The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-20
THE PILOT LAWS-MH. EDWARDS
MEMORIAL.

We desire TO notice in detail the re-
cital of the communication which re-
Gently appeared in our morning con-
temporary. signed o. Z. Edwards,
agent Of the Virginia Pilots Associa-
ton. aud to which we briefly referred
in our issue of the 18th.
Mr.. Edwards letter was review OF
the memorial presented to the General
Assembly by the committee of which
Mayor Ellyson is chairman, and is an
attempted REPUTATION of some of the
charges set out in that memorial.
We will notice the reply of Mr.. Ed
wards.
First, he refers to the recital Of The
memorial, that the Pilots Association
il a close corporation, and argues to
show that its officials have always ad
mitted a sufficient number of appren-
tees to keep up the requisite number Of
pilots.
OF couree. the recital of the memorial
was not intended as a complaint of the
small number of pilots. but simply TO
show that as the pilots have the whole
matter in their own hands. they eau
keep their membership down TO such a
number as that the receipts of the as
ISOLATION will amply reward them for
services actually rendered.
The second recital of the letter Is an
admission that the charge in the me
mortal that the association received
from pilotage fees in 1887 SAT, 900 is
true, and that these fees were collect
ed of vessels which were compelled to
pay. whether their masters needed or
received the services CT any pilot OF
no.. Mr.. Edwards wisely fefrains
from telling the public how many thou
sands were collected in 1899.
The third recital is also an admission
that the charge Of the memorial. that
Sl7 900 were collected of the coast-wise
vessels for licenses in 1887, is likewise
true. and that not one iota of ser
vice was ever rendered by mortal man
for this immense sum. The fact that
Richmond paid such a small proportion.
does not help his position. Every one
knows that the shippers and receivers of
freight living in Virginia had to pay the
tex.
The fourth recital is lengthy pre-
sentation OF the .perils to which the
pilots are subjected in being required
to cruise at sea to meet vessels, and then
tring len in.
Now the law, which will be found in
the Code, provides that if vessel chn
pass IL from sea without being spoken
by pilot, she can so on her way with
out paying the fees, and 50 from his
zeal 10 demand and coilec. his fees, the
pilot stands ever on guard, and the yes
sci which can elude his vigilance and slip
by without fallingla victim to his grasp
mus, be fleet, indeed. Besides, the Fed
eral Government has exempted vessels
propelled in whole or part by steam,
that is, all steamers, from the opera tions
OF the law; and 90 our valiant pilot
stands ready to save the pig iron, coal
and ice of the freight boats from sup
POSED dangers, while the steamers laden |
with passengers are most strangely. as |
it doubtless appears to him, saved from
bis grasp. which is more 10 be feared
than the dangers Of the great deep.
But the service which the pilots rem.
der the health Of our State 10 OF very
great moment, and the General, Assem-
ply is besought not TO relieve the coast
wise trade from the license tax, because
lie pilots conduct all vessels upon
which thsTe 4 any disease TO the guar
milne station.
Surely, Mr., Edwards muit think very