New-York tribune., 1882-09-28
rrroPTs TO REDUCE HARBOR DUES.

THE PILOTS AND MERCHANTS IN CoNFEKENCh-
coxTENDING FOR A REDUCTION OF PILOT FEES
An interesting conference was held III tho
Chamber OF Commerce rooms yesterday pe'"'o"
Cbor,es & Smith. J. W. Elwen md Gustav schwab' rep
resenting the Chamber. and Pilots Henry haIp'so"'
Josiah johnson, John Taylor, John Phelah VIM,
brewer and Ansel Bowen, resenting the SANDY hooA
nilos The object of the conference was to hai'noi
the differences between the pilots and the merchants o''
the question of high rates of plotage Mt this port
committee was appointed 70 take testimony M"
mend 10 the National and state Legislatures the "c'on'
in its opinion, that may he necessary 10 0'"
lnerce of soiue OF the burdens of port charges
Mr. HARRISON opened the side OF the pioS' oS "S"i"7
,o ,ositou of the Chamber on the pilotagc question:
Mr. smith" That has been well Defined aS lo" "'''
know: we came here at your suggestion 10 no"i VIVA"
you have to say" ,, It'll,
Mr. Uorison-" The point TO he got at Is really "l'i
regard 10 a reduction Of plotage fees We nave PioP
oson to make II is claimed that American coih'l 20 20
has lost its prestige through excessive motage We
io q rerote 70 all American vessels, of fcen twenty
mr. twenty five per cent may be agreed upoh' anu o
fine fees remain now Foreign commerce pa! = u"''
ninety per cent the plotage of tins port ana ioo"S'
if general reduction is made foreigners VIII ge INC
fit of It. our proposition VIII give the Aih'i''" 'f
mng chance to revive"
Mr. smith, feel that We could not recommend the
Chamber to accept the proposition ms there would be les
difficulties in the way; it would be mconSutu'ioh'h
BESIDES il would not he equitable and am surprised that
you should make such proposition
Mr. Harhson-" We do not propose to get such law
passed hut will get over the wconstitutionay portion
of the question by making mutual agreement
Mr.. smith" We could not entertain sueh PROPOSE
ton nor would the Chamber receive IT.. ... ,o,,,,
he unv.isc 1t is the Chambers duty TO project ana
foster commerce. and we cannot suggest diSoIlil"o"
against foreigners. . ,,....,. ,,
Mr. iIarbsml-~I am aware that the British Govcri-
mcnt dscriminaieS against American vessels enctnis
their ports-m the matter OF hsht dues' 1Hoh Po'"5
system is also uorc rigid.
MI Elwell-" THIS is not the case. nh
NcwYork pilots liberal as those OF any rort III c
world, and don't think We get TOO ulchi I @
the pilots have u right to make the proposition we iH
made and for you gentlemen to determine "hc'hcr
Sr ScEwai This would amount to real reduction
of about two and Onc-half per cent .....,, -
Mr. smith" will say that cannot entertain II;
Mr. Eiwrll-"You pilots iniure yourselves by making
such proposition Every exporter and IMPORTER, eVsi3 ~
prodncer and every consumer has personal interest III
ihc rrductIou of charges against commerce. II becomes
"A question whether business l. 10 pe uriN on """' iV
Nr HaTbson~ Ne are sailing under laws given to
ns by the old merchants and they were "pph'"o'c IL
M Tl%eI-" We don't ask that the pilot system be
discontinued or that the fees he reduced 80 a. 10 cripple
the service, hut the work can ng 1Or NOR t 3 t
know where owners have lOrhddcn Nes'eI7 10 g%c % " y.
Ncw-YoIk because the heavy piloiage lees me! go
10 Boston because there j. no WHI!"t1, , anu ~, 49, %
depnin and Baltimore because OF hSltcr haiho Nu'@
taking shin in and ont OF New York are greater than
in Liverpool London Philadelphia liilllnuIt . . % -,
other ports and from three 10 four times greater lia u,
LIVERPOOL which more difficult haihof 10 nav IS"c
than New York. We cannot long lnainiai our M,
ocy ns "a se,uort under tins condition of things. We
don't propose to attack pilOagc alone, bt WIZ ue'
a reduction in other harbor expenses. Inc merchants %
hehevc thnt a reduction of thirty three per cent from
thc present mloa.c would he fair, and We VIII pursue
our efforts III their behalf We know lon are pi, 10 10
death bv sharpeis III Albany and others to maintain
these high rates. o .. ,l,t to
death" He SAID that they pad man III Albany 10 rep
resent them there. - 80 . -. moon,
A. the committee rose. Mr. John as last resort
said "Ne we have got the voice OF me llols %" NJ
thing and Will consent to reduction oi fifteen per cent
that Is the best eau do. +,
Mr. Phclan-" Would You oppose an ainenduell T." -
Mr. smith" We Will make 40 objections 10 any
amendments 10 make the service more clncltnl.
Mr. Elwc-" We will consider TINS proposition, p,.
am certain that Il reduction of fifteen per cent VIII no,
be acceptable to the majority OF interests loi haue
1lns snluc offer two years ago and u Was opposed