, 1881-11-25
THE PILOT LAW.

ing substitute, is without exception
one Of the most remarkable instances
ul legislative fatuity on REGARD.
We are situated at the boundary
between the United States and Can
ada, one side of Fuca strait being
in Washington Territory, the other
in British Columbia. In common
with every civilized nation in the
commercial world, British Columbia,
or its maritime portion, has regu-
larly established board of pilot COM
missioners, aud its regularly J licensed
pilots. The law which has just
been repealed prohibited any one
but a regularly licensed pilot of Pu
get Sound from bringing a vessel
into our ports for hire, and laid a
heavy penalty on all infractions Of
its provisions. Foreign tug boats
were also deferred from towing yes.
sells in our waters, as they were
charged regular pilotage fees which,
added to the tonnage dues they have
10 pay at the Custom House, made
it Improbable for them to cope with
our tug boats. But now that the
law is repealed, there is nothing to
prevent E"gllsh licensed pilots and
English tug boats from coming into
our waters, and the action of our
Legislators shows that they have
worked for the interest of foreigners
and against that of our own citizens
Some of our pilots profess to be
pleased that the law has been re-
pealed, for now when they find a
vessel in distress they can make
their own terms, and can at times
as easily demand and recover five
thousand dollars as wreckers or sal.
vors, as they could set the pilotage
fees which would be all they would
be entitled to under the pilot law.
We have no desire to see Puget
Sound exposed to the tender mercies
of lot of 8arnegat pirates, or Key
West wreckers; nor do we want to
see Victoria pilots and Victoria tug
boats come into American waters
and perform services which citizens
OF this territory are entitled 10, and
which they will have if the Legisla-
ture will provide a law to protect
them. Recent advices are to the
effect that Hon. J. A. Kuhn, of JEFF
ferson, had given notice that he
would Introduce new pilot bill;
there IS still hope, then, that some
thing may be done before it is too
late. We certainly hope that these
august lawmakers will not adjourn
without providing for legal loard
of commissioners and legally licens-
ed pilots The present state of af-
fairs is somewhat alarming, we ap-
prehend, even to the mill companies
who had their paid attorneys lobby.
ing SO earnestly to defeat the pilot
bill which they recently SO effectual-
ly "fiX Xed" in the Council. They now
begin to see where they have gone
step too far. Some Of the Sound
newspapers are apparently afraid to
express an opinion where they would
be likely to run counter TO the Pc
cuniary interest of any wealthy cor.
poration; Others manifest supreme
Indifference on the pilot question.
The Tacoma Ledger" is the only
one we have noticed advocating no
pilots or pilot restrictions, and its
stilted argumen and hollow plati-
tudes about leaving our navigable
highway open and unfettered to the
commerce of the world, betray ig
norance of the real facts involved in
the situation. Instead of being a
detriment to Puget Sound COM
merce, proper pilot system would
be the greatest conceivable benefit
and protection to it. Take away all
such restrictions, and rates Of insur-
ance will inevitably rise because OF
consequent insecurity; prove it to