Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-09
THE PILOTAGE LAWS.
The Reasons Why Casting Vessels trading
Eere Should Rot be Forced
70 Take Pilots.
For the Dispatch.l

As will be remembered by the readers
OF the Dispatch the Chamber OF Com
merce of this city st meeting recently
held unanimously adopted resolution
calling upon the General Assembly to so
amend by appropriate legislation the
existing laws in regard TO pilots and pl-
lotage as to exempt from compulsory
pilotage coastwise vessels trading IN the
waters of Virginia. Under this resolu-
ton a committee consisting OF ). w.
CrinOan, $. ID. Crenshaw, G.. l.. Chris
tan. Frank L. Glasgow. and ---- were
appointed TO have the necessary bill pre-
pared and exert themselves to secure for
the measure prompt and favorable con
Alteration at the hands of the General
Assembly. a bill having this object was
accordingly introduced by our senior
senator, Mr.. Lovenstein. IN the Senate
and by Colonel Buford in the Honse.
The Pilots Association, which by vlr-
tue OF the exclusive privileges which
they enjoy and the large revenue derived
from the compulsory pilot fees which
the law now exacts for their benefit, OF
every vessel trading in the waters OF
Virginia, has become a very wealthy and
influential organization and so 1t may
he expected that they will not only
themselves earnestly combat the pro-
posed legislation, but will bring to their
assistance before the committees OF the
General Assembly the services Of one or
more prominent attorneys. Anucl-
paiing this course on their part. the
owners Of vessels and large shippers OF
this city have employed Messrs. Staples
and Munf0rd 10 appear before the same
committees in behalf of the bill. In
conversation with Mr.. Munford he ex-
planned the present law and presented
some reasons why the bill just intro
duced should be passed a summary OF
which We give below
Under the existing statute" said
Mr.. Munford, "there is board of COM
missioners appointed by the Corporation
Court of Norfolk and the County Court
Of Elizabeth City county. This board
examines all applicants for pilots license
and grant the same to such as appear to
he qualified and who furnish proof that
they have served as apprentices TO some
pilot Of THIS state for a period OF five
years. All the pilots of this State be-
long to an association and thus the num-
Der of pilots and of applicants for pilots
licenses is limited to the number of per
sons whom the pilots will themselves
consent to take as apprentices. A heavy
penalty is prescribed against any one Of
fering his services as pilot who is not
commissioned as above prescribed. The
twelfth section of the present law, con-
tinued Mr.. Munford, requires all YES
sells other than coasting vessels. inward
or outward bound, to take the first Nir-
ginia pilot Offering his services ana II |
the master of the vessel refuses to accept |
the services of the pilot he must imme-
diately pay the pilot full pilotage to or |
from the sea. 1 need not explain the |
rates of pilotage, which are very large, |
for this class of vessels, as we do not /
propose to change the law i'll regard to |
them one iota, but we simply desire TO .
change the law requiring the payment .
OF compulsory pilolaSe by cOastIng yes /
sells. Approaching how excessive the /
tax which the exactlon OF compulsory /
pilots fees of vessels trading between
our cities and other points on the coast
OF the United States, because OF their
frequent trips in and out Of the capes,
would be, the fourteenth section OF the
present law provides that agents of the
pilots. one at Norfolk and one at Rich
mond, may grant licenses TO coastwise
vessels. which will accord them the privi-
lege of trading in the waters of Virginia |
without being required to take on board F.
pilot or pay him pilot fees in case his ,
services are not desired. 1t is this pro-
vision of the present law that the bill
just introduced proposes to amend, and |
when amended, it will provide that no
coastwise vessel shall be required to take
out pilot license for the privilege OF
trading in the waters of Virginia or to
pay for the services of a pilot unless
such services are desired and actually /
rendered. The bill carefully provides !
that IL the master of any cOastwise vessel |
desires pilot he shall take the first Vir-
ginia pilot Offering his services and pay
him therefor such fees as are fixed by
law for like service on other vessels. No
work, no pay, is the principal OF the new
bill. No taxation of the citizen except
for the State or in return for some benefit
seems TO me proposition founded on
the bedrock of right and reason.
Think OF the State of Virginia lend
ing her powers as q sovereign to levy
taxes to few of her citizens who un-
der the shadow OF her authority and by
force OF her laws levy tribute upon all
the rest OF the Commonwealth. 1t seems
20 me a gross prostitution OF the functions
Of the Government which cannot be de-
Tended by any legitimate argument that
such legislation is warranted by consid-
erations of sound public policy. Not one
dollar of these taxes go into the State
Treasury but they are exacted of the
citizen FOR private persons for services
which are never rendered. You can we'll
appreciate the injurious effects of the
law upon Virginia scommerce. Baltimore
only charges tax OF six cents per ton on
each ton OF the vessels burden of coast
wise vessels, while the tax in this State
is ten cents. Suppose there was no tax,
what a great advantage it would be TO
our commerce. Why, - said MIR. Mum
ford, taking paper from his desk,
q" here is a list of vessels owned or
in large part owned by Richmond men
the Sue Williams, G. W. Amber
son, Bessie Brown, Gay Thomas, W. g.
Fannie Brown, Daniel Gift
ford, S. A. Rudolph, Mamie Saunders,
Dora Allison, Ida Schoolcrait, J. B.
Pace. ". II. Allison, and Warner Moore.
These vessels cost in the aggregate over
$3.50, 600 to build, and there are OF course
dollars invested in manning
and equipping them. But before the
owners of these vessels, who are primer
pally our own people, can send them
forth 10 do the carrying business Of our
city and State they must pay large tax
for the privilege, not one cent Of which
goes TO the State end for which the
owner receives no service. These
vessels are above oil other means
the surest mediums for bringing
trade and prosperity 10 the gates
Of our city. In the maintenance of
an efficient and adequate water trans
porsation is the best safeguard against
excessive freight charges by railroads
and the protection Of the shippers OF
the products OF Our State There is not |