Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-23
OPPOSING THE DART BILL.
THE BOARD OF TRADE INDORSE
THE DIRECTORS ACTION.

A special meeting Of the Board Of Trade
was held yesterday TO take action upon
the Dart pilotage bill. There was some
delay and trouble in getting quorum Of
20 members. The matter was brought up
by the following resolution, which was
offered by Mr.. j. p. Williams:
Res0tred. That th!s meeting endorse the &C
tion Of The board OF directors as token al thelr
regular mOuthir meeting, held Aug. 8, reial-
ing % The ploiagc bil nOw ueiure the Legs
lature Of Georgia.
Capt. I'm. Hull arose toexplain his posi-
tion ON the bill. he stated that he had Just
returned from Atlanta where he went TO
oppose the BILL While there the friends
OF the bill made the charge that the reso-
luton Of ,ue Board OF Directors was pass
ed In he dark and was a cut-and-dried
affair. II added that he was glad 70 hear
OF the meeting being called, as the
resolution was passed at the regular
meeting In August OF the
Board Of Managers of the Board
of Trade. III we have not voiced
the sentiment OF the Board of Trade this
is now the proper place TO tell us So"
He continued, IF we have. We hope the
meeting Will sustain us IN our action and
also give voice 10 the seatment NJ the
meeting on the question before i'll He
held that the Dart bill, which proposes 10
allow pilots botl inward aud outward
pilotage for all vessels, whether foreign or
coastwise, Is calculated to lDJuriously
effect the commerce Of this port. He
maintained that it is well enough to
charge a pIl0taye fee 10 vessels that take
pilot, but those that do not take one
should be exempted.
Col. Estill said that be was opposed TO
the Board OF Trade using its influence
against the passage OF the bill amending
the pilOtage laws, and therefore rose to
oppose the indOrsement by the meeting of
the action OF the board Of directors in
passing q resolution 10 that effect. There
was no question before the Legislature
except the amendment Of its own acts,
so that the law could be enforced without
a constant appeal to the courts. II the
charges made by the pilots were
excessive the proper place to
secure redress was at the hands OF the
Commissioners OF Pilotage, body COM
posed OF men OF high mercantile standing,
and who had for many years, II lOt all
their lives, been identified with the inter-
ests of Savannah. The pilots DO not fix
the rates Of pilotage. The speaker said,
in his opinion, the pilots could not i've On
less than they now receive, and that au
efficient pilot system was absolutely
necessary to the commerce Of Sayau-
nah. The entire Atlantic coast from
Hatteras TO Florida was lringed with
bars and shoals. and while masters OF
vessels that piled constantly TO this port
might find their way in and out, the
transient vessels, which constitute the
majority OF the mercantile fleet, could not
enter Georgia ports without a pilot. The
pilots asked for no new privileges or in
creased fees, but for protection in their
rights under the laws as they
had been construed until recently.
The opposition to the pilots was from three
or four gentlemen who were interested in
few schOOners sailing to this port. Such
vessels would probably get in and out
with safety, but how would it be with
other yesselss The destruction of the
pllOtage system would virtually give a
few vessels a monopoly. Continuing. Col.
Estili said that he did think IL was within
the province Of the Board of Trade
to take sides in this matter. He
repeated if the pilot tees were
too much there WAS way TO adjust them
through the Pilot Commissioners and not
by seeking 10 repeal the pilotage laws or
make them imperative. He knew 1t was
a difficult matter to get a body like this to
Tepudiate the action of its Board of Direc-
tors, but be believed that that action was
such as should not have been taken and
would therefore oppose its Endorsement by
this meeting.
Capt. Hull, in reply, remarked that the
bill is very adroitly wOrded affair. I'm
der the first bill passed in 1896 the pilots
for fifty years collected both inward and
outward fees, even though they did not
bring the vessel in. Under the present
law as ruled upon by the Supreme Court
OF Georgia, vessel coming in without
pilot, but paying full fee, is exempt going
out il a pilot is not taken. The port is
already higher in port charges than any
other port in the United States. Directly
after the "a hon QnffOn and ri M
everything were high pllotage fees were
Increased 50 per cent. Notwithstanding
the market price Of these articles is many
times lower now, the pilots get the same
fees. Another objection, he urged, Is that
the bill proposes TO subject small craft.
sucn AS watermelon schO0ners from South
Carolina and Florida, TO pilotage.
Col. Estill again took the floor, and
stated that be was not there as the cham
pi0n of the pilots, but did not want TO see
the Board 20 wrong. ave all know that
the fees that have been collected were ac-
cording 10 law. The pilots do not tx their
compensation, but il is regulated by COM
missioners, who are among the best men
in this city. That part OF the present law
exempting vessels from South Carolina
and Florida from pilOtage has been de-
'cided unconstitutional, because 10 dis
oriminated against other states, and il
was therefore necessary TO include all
vessels trading in waters outside Of Geor-
eia 10 make the bill constitutional Hose
little watermelon schooners and other
small craft referred to VIII not be subject
ed 10 pilOtage. Such vessels are not worth
the trouble Of boarding"
MAJ. Bacon arose TO reply. He stated
that the 'pilotage on cOastwise lumber
vessels, which is now about Doc. q thou
sand feet, will be raised 20 nearly soc. il
The Dart bill passes. He mentioned a bill
for 100000 feet which was bid for in
Savannah and Atlanta. II was 10 20
north Of Hatteras. The all-rail route was
found Doc. per thousand cheaper, and the
Atlanta house shipped the lumber from
Millen by rail.
Capt. j. A. Roberts declared that
he WAS friend Of the pilots.
but that he opposed the bill and
had advised them not TO agitate the ques.
lion. He cited the case Of "A schooner that
came in without being hailed, but which
WAS charged inward lees.
Col. Eslil answering said that a vessel
might occasionally slip IN when the pilots
are cruising some distance out at sea.
keierringto Mai. Bacun's statement about
lumber be observed that there must be
something wrong in the lumber business,
and more the matter with st than the
pl0tago fees In she difference amounted ~
DO cents per thousand when the pilots
Ia