Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-24

The chairman introduced ds the nrhU
/ speaker Hon. A. > Buiord, member OF
+ the House from Richmond, who con-
fessed. though his name had been for
two or three days published III the news
/ papcrs here as one OF the speakers at
I this meeting, that fact had only come to
/ his knowledge a few minutes ago, and he
had no set speech prepared. He, how
ever, proved to be pretty familiar with
the question, ana ho proceeded to show
forth the enormity of the present law,
which allows the pilots association to
levy npon vessels bound for Richmond
dho Potomac river Is exempt a tax for
pilotaee not needed. not asked for, and
not given. TO be rid of the greater tax
of paving for the presence OF an unne-
cessary pilot, vessels trading here pay
the pilots an annual license which en-
titles them to come and 60 without IN
reference.
at is, said he, "a question one hun
dred years old-it Is question OF taxa
lion without Representations The fact Is
that an association of pilots have got
possession of the commerce OF Virginia
and say IL you don't pay our charges
We will abandon our calling. Well, they
had better DO that 80 far as the com
merce of this section OF Virginia is con-
cerned. Under this policy our com
mcrce is steadily dwlndhng. 1t IS a
mere levv-they don't undertake 10 deny
it-of $1,000 per annum for which they
don't undertake TO render any services.
II is the same sort of outrage that led to
the American Revolution. They collect
altogether SG5, 00O per annum. Oh TINS
the coastwise vessels pay 81, 900 and the
foreign $4,000, and after keeping mp
their so-called plant they have about
3l O0O apiece left. And they say now
if YOU don't give ms all of this We will
let the commerce of Virginia go. Well,
there is no danger OF that. Pilots are
necessary. but the tonnage that requires
their service should pay for 1t, ami 1t IS
an outrage too gross 10 be maintained
that with respect to the interior com
merce. for which they never put their
hands To an oar, the continuance they
ask should be permitted
The Colonel added that the bill passed
the House by large majority, and that
he "was much surprised and mortified
that il had gotten INTO mistaken chan
mel in the Senate but he had no doubt
TINT when it came before that body ana
was discussed Justice would be done
those asking this relief. lie "would not
call il a piratical levy but certainly 1t
was one OF the most unIustliiable charges
ever pat upon people.
Mr. MCNFOBD.
The chairman next introduced Hon.
BIB. Muulord, who explained the ex-
istino law and the amendment proposed.
The li,ot ASSOCIATION now consists OF
twenty.seyen men. 1t Is close corpo-
ration. They are not required 10 take
apprenticcs. Their fees come from To-
reion and coastwise vessels, Out as to the
former it is not proposed t. change the
law. aud they pad $4,000 IN fees to the
pilots last wear. This system OF taxing
vessels bound up James river for services
not rendered, Mr. Munford contended.
is eating up our commerce, aud he read
8 statement 10 show that 1t is driving
business from richmond, not to other
Virginia cities, bat TO cities beyond our
borders.
MIR. Munford then went on to show
that the people throughout all Virginia
are intere sted in this matter. He said
that vessels going to Alexandria were eX-
empted from this tribute upon their coast
wise trade. Then he met the assertion
that without these fees the pilots could
NOT afford 10 keep in business for the
benefit OF the foreign vessels. This he