Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-26
DARTS BILL UNDER FIRE.
BOTH SIDES BEGIN THEIR ON
SLAUGHT IN THE HOUSE.

be Continued Tc-day-The Savannah
Paving and Registration Bills Passed
by the senste-The Drainage BIN Read
the First Time.
ATLANTA, GA, Aug. 25.-The Dart bill,
as amended, being the special order, was
called up at 10 O'Clock this morning.
Mr.. Eason, of Telfair county, said that
the provisions of the code are ample and
sufficient as it stands to-day. No man
has right to sit down ON the highway
and demand the right to control private
interests. The friends of the bill ought
to be satisfied with the extortiou they
have been practicing for the last eighty
years. If there are too many pilots re-
duce the number to supply the demand.
The fees Is now received by the pilots are
equal to the salaries of the Supreme
Judges of the State or the Governor.
THE ONES WHO PAY.
These pllotage fees come out Of the pock-
cts of the consumers. When the present FL
lotage laws were enacted there were none
of the safeguards that are now provided.
Thousands of dollars have been expended
on our harbors, making the channels so
clear and we'll defined that a waytaring
man, though a fool, cannot err. The
steam tug can do all the pilot does. The
old way of doing things must give way to
the new. The strongest argument against
the bill Is the fact that they have to make
the employment of pilots compulsory. II
their services were needed the pilots
would be employed without compelling
vessel owners so to do. The fundamental
principle OF American institutions is that
every man shall conduct his own business
in his own way, provid ng he does not in
| fringe upon the rights of others,
THE SAVANNAH RESOLUTIONS.
He sent to the secretary's desk and had
read a resolution deprecating the chang
ing of the present law, as it is already
onerOus enough.
Mr.. Hartridge, after making few hui
mOrOus remarks about the gentleman
from Telfair, said that pilots are bonded
officers. The services rendered by them
are worth more than they now command.
Ten pilots are required to be out at sea in
the winter time night and day to be ready
for duty. For the last year the pilots
have not received more than 81 900 per
! year. If you do not pass this bill the
Commissioners of Pilotage can increase
their fees to any amount they see fit.
THE SAVANNAH BAR.
The Savannah bar extends out to sea
| FIVE or ten miles. The channel averages
from 100 to 100 feet in width. 1t cOnse-
quently requires an expert to take vessels
out and bring them in. Frequently the
line parts by which it is being drawn by
"a tug. In cases of that kind there must
necessarily be pilot on the vessel. The
system OF compulsory pIlOtage is for the
purpose Of providing competent pilots
under fixed rules and fees, and also to
provide revenue TO support the system.
The laws of Boston, Wilmington and
other ports, require that inward and
outward pilotage fees be paid.
THE BILLS AUTHOR.
Mr.. Dart said that the bill ought to be
argued fairly and dispassionately. He
read an extract from an Atlanta paper
charging log rolling in behalf Of the bill.
! He denied the imputstion so far as he was
| concerned, and he knew that the honor
able gentlemen of the committee who re-
| ported favorably on the bill we're not in
| fluenced by any outside influences. He
said that he placed the bill on its merits.
| He recited numerous instances Of the
| hardships and perils of pilots, and said
| that he would not make further remarks
/ at present, but would close the discussion.
THE WHOLE STATE AFFECTED.
/ Mr.. Brantley, OF Pierce, said that the
| bill was not local but general, and affected
| the interests of the whole State. The mis-
chief of the1aw is paving for something
/
/ bill are not satisfied with this, but want
these fees increased. 1t was necessary in
! years gone by to employ pilots to bring
vessels in and take them out of port. In
! the present condition of improved harbOrs
the necessity of pilots has, TO a great ex-
tent, been done away with. IL is wrong
! to compel the owners OF vessels to pay for
pilOtage when 1t is not necessary. The
present pllOtage fee on lumberIs 25 cents
per 1000. The bill, if passed, will make
il 90 cents.
THOSE MOST INTERESTED.
The owners OF vessels desire to see the
whole law of compulsory pilotage blOtted
from our laws. They have more at stake
than any one else, and their wishes should
be respected. He read a letter from the
Boston Marine Insurance Company stat
ing that no additional insurance would be
charged If pilOtage was not made COM
pulsOry on incoming and outgoing vessels.
This letter alone should defeat this bill.
There are too many pilots. tits wrong to
tax commerce TO support them. He had
il from competent authority that 10 pilots
could do the business, whereas there are
32. He did not believe in the'"stand and
deliver' code OF laws.
AN OLD CUSTOM.
Mr.. Calvin, Of Richmond county, said
that every maritime code since the time
of the fourteenth century had migrated In
II compulsory pilotage laws. We should
not retrograde. We should advance for
ward not take n step backward. One OF
the objects Of this bill Is to make the SER
vice more efficient.
Mr.. Hall, Of Dodge county, claimed
that Il was contrary 10 the interests OF the
people Of this State 10 pass this bill. There
are too many pilots. II there is not
enough work for them 10 90 as pilots let
them seek other work. II is wrong to tax
our commerce and people 10 support this
class by compulsory means.
The hour Of adjournment left the debate
10 proceed tomorrow.
IN THE SENATE.
The Senate met at 10 O'Clock this morn
ing. Messrs. Davidson, Thornton, Sykes,
Northen aud Mitchell were appointed
committee to prepare suitable resolutions
on the death Of Senator Graft.
ON motion Of MIR. Davidson House bills
were read the first time. Among them
were
The bill TO prohibit the sale or furnish
ing OF splrltnous liquors In smithvile.
To prevent any person from fishing or
hunting on the lands OF another In Appling
county.
10 Incorporate the Propeller. Tow Boat
ana Ilghtprage Company Of savannah.
NJ ~ J. lua la g.