The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-11
Let the Pilots Alone.

Inc snip-ouiiders OF New England have
never been backward In asking congress for
any favor they conceived to be Of advan-
tage to them. They have asked, aud sue
ceeded in obtaining, protection for their
vessels from keel to truck and from jib-
boom tip to taffrail. They have also Sc
cured the passage of laws whereby they Writ
ually own the ocean, within the three mile
limit" in so far as commerce between
American ports is concerned. This trade
is controlled by the Vessel Owners Associa-
ton, composed largely of Maine ship build
ers and owners, which organization, accord
ing to the New York Marine Journal, re-
Gently raised fund of $1,000 to assist in
passing through congress a bill to enable
them to make few more dollars at the ex-
pense Of the southern ports and body OF
men who are nothing less than the saviors
| OF men, women and children from the dam
gers Of the deep. The Frye bill, to abolish
compulsory pilotage on coastwise vessels
south of the Delaware, is the bill re-
ferred TO.
Not satisfied with the protection and
monopoly granted them by existing laws,
these few shipowners ask congress TO in
crease their profits by destroying the COM
merce of the southern ports and endanger-
ing the lives OF those who ''go down to the
sea in ships The occasional loss of a
schooner does not amount to much with
them-the insurance companies will pay for
that-and few drowned sailors will not
appear on the debit side of the balance
sheet. Whatever bad repute may attach to
southern bar because Of shipwrecks on it,
making foreign charters of cotton carriers
difficult and costly. does not touch the Maine
| owners-they do not consider the foreigner
worthy OF notice. nor the southern port
worthy Of consideration, unless there is a
| charter there for their schooners.
But the people Of the south have con-
siderable interest in this matter. The sea-
ports through which the commerce Of the
southern states is carried on are all stu
ated on rivers or harbors more or less diff
t1cult OF entrance. From the Jersey coast
southwark the shores are shelving and the
channels to a safe harbor narrow, and at
| times dangerous of navigation. Only those
we'll acquainted with the channels can take
vessel into port with safety. and fire.
quently the highest degree Of skill in sea-
manship must accompany the most minute
knowledge Of shoals, lodges and
channels to make a successful entrance.
The states recognizing the necessity Of skill
and reliability in pilots, and to make sure
that the men who hold licenses as such are
responsible. have passed laws by which the
acts Of the individual pilot in his daily life
and In the pursuit of his calling are placed
under control of the law. To become
pilot long and arduous apprenticeship
must be served-longer and harder than is
required in almost any other calling and
when an apprentice becomes pilot his du-
ties are Of the most exscting kind. He
braves storm and fog by day or night to
take his charge safely into port. while prob
ably the Maine owner Of the very craft he
is aboard Of, grown rich and powerful
despite the alleged burden of compulsory
pilotage, is plotting to deprive him Of his
hard-earned fee.
The pilotage laws, as they are now con-
| stituted, are ample and sufficient, and any
Interference with them by congress- strik-
| ing, for instance, blow at honest and
honorable labor in Georgia for the benefit
| Of capitalists in Maine. would be the gross
est injustice.