, 1881-12-23
PILOT LAW AGAIN.


if we lever intended to let up on
that pilot bill" We promptly indi-
Gated an intention to do so-when a
desirable law should be passed. He
said: "That's right; give it to 'em:
they deserve it," Public opinion is
pretty near unanimous in denounc-
ing the course of the late legislative
Council on the pilot question, as the
most Infamous wrong ever done TO
our growing commerce. Where the
public interests are effected the AR.
GUS has mission; that mission in
this instance will not be ended till
at least the whole matter has been
ventilated, and the unfaithfui guar
dians of the peoples interests have
been fully shown up. We wish no
one harm, but public acts of public
officers are legitimate subjects of
criticism. If the moneyed corpora
tions are to control our legislatures,
it is time the people knew it. Poor
Nevada has been ridden to death by
unscrupulous silver kings who, not
content with depicting her mines to
enrich San Francisco, have shaped
her politics, and from their offices in
the latter city have dictated her
choice repeatedly for U. S. Senator.
Noble spectacle Moneybags buy
ing seat in the National councils
Washington Territory is fast tread
ing on the heels of Nevada, and con
testing with her the questionable
distinction of being bought. A few
San Francisco nillionaires who have
used our lumber woods very much
as a child does an orange, have per:
fected the machinery for a delecta-
BILE side show every time our legis
1ature meets. The arrangement is
so complete that they can stay at
home and pull the strings and the
puppet will dance every time. All
is fair sailing and honied words at
or near election time. The puppet
can then profess cordial acceptance
of the new pilot bill, and is a most
plausible and iair reasoner; but the
election over-the votes secured
the fly entrapped-and Mr.. Spiders
demeanor quickly changes. We
confess to having been duped along
with many others, but if we can get
forgiveness the experiment will new
er be repeated in that quarter. As
illustration of the peculiar methods
of these legislative jugglers, we
may say that Notwithstanding all of
Mr.. Hovey's fair talk before election
about supporting the new pilot bill,
we are informed that during the re-
cent session he threatened Mr.. Cal
houn with the removal of the latter's
brother from command of a Puget
Mill Co. vessel unless the Whatcom
member would vote against pilot
law. We cannot vouch for the
truth of this statement, but it is in
Keeping with other acts emanating
from the same source. Several years
ago a bill embUdying several im>
prnvements on the old pilot law
passed the legislature, but was spir.
tied away under circumstances that
pointed toward foul play on the part
of Puget Mill men. At the session
Of 1879 Mr.. Hovey, then member
of the lower House, persistently
threatened the member from this
county till he convinced the latter
that it would be useless to intro
duce the pilot bill he had In his
pocket. At the recent session the
Puget Mill Co. again came to the
front with paid lobbyists and mem
bsrs it owned, determined to defeat
that pilot bill'' at any cost. which
they did through hired advocacy,
coaxing, intimidation and bluster.
1t remains to be seen whether the
people will continue to permit such
intermeddling with Legislation, or
whether they will rise in their might
and put 1t down.