Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-23
PILOTS OPPOSE DINGLEY.
THEY DO NOT WANT THE PILOT
AGE LAW CHANGED.

Capt Thomas NJ. FIeetwood's Argu-
ment before the Congregational Com
mjttess-KeaEOns Why the Present
PnOtage System Should Not Be Al
tersd-Oapt. FIeetwood's Views on
the Question-What He Says About
Compulsory Pilotsge.
Capt Thomas NJ. Fleetwood, who went
to Washington in the interest of the
Georgia pilots, returned on Sunday, and
was seen yesterday by a NEWS reporter.
There were eight or ten delegates in all
before the committees, but they failed to
get more than one satisfactory hearing,
and that was not before full committee
Judge Beckwith, of New Orleans. was
the chief spokesman for the pilots, and
Capt. Fleetwood says that the Judge
rather got the best Of the Senatorial CON-
mlttee in his argument before them.
Chairman Frye has one bill and Congress
man Dingley has two. Senator Jones. OF
Oregon, lntimated that he was in favor OF
the government taking hold OF the pilot
age system and making the pilots en-
ployes OF the government. Judge Beck
with opposed that measure on tue ground
that II would destroy the incentive OF the
pilots. During the war tbs Federal gov
eminent paid its pilots, and they got so
that they did not care whether vessel
got in a port or not. Their pay was sure,
and they would not venture out over the
bars in any kind Of bad weather.
One Of Mr.. Dingley's bills provides that
on and alter the first OF next July no
sailing vessel OF the Ulited States en-
gagged in the cOastwise trade shall be
obliged TO take any pilot into or out OF
any mort of the limited Static mr. no f.oFf,
PEELED 10 paw any charges or fees to any
pilot for pilOtage services rendered under
the pilOtage laws Ofany State unless such
services are accepted. The effect of the
bill the pilots say would be to do away
with the pilotage system south of Virginia
except, perhaps. at the ports OF Charles
ton, savannah, Pensacola and New Or
leans. Almost all OF the business at such
ports as Beaufort, Brunswick and Fer
nandlna is in plotting cOastwise vessels.
Capt. Fleetwood, IN an argument be-
fore the Congressional Committees, made
the point that the pilots do all Of the san
itary duties along the coast free Of cost to
the government and the States. The pilot
age paid in Georgia is derived one half
from foreign vessels and the other half
from coastwise vessels. In Georgia it re-
quires ten years service before authority
Is given TO pilot any vessel. That is four
AAutts as lDnk as IL ldkGc " uldhG
or lawyer, the Captain added. The pilots
make another point OF the fact that the
present system is carried on at no expense
to the States or the general government.
The pilots prefer that the system should
remain about as 1t is. Messrs. Frye and
Dingley, the most active advocates for a
change, are from Maine. State which has
an immense export coastwise trade.
The delegates thought before they left
Washington that Mr.. Dingley was en-.
deavoring to rush one of his bills through.
All OF the members recognized the neces-
sity for pilots, and expressed themselves
as not desiring the total abolition Of CON-
pulsory pilOtage. What the pilots object
to so strongly is that with any laws that
are not compulsory, vessel needing
pilot will take one into port, but going
out will take tugbOat. This democrat
ICES the pIlotage system. A common in
terest, the rivalry OF ports, the Boards Of
Pilotage Commissioners can be safely re-
lied on the pilots hold. Capt. Fleetwood
said before the committee that IN a SER
wee covering thirtY-ive years he never
heard captain say that be desired to see
the pilotage system broken up. The
need Of pilots is even greater than
ever. Vessels are leviatbans to what
they used 10 be. More skill is required.
The harbors are being deepeBed by a sys-
TEN Of jetties aud submerged dams max
ING the rivers more dangerous and diff.
cult to navigate.
Capt. Fleetwood added that 10 would be
inconsistent for Congress to expend large
sums for opening han bors along the coast
which will cheaper by competition the
commerce OF the country, ana then de-
stroy the advantages by destroying SO i'm
pOrtant factor as the trained pilot. In
that way the repute OF pilot for safety
is impaired, and marine insurance CON-
p9nies would increase the premiums.
His argument in concluding. said that
''while 1t might be the policy Of and per-
haps the interest of the large seaports al
ready established, with theIr volume OF
commerce and deep water harbors, to see
these struggling ports Of the Southern
and Gulf coast impeded in this way, il
could not be the interest of the agrioultu-
raj and producing States and eOmmuni-
ties TO do So"
The following shows the value of ex-
ports and imports at the port Of Savannah
since 1880:
Value OF exports last years. .S2l9 $50, s68 %
Value OF imports last years. 3722,30l 90