The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-14

Senator Frye Presents His Report in Favor
of His Measure,

of His Measure
WAsHIxGToN, D. c.. April 13.-lSpecial. J.
Senator Frye has presented his report in sup
port of the bill recently reported favorably by
him from the Commerce Committee 10 ''ex-
empt American cOastwse sailing vessels
piloted by their licensed masters or by
United States pilot from the obligation 10 pay
State pilots for services not rendered" 1hIs
is the way Senator Frye interprets his bill.
He denies that the bill seeks 10 abolish com
pulsory potage throughout the Union.
Senator Frye. IN his report further states:
"Ihe bill simply provides that cOastwse sail
ing vessels shall be put on the same basis as
our steam vessels, by allowing the licensing
of their masters on mates to pilot their own
vessels. when found competent by the local
inspectors, as contained IN section 4ii2 of the
revised statutes Of the United States. and by
exelnpting them from the payment of State
pilotage when not used and when their yes
sells are towed by tugs under the charge of
United States pilots
The Senator in his report goes back to the
Colonial period in his review of the subec Of
jurisdiction over nayigable waters and tie
laws relating 20 piotage. He stated that
i'm 1852 Congress abolished compulsory pi-
lotage as to all coasting vessels pro-
pelled by steam, and that since then the
following States have abolished compul-
sorry pilotage in the cOastwse trade:
Maine, New Hampshire. Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, Connecticut Qn part, New
York. New Jersey. Pennsy ylyanla. Delaware,
Indiana. Michigan. Wisconsin. Minnesota,
Iowa, California, Oregon and Washington.
lin this connection It Is proper 10 state that
report against similar bill IN the last House
denied the assertion here reiterated by Sena-
tor FRYE. The Senator'S report states that
compulsOry pilOtage only exists now IN the
following ten Southern seaboard States:
MARYLAND Virginia. North Carolina. South
Carolina. Georgia. Florida. Alabama, Alissis-
sinpi Louisiana and Texas. lie quotes the
laws Of these states bearing on the subject.
and among them are the following extracts:
Forts OF Virginia: Section 1867. Pilots
sball appOint agents one for Norfolk city and
one Richmond, who shall grant licenses for
coastine vessels trading III all the rivers OF
this State; for which license sucn agent shall
rereiye 10 per cent. per ton Tor Que year. and
coa.ting vessels having such Licenses shall be
free TO sail without pilots 10 or from sea; but
oil vessels sailing under cOgsting licenses OF
tha hurthen of 70 tons or more. coming from
~ ,o;ng TO sea. without having obtained
license from such agent shall be subject to
the same regulations ana pllotage as regis
tered vessels belonging to citizens OF the
United States
shall be construed 10 apply 10 vessels bound
for any point in the Potomac and no vessel
bound To or from any point on the Potomac
shall be required to pay pllotage.' Code Of
Virginia.
Ports of North Carolina: Section 3502.
When any master of vessel. not having q
pilot on board coming owes the bar into Cape
Fear river or being in the river and going out
of either Of the nlets. shall refuse pilot
across the bar. then each pilotIso refused shall
be entitled to the same pilOtage AS If he had
been actually employed to pilot and had pl-
loted such vessel"
Section 1906 And when any master of
vessel shall refuse pilot either up or down
the Cape Fear river. then each pilot so refused