The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-18

THE HENttiAl4 vi H. liioAS.
We have read with much interest a
communication signed 20. L. Edwards.
seont of Virginia Pilots Association,
which appeared as an advertisement in
the Dispatch Of yesterday. This article Is
a combined assault upon the memorial
lists who were appointed by our Chamb'r
of Commerce 10 brig to the attention
Of the General Assembly the obnoxious
character Of cur present pilot laws :
upon the city Of Richmond, whose oc-
caying commerce ssems TO arouse the
Iiveliest satisfaction in he breast Of this
gentleman and presentation Of the
supposcd right OF the pilots to levy
tribute upon our commerce TO support
an organization which. as this indiscreie
spokesman admiLs, would die. because
the excuse for its existence has Ions
since ceased, but for the payment OF
compulsory fees for services not desired
by the payer. nor rendered by the eel
pients.
AS to the animadyersions upon the
memorialsts, we confidently assert
that the simple recital 81 their names
will reas sure the most critical that these
gentlemen have no other object than
the prosperity Of Virginia.
Who are these men whose memorial
Mr. 0 L. Edwards, agent OF the pilots,
reviews with such tienchant pen? Are
they msn " no live by tax which Nir-
gisia allows them 10 lew upon private
citizens for supposed services which
are never rendered. are they men
who stand in the way OF her pro
gress? We take it. they present at
least a creditable comparison with the
Pilots Association in this respect, and
tina; their standing and services as VII
giDians are such as 10 enlitle any
memorial hich they may present. to
the corsiderate attention Of our Gen
eral Assembly. Let us recount them.
J. Taylor EllysJn. James b Pace. Gen
eral Joseph Il Anderson. Lewis Ginter,
John b. Purcell, James w. Allison,
Jackson Guy. Peter II. Mayo. AS. Blu
ford. G. l.. Christian. y Y. Randolph.
Tazewell Elicit, Charlie L. Wingo, and
Charles Y. Meredith. They are men.
who. by their lives and services, are ii,
representatives Of the PEG lie, not alone
of Richmond, but the whole State Of
Virginia.
As to the decalence Of the COM
mercs Of this city, we can only cay,
that when we remember that along
every other lire Of progress, our city
has outstripped all her competitors. ard
ia daily growing in wealth ana power
her iailare to build up, or even main
tain her coastwise commerce. might
have been allowed to pass unnoliced By
this gentleman, whe1 il Ii remember
ed that il is his organization. and the
privilege which it possesses 10 lay trib
ute upon our trade that has driven our
commerce from our doOrs.
With reference to the presentation
OF the claims of his organic alton. and
his attempted refutation of the allega-
tons of the memorial Of the committee
OF our Chamber of Commerce, we dc.
sire in all caudor to thank the gentle
man for his communication.
The people in this struggle need have
no fear, il only a discussion Of the
question can be had on lis merits. and
the members OF the General Assembly
fully informed as to all the fact,. All
that the advocates Of the proposed
change need desire is that the facts
with reference to the present law may
be brought to light.
We understand that when the bill,
similar in purpose to the one now be-
fore the Legislature WAS under contid-
Grafton two years ago, a friend OF the J
pilots presented their case in a speech
of nearly ,wo hours length. The speech |
convinced the body OF the proprietv Of
the proposed change, and it was adopt
ed by almost unanimous vote.
The speech Of the Hon. Basil b Cor
don, then the chairman OF the Commit
lee on Commerce, who led the people
in that fight a. he did in the late stfug-