The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-01-14
Concerning Compulsory Pilotage.

has been quite a while since attempted
to vent the walls of my wrath upon com
pulsory pilotage: for the reason that
have not been made the victim of this I'M
lust law for some time. Therefore have
held my fire and reserved my ammunition
until [ should be attacked. The occasion
has presented itself, and shall proceed to
air my feelings through your valuable col
umns; hoping at the same time that it will
not be vain and useless attack upon this
obnoxious law, but may help in some
measure to relieve the merchant marine
of this great country from this oppression
under which they have so long groaned.
Years come and 90 and this compulsory
pilotage law is still with us. Someaetfort,
however, has been made by Congress to
abolish this beautiful system, but thus far
it has failed 1t is to be hoped the ques-
ton will be presented to the present Con
gress with more favorable results. 1t GER
tainly shall have all the powder that |
possess to fire it through, or to leave it a
hopeless wreck. The law that compels
one man to employ another against his
desire, and to pay that person for services
he himself can perform equally as we'll
the law that compels me to pay man
from SO to so per hour for services |
and unjust.
We are compelled to pay this pilot toll
in direct opposition to the constitution OF
the United States " hat right has any
state to enact a law placing tax upon
the commerce of another State? The con-
stituton OF the I nited States says: NO
State shall tax the commerce OF another
State levy dues on tonnage etc. Is not
this compulsory piiotage law tax upon
tonnage as Illegal as it is unjust? 1t is
certainly directly opposite to the reading
Of the constitution which reserves to Con-
gress alone the right to regulate all mat
tiers pertaining to our shipping. Such
matters belong to the general government
and not to the State. Any State taking
upon itself the right to enact law taxing
the tonnage of another State is assuming
an authority not vested in it by the con-
stitution of the United States. 1t is an
Illegal assumption on the part of the State
LEGISLATURE. The constitution OF the
United States says: mo State shall, with
out the consent of Congress, lay any duty
on tonnage A duty is tax OF any
kind imposed on imports OF exports, or
upon any article OF commerce, whether III
a cluGe or manufactured state. Any law
exacting fee is a tax, or duty, if it be
something that we are obliged to pay,
whether it be compulsory pilotage OF any
thing else Yet we are compelled by
the law of one State to contribute to
the support of a pilot monopoly in OPP
position to the constitution OF the United
States. The State assumes an authority
over the commerce of this country vested
alone in congress to regulate; it fixes du
ties on our tonnage in defiance OF Congress
10 prevent it, This is Illegal and unjust.
The State compel our shipping to contri-
butte Il yearly support for pilot OF from
i 900 TO 81. 900. The port OF Savannah
alone collects from American shipping
nearly 500 900 yearly for the support of
the compulsory pilotage monopoly. What
legal right has one State to levy tax upon
the commerce of another State? None
whatever The whole system is Illegal
and unconstitutional.
1t has been presented as an argument
against the bill now before Congress to
abolish compulsory pilotage, that were this
lav abolished our shipping would be in
uanger on approaching the harbors, as
there would be no pilots out, they having
me- guarantee that their services will be
required Now let us see who this argu-
mtn1 is from. Is it from the men who
have perfect knowledge OF the danger they
are likely to incur by steering boldly in
Tor port, OF is ii from men who have not
me least knowledge OF what danger one is
likely to meet with where there is no toll
10 be collected? | submit that it is wholly
1r,ln the men who have no knowledge OF
| ,ilil.S or know anything about the danger
| of the approaches to cur harbors. The
| talented lawyer employed by the powerful
/ Hior mononoy to present their side OF the
/ aSe. has no practical knowledge of ships
/ u shipping Ii is rare thing ii he knows
B ,i,4i # q
stuffed with the knowledge OF the pilots
side of the case, and pictures in glowing
/ mas the danger uf aboli-hing this pilot
1 aW. He shows to his listening audience
l Nshu possess no more knowledge of the
ra-t than he does) the ships i'll peril and
/ Jhr lives i'll danger. the loss OF property,
| ihe sacrifice that will be made by abolish
| ng the compulsory pilotage law. They
/ start in THEN seats at the dangers present
I'll to- them. and when the bill comes up
1 ~ abolish compulsory pilotage it is voted
! doWn. The eloquent attorney employed
| ov the pilot association to present their
/ Idle of the case. receives 4 good round
| sum for his services and the law stands
l unrepealed.
| Now. sir. there never has been one man
l Of any practical knowledge of the in Justice
1 OF compulsory pilotage called upon to re-
l fute the argument of the pilot monopoly.
| IT is a powerful association, made wealthy
by Illegal plumber extracted from Ameri-
| can shipping. Their living, their sub
| stance, depends on keeping this illegal law
! IN force. They are united because they
are one body. They are an incorporated
| association, and put their shoulder to The
| wheel as one man, to resist every attempt
10 break their monopoly. On the Other
hand the American shipping has no asso-
cation OF organized system for resisting
the arguments presented by the pilot mon
| opoly. If the commerce of this country
| would unite and present solid front ac-
| rIding to their number, as the pilot asso-
cation does. we would soon be clear OF
this toll gate system, and American ports
| would be opened to American shipping So
I hat they could sail unmolested to theil
/ destination without fear OF being tieeced
l 10y the internal pilot monopoly.
The compulsory pilotage law compels
/ every man who owns one dollar in ship
1 Nng to contribute to the support OF an
nganization directly against his wish, ana
I ontrarv to his interest. Has the State
my legal or legitimate control over my
iocket book? Is there any law that guar
'itees to the State any control over my
| purse, telling me who shall OF shall not
Ale | deny the right OF this assumed