
emPled nom he payment o. ices 5 iUl ,nadc
~ ar af IsG6 and i'm bll now before the Assembly of
New-YOrk revising the charges Tor pota5e AT sandy
Hook national armed vessels are charged 20 per loot OF
DRAFT The principal in fact the only ground upon which
the opponents OF any change III the present system or
want OF system rely Is, that the plot organizations ut
present at the principal ports cannot be maintained in
state of efficiency unless the compulsory payment OF fees
Is continued; that there would not be sufficient induce
meut for trained pilots 10 have themselves in readiness
for service when called upon, and that consequence
those vessels which require the service OF pilot could
made, and that navigation would be attended with
greater risk to life and property than 1t is at present
But The Committee says IL has been shown by the
pericnce at NewYOrk during the period between 1915
and $685. when vessels entering by way OF Sandy Hook
were not subjected TO any regulations concerning the
employment Of pilots, that tie compulsory system not
needed efficiency In the service. This has also
been the experience the coast OF Maine the dan
Qerous on the Atlantic seaboa and also in the district
OF Newcastle England where the voluntary system pre-
walls and where navigation is difficult and at
times dangerous. The Committee concludes
therefore, that it is evident That in this,
as In most other things, the supply will
always equal the demand, whether IL Is largo or
small The ship owners and merchants comprise the
class materially interested in keeping up the efficiency of
the pilot service. II by the proposed exemption the
efficiency Of that service is impaired upon them the loss
viii fall Their views on this question have been set
forth liz numerous petitions and among this class there
seems TO be- almost no difference of opinion.
The principal subject Of complaint, the Committee
says is the exacuon Of the hafpotage imposed by the
laws Of State by local organizations. 1t is said
by those familiar with the matter that at least seven
eighths OF the vessels which 60 through Hell Gate, and
which subject charges for potage, towcd by
steam-tugs The vessels while In tow and under control
tugs guided by experienced pilots and the tugs
responsible for the safe passage Of the vessels The
service VI these special pilots therefore wholly unne
cessary and uncaed for far the vessels towed by
tugs are concerned Generally tug has five six Of
these vessels In tow at the time. and when they
10 the Gate a single pilot sometimes only q boy,
puts out In skiG, and presumng matter OF course
that service will be required he halls several vessels
they pass, and makss tender Of service, with view