The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-24
a new rIL0TAGE LAW.

Nr. CUtting, Representative Of the Fourth
California District has introduced TITO
Congress a bill transferring the control Of
lIl0ta-e from the State authorities 10 the
General Government The attempt has
been made before but has always failed.
IN England it took several years to wrest
the business Of pilotage out Of the hands Of
the Trinity House and c0gnate organiza-
tiOns; but the work was at last accom-
plished, and now the laws on the subject of
pil0tage in Great Britain have been cousoli-
dated by the Merchant Shipping Act Of
1854 In tbs country each port has its own
pilots and its own regulations for their
Government, as we'll as its own tariff Of
fees. For many years it has been common
talk among ship-Owners that the San Fran
cisco pilots charge for their services fees so
exorbitaut that they constitute hindTance
to foreign commerce, and whenever the
Legislature meets a bin is introduced to
regulate the matter. But the pilots always
manage to defeat il, aud it has come to be
classed among the regular cinch bills out Of
which the members # the Legislature ex-
pect 20 make their stake. This would all
come to an end if pilotage were placed under
the control Of TIE Treasury Department.
Mr. Cuttings bill provides that pilots
shall be divided into six classes. The first
class, which is the only one with which
this port would have to deal, consists Of
pilots Of over ten years experience who
are competent to pilot vessels drawing over
twenty feet Of water. Their pay is to be
fixed by the Secretary Of tie Treasury, and
the charge which vessels employing them
must pay is TO be determined by the same
authority-the rule being laid down that
vessels carrying the American flag shall pay
one-thiTd less for pilotage than foreign
vessels. The discrimination between foreign
land American vesselsis carried still further.
A foreign sailing vessel arriving at or de-
parting from an American port shall pay
half the regular pilOtaga fee IL tie master
declines TO accept the services Of a pilot;
but an American sailing vessel is to be free
to employ a pilot or not. as the master
chooses, and shall not be liable for pilotage
money If the master decides 10 navigate his
ship in or out Of port himself. AS nearly
all the sailing ships which sail out of San
Francisco carry foreign flags this provision
would insure to the pilots fund some pilot
age money in almost every case.
The provisions regarding steam vessels
are precise. Every tug must be commanded
by a licensed pilot. Every foreign steamer
must engage the services Of q pilot on enter
ing or leaving port, and the same rule is
applied to steamers carrying the American
flag if they are bound to foreign ports. But
no provision is made for the imposition OF
fine or other penalty if these vessels choose
TO disObey the law. a. vessel in tow Of
tug commanded by licensed pilot need not
engage another pilot; the bill aims at
afolishiuC double UiiOtage.
OF course the value OF this measure will
depend largely On the schedule of fees
adopted By the Treasury Department. The
governing principle is that the fees should
be as low as they can be made consistently
with a fair remuneration to the pilots for
their labor. skill. experience and risk. AT
present the schedule is framed upon the
principle that pilots should charge all the
traffic will bear 1t does not appear that
Mr. CuttiBs has undertaken to fix toWage