The Republican journal., 1883-03-22
Compulsory Pilotage-

Every shipbuilder and shipowner in Maine
is interested in the efforts being made in Massa-
chusetts to secure modification Of the pilotage
laws. Compulsory pilotage is one of the great
est burdens our shipping interest has to bear.
and, with other oppressive taxes. has been the
means of impairing this country's prestige on
the ocean, closing our shipyards, and deprying
many persons of employment. Granting all
that can be said in behalf of the pilots, the in
justice and oppression of existing piIotage laws
must be apparent to every one who looks info
the matter. We have in former articles treated
of this subject generally and as applied to GER
tain ports. We have now before us a speech of
Hon. John S. Emery of Boston (of John S.
Emery & Co., ship broker>) before the Massa-
chusetts Legislative Committee on Mercantile
Affairs, in behalf of the shipoWners of Boston
and New England in which he asked for re-
dress of the many grievances in the matter Of
pilotage in this Commonwealth that we have so
long suffered, and from what we consider as
the result of unjust and oppressive laws and
class legislation"
The cNcmpting of coasting vessels from com
pulsory piotage (lS7l and 1879 was a relief to
some of our people, but at the same time the
winter rates we've made applicable the wear
round to vessels in the foreign trade so that
one portion OF the shipping interest was taxed
III order to exempt another. We need not fol
low Mr.. Emery's arguments to show the evils
OF existing laws, as they are well known to all
concerned. He SAYS, very pertinentlv. that.
If the pilots occupation would be gone unless
people nre compelled to employ them, is not that
the very best argument possible that they are
not at all times necessary. ~ ole objects to
pon"g pilot when he is needed.
Mr.. Emery does not, however, ask for the
entire adjustment of compulsory pjotage-al-
though holding to the belief that the principle
is wrong - but for some modification in the
present laws and regulations, which he briefly
enumerated As follows;
We want all vessels of twelve hundred tons
net register and under in the foreign trade eX-
emptcd from compulsory pilotagt outward
and all inWard-bounl vessels in 1.-THE foreign
trade or from amy foreign port Of twelve
hundred tOuS net register or undc3. if spoken
outside the line. to pay half piotagd.
If any vessel takes steam or the aid of steam
from outside the established luc inside of
which vessels are to be exempted from cOmpul-
sorry plotagc and pilot is also taken. twenty
five per cent. to be deducted from the pilotage
fees.
The rates. is thus amended. to BIZ the winter
rates. and to be in force from Nov |. to April
30. and the summer rates to be twenty per cent.
less, and to be in force from May no Oct 81.
We want all vessels when inside i line drawn
from 1arding'S Rocks to the Graves and In nee
to Bass Point, Nahant exempted from the pay
ment OF compulsory piotage; and we want this
line re-Cstabished where it was previous to
1856.
We want distance money abolished.
Pilots who deliver letters to ye&scs outside
that are ordered away from Boston to other
ports. to be paid half the rates Of lilotage they
would be entitled to if they brought the vessel
into port.
We also want pilots to be Obliged to bring
vessels into port that are exempt from pilOtage.
at the regular rates, when required by the
masters to do so.
And We want the same rates Of piIotage e.
tab>hed at Gloucester that are now in force at
NcWburyport, and the rates ut NcWburNpOri ty
remain as they now are.
We want all vessels Of every size being lowed
into the port of Boston, or into ami port in This
Commonwealth, il 4 crippled or disabled cen
dition. TO be exempted under dny and all
circumstances from the payment Of compulsory
piotagc.
ANA when 4 large majority Of the principal
insurance companies of this city ask YOU as
they already have done or will ITO. tc max,
some notifications thai will rendcI this system
less oppressive tc the commercial interests OIL
Massachusetts, w. think YOU cannb BIT be long in
granting us our PRAYER.
With these changes in the laws and regua.
tion> We will be satisfied, and we haya no feaI
that they will III any degree affect the efficiency
| Of the pilot service: and there WiII still be
ample remuneration to those engaged in thu
| business.