The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-15
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
DISCUSSION OF THE PILor LAWS
calculations Relative TO the United States
.nd Brazil Mail Steamship Company
The Travellers Protective Association.

Chamber Of Commerce was hclu Yesterday
.,enine AZ O'Clock. colonel John b. Purcell
.resiaent occupying tho chair.
lr.n motion OF Mr.. \. ID. Landerkin tho
pa, .line Of the minutes Of the last meeting was
Dispensed with.
Tho frst business brought before the Cham
Ter was the appointment OF committee 90 At
and tho meeting OF tho Committee on Health
.fho city Council. which was called for this
evening 40 half-past o'clock 20 consider the
,..ort OF the Chamber on matters relating TO
te health Of the city. Mr. Thomas y Carter
tai Nr A. T. OuSon we're appointed upon the
VIZ A. d Iandorlun. chairman of tho com
...ltee on outward trade. then submitted a
,er.sl report OF Che efforts made by members
a.. .is committee snt other members OF the
chamber Interested IN tho passage OF tho bill
,.n pending before Congress lS. 1852 TO exempt
american coastwise sailing vessels piloted by
tlar licensed masters or 10y United Stafcs
IDIOTS irom tnC Obligations 20 pay state pilots
.or services not rendered, and asked the Cham
Ifr to adopt the following resolution aud
..emorlaI which vas unanimously done:
Resolved. That this Chamber earnestly in
s.fscs She bin now before the United States
senate - 1882 providing for such an amend
rtut az the present pilot laws as wll place sail
ae vessels engaged in the coastwise trade
.lu the same advantageous footing as vessels
engaged I'D The same service propelled IN whole
rr r.rt nl steam.
MU commend THIS measure 70 the support or
ff senator's and representatives. IN Congress
lnm Virginia and URGE them 90 lend their aid
g. behalf OF TINS measure, whose passage We
fl.l isl 0ciafcd not only by consideration or
..fice and FAIR dealing, but Will promote the
commerce AMI prosperity OF our state.
$50 cordially invoke the favor and support Of
t.e commerciai hodies OF our sister cities and
q other OrEanlIat lions in the state. whose OBJ
.tct is 90 foster trade and build no our COM
rarcial interests. IN behalf Of this measure.
he subject or pilot regulations IS dlstlhc-
tt.lv matter OF Federal jurisdiction as 10 re-
s.ts almost solely 20 interstate commerce.
VIRGINIA Pilots.
To- 1850 the United states Congress committed
t matter OF pilot regulation and pilot fees 10
o.. several states until Congress shout hy ap-
Ir..rlatr legislation arrange national system
.t avs governing this important subject h-
der ihls temporary grant OF juusNcilon me
States have passed laws with reference 10 the
licensing OF pilots ana he fees for fhelr service
Ialtr tie statute. passed by Virginia the Pilot
I-.0clatlon of Virginia has perfect monopoly
he one can become pilot without Their con-
sslt nor can any one outside OF their order
..rIorm the duties or receive the pay. Inc
le.. for service are iiyed hv law and are amply
?. nunoratiyc. BUT in addition 10 the fees
tr service actually rendered the law
.oWs the pilots 20 charge whether
t.. service is rederod or not. The owners Of
....ing vessels plying IN our waters are COM
.el .eI 90 pas compulsory pilot lees Tor oach
.rp maic 90 and from our ports. though no
.Ut ever places his 1901 upon the Fessel
rtrk. unless f0 escape the burden of these fees
vi .lcl would I'D cases OF vessels making fire.
c..ut trips. prove so onerous as 10 prevent
chem from trading altogether IN our waters.
tic master secures immunity IRON the charge
hF obtaining license from tho mot Assocl-
ftion allowing him the privilege or coming
and going with his vessel through The waters OF
kirginia Not one dollar ~ the thousands
tlu, collected in the form on com usofy
fees 0r license tax goes into the public
treasury. but the whole finds It's way into the
pockets Of private individuals 80 injurious 10
commerce and oppressive 30 steamboat owners
Was TINS TAX and fees thar the Federal Govern
ment by subsel uent enactment EXEMPTED all
vessels engaged ln coastWl-e trade, propelled IN
whole or arr by steam. from the operation OF
the compulsory plOtage laws or the several
\ ares. 30 injury TO commerce H.I uAnEeI 10
l.c resulted from thh Clhlkt, lncugl II il
DID steamers that the larger portion OF freight
aul almost the entire pas seHger traihc gong by
water is transported. he TACT that the plot
never went upon the vessel was positive proof
that HE services were not needed and hence
The change which exempted the steamboats,
from the operation or the law has only served
Gu build no our commerce thus transported
without any possible danger 10 NE or property.
SAILING vEssEIE
The effort is now made TO place sailing yes
sells engaged In the coastWlse trade upon the
same footing as that occupied by STEAMBOATS,
hr charging in effect the provisions OF the act
In tho passage Of this bin we feel that all
PERSONS interested IN cheapenlng freight rates
and encouraging our commerce nave concern.
T.a c0mruls0ry pilot tax is q discrimination
srsinst our sailing vessels. ltis % the sailing
vessels that our shippers look for cheapest
freight rates. Every sailing vessel which
con he induced 20 come TO our ports enlargcs
or commerce and increases the competition
10 our shipments, thus reducing 20 the mini
mann The freight charges Our city has felt the
had effects of thls inlquitOus system upon her
commerce. We believe ITS influence Is alike IN
.lrous 10 our sister cities and 50 we ask them 10
unite with us i'm securing tho passage OF the bill
low before Congress 10 remedy the evil
BRAZIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY.
A communication was then read from the
Southern Wholesale GrOcers Association, In
wing the attention OF the Chamber 10 the reso-
.lt.ons adopted in the annual convention OF
ilat body. held in Memphis the 25th and Hth
U.lmO. relating 20 the discrimination OF the
MED states and Brazil Mail steamship Com
p,uv against Newport News as a port OF entry
DO the interest OF New Ork importers. and sug-
costing action on the part OF TINS hamber In
pursuance OF this suggestion, the following
resolutions were offered:
Nhereas the United States and Brazil Mail
steamship COMPANY has been plying with It's
steamers, practically without interruption. be.
tween New ork and Newport News, Va, and
8 Brallls from the year 1852 until December ],
$50. and during that whole period has received
every encouragement possible from the mesa
r.ase and Ohio Railway Company. whose prin-
cilal tracks. piers and other terminal facilities
for steamer connections are located at that
PORT. and said steamship company has also Oh
-0red the good wall Of the Richmond shippers
Icing an American line touching at Virginia
r0rf. and has received their continued patron
axe. until now shipments from Richmond are
made bv DO almost TO the entire exclusion OF all
other means Of transportation 20 the Brazlls;
And whereas. upon the passage by congress,
March 3, 1891, II An act TO provide for ocean
mail service between the United states and for
elgn ports. and 20 promote commerce. upon
the solicitation OF this company. and with the
most positive ass urance from the authorized
OF DO, that the service az New
rort News would not only lie continued. but
woul be greatly improved IN the event Of
Oil influential committee OF its members headed
Ir MS president, waited upon the Postmaster
General and advocated the claims Of the
/ nlfpd States and brazil Mail Steamship Com
fanvtO the contract for carrying the ocean mails
i.fgeen tho United States and Brazil. upon the
ground that the existing and prospective ser
t.rr of the company 40 Newport News entitled
d tO such aid and encouragement under tie
PROVISIONS Of tho subsidy act; and the IOstmas-
ter-0eneral IN unqualified terms declared NM
te.f.p full accord with the views of the COM
l ttee of the Chamber Respecting the lmLO
tuce OF Newport News and that he would be
inclined % consider favOrably the claims OF this
company. but would IN 10 event award TINS con-
tract 20 any company upon terms that olI not
tmr'v protect tho interests OF The port OF New
BORT News and the sections OF country tributary
thereto.
bud whereas it appears that in consequence
o fle rapid increase IN the Noume or snip
0.nfs al Newrort News and tho temporary dli-
tcllfyIn giving these steamers tho iull accom-
notation and quick dispatch they had hereto
Z Pc enjoyed that they have ceased 10 call 40
Newport News or have called lrreGuarly since
I'tetmDer 4, 1891. and Do also appears rom a. re-
ctIf publication of the uticranccs OF the new
.llcnt OF The line That there Is disposition