The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-27

late Capt. stetson, a pilot commissioner.
1t is further recommended that when a
vessel is delayed in port more than TWEEN
ty-four hours the pilot who is in attend
anee shall be compensated by s. per diem.
Capt. ]. B. Libby. manager of the Puget
Sound Tugboat Association, is most en-
phatically opposed to compulsory PHO,
laws. He denies the truthfuIness of the
commissioners report to the governor.
Win reference to the statement that in
surance is cheaper to the Columbia river
than to Puget sound. he says:
Marine insurance premiums are as low. II not
lower, to Puget sound as they are 10 the Column
pia RIVER. his statement was sworn TO by Bal
iour, Guthrie x Co.'S representative two years
ago and submitted 10 the legislature, protesting
against the enactment of q compulsory pilot
law This firm charters scores of vessels each
year, both to Puget sound and the Columbia.
ano are certainly competent to judge of iusur
ance rates. Again, every shipowne-, charterer,
consignee, shipEnaster and millowners on Puget
sound are decidedly opposed 20 the law
ior the reason that under the present si:ua-
ton Puget sound has an immense advantage
over both the British Columbia and the Colum-
Dia river commerce. compulsory pilot law
exists in British Columbus which compeis every
vessel TO pay pilotage of So per foot. and on
the Columbia river il is "a per foot each way.
The limit line laid down by the pilot commits
sioners Is detective. II there is pilot law en-
acted 1t should compel pilots TO board vessels on
line drawn between Cape Flattery and Care
mentia point, Vancouver island, which Is the
only point where pilots services are needed, If
they are required AT all. When vessel gets up
as FAR as Hoods island any shipmaster, with an
ordinary chart and a compass, can take
straight course and sail to Port Townsend. with
a a 70 hfass Iap nf
pu!sory pilot law will LIE tax on shipping.
which will materially injure the commerce of
Puget sound. 1t would only benefit half dozen
pilots, who would depend on cinching vessels
for half pilotags.
Capt. Libby's remarks were made in the
presence of three or four well-known
Puget sound captains, all of whom in
dorsed his sentiments and stamped their
disapproval on the law.
Capt. John Barneson, one of the COM
missoners, was very indignant because
his name had been mentioned in the re-
port to the governor as being IN favor of a
compulsory law. He rendered his resig-
ton today as a member of the board for
that reason, saying that he did not care to
be placed in q false position. He said to
the PosT-lNTELLIGENcER correspondent:
Am empha,icaly opposed TO any pilot law that
Will DO compulsory tax 10 shipping. AZ pres
emit Puget sound is noted Throughout. the mari
time world Tor its moderate shipping charges.
shipowners much prefer sending their vessels
70 Puget sound than TO British CoIumbia or to
the Columbia river for the reason that there is
no compulsory tax on shipping. ] do not ap-
prove the report sent to the governor, and
for that rea or. and also being opposed TO the
proposed law, / resigned from the board today
aud will devote my time in the future to fight
ing this question.
Several pilots present equally as strong
reasons for the enactment of the law and
denounce the opposition as being the sem
tments of the corporations. who are
anxious to prevent reputable pilots from
earning a livelihood. In any event the
pilot law will be one of the important and
hotiy contested questions before the next
legislature