The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-13
SHIPS PILOTS.
More About Mr.. Dingley's Pilotage
Bill.


WASHINGTON, March 11.-Representative
Dingley of Maine reported to-day from the
shipping committee his piletage bill.
The bill authorizes the United States local
inspectors to license the master or mate of any
American sailing vessel to pilot his own vessel
as officers of coasting steamers are already
licensed, and exempts vessel thus piloted
from the obligation to pay state pilot whose
service are declined, and also similarly ex-
empts any sailing vessel entering or leaving
port in tow of a steamer in charge OF United
States pilot.
Mr.. Dngley's report, accompanying the bill,
traces the history Of pilotage legislation. The
first Congress under the constitution remitted
the subject to the several states "until further
provision is made by Congress-" In 1862 Con-
gress passed general pilotage law applicable
to coasting steam vessels This act establish
ed local boards of United States inspectors
throughout the Union, and authorized them to
examine and license persons, usually one OF
the officers, to pilot coastiDg steam vessels.
This national system has relieved such vessels
from the burdens and Inconvenience of the
state pllotage system, and has worked so we'll
that nobody suggests going back to the old
otaAeo sycbons ouphbAutl&lly bn0 same system
has existed in EngleHd for many years. Sail
ing vessels, however, are still subject to the
diverse and conflicting pilotage laws OF 80
states. A coaEting sailing vessel is obliged to
pay state pilot when he is not needed or used
II she enters any port in Delaware, MARYLAND
Virginia, North Caroliua, South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas
and Oregon. The same coastng sailing vessel,
under the same master, is not obliged to pay a
pilot unless she uses him in Maine, New
a.
York, New Jersey Mississippi or California.
The same sailing vessel, il she is bound to or
comes from a port in Canada or any other
foreign port, must pay pilot from 800 to $3.50
Tor pilotage in and out, although the vessel is
piloted in and out by her master or is towed in
and out by tug, and the pilot does nsthing
except collect his fees. A Maine schooner en-
teriDg the port Of Charleston few days ago
took towboat in, for whose services $35 was
paid, and yet had to pay pilot $50 additional,
although he did nothing, and then was Obliged
to pay pilot $40 to get out, although the tug
towed her out for $25 and the pilot was not
used. The piiotage burden is from to 8 per
cent, OF the freight money, and is the severest
burden the American merchant marine is
compelled TO bear. Vessels bound to Philadel-
phia are obliged to pay a Delaware pilot in Or
der 60 pass on to the former port. Practically,
therefore, Delaware i'm poses a tax on vessels
bound to Philadelphia.
The committee says the vessel owners from
OAO OAa VI buo OulOH 10 bU6 Obl6f ASK COn-
gfess to relieve them from such burden, and
to exempt them from paying pilotage fees
when vessel is properly pilOted by her own
licensed master or mate, or is towed in or out
by a licensed steamer. Secretary of the Treas
ury Folger approves the bill, and saws that is
ought to pass. The pilots object to the bill,
claiming that it is necessary for vessels which
do not employ pilot to pay them, in order to
maintain efficient pilotage. The report says
that this claim is not supported by reason or
experience. State pilots will be needed if this
Dill passes TOR foreign steamers and for such
foreign and American sailing vessels as are
not towed in, or such American vessels as are
not pileted by one of their officers
The demand for pilots to this extent will se-
cure sufficient supply. Well men are not
called on 10 pay fees to physicians on the
ground that this is necessary to maintain ply
sicans for the sick. IT there are twice as
many pilots as are needed for their work, they
can go into some other kindred employment,
Just as the stage drivers did when the railroads
took the place OF stages Moreover, expert
ence has shown that the the pilots are efficient
and equal to tho demand where vessels are not
obliged BY law to pay them when they are not
needed. There is no compulsory pilotage in
Maine or New Hampshire, but nowhere are
there better pilots, Indeed, pilots are more
efficient where their pay depends upon good
service than where the pay is compelled By
law WIthou regard to service. The testimony
shows that compulsory fees sometimes lead to
shipwrecks for the reason that masters at
Tempt to run luton ports at night, in order to
eyade pilotage fees. There are no more ship-
wrecks where pilotage is voluntarg thaa wsSsre.
it is made obligatory to pay pilotage fees. Ia
deed, marine insurance companies insure ses-
sells at the same rate in one case as in the other.
The committee says that in tho early history
of the country, when there were few light
houses, beacons, baoys and charts, when there
we're no Steamers when sailing vessels carried
passengers, when there were no tugs, and
han Aaa1 sV1fAr
vessel, there was reason for the payment OF
compulsory fees; but now, with all these
guides to navigation, and especially with
piloted tugboats in every harbor to tow
in and out vessels, it is unjust to require
vessels to pay State pilot when the master OF
the vessel can pilot his own vessel, or when ne
prefers to take tug, The committee therefore
recommends the passage of the bill reported.