Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1893-11-24
A WHEAT TAX.
Compulsory Pilotage In Vogue ut the
Mouth of the Columbia.


Mouth of the Columbia.
Compulsory pilotage, says the Portland
Oregonian, is direct tax upon the pro-
duction Of wheat, and the needless bur
dens OF the present law are an element
in the present price Of wheat in all the
farming country tributary to this port.
This fact ought to be impressed upon the
mind OF every farmer before the
next session OF the legislature and there
is no better time to impress it than
now, when shipments are going for
ward. Members OF the legislature
seemed blind to the real effect of this
legislation when it was under consider
alton They seemed to think the mat
ter concerned no one but Portland ship.
pers and Astoria pilots. 1t concerns
Portland shippers not at all. The price
of wheat does not affect their profits,
which are fixed difference between the
cost Of wheat delivered at Portland and
the London price, lees cost of export. Port
charges are included in cost OF export.
Addition to them does not come out of the
shippers profit, but out Of the price OF
wheat in the interior This price is the
London price, less the price OF charters,
less elevator charges at Portland, less
railroad rates. Port charges are an ele
ment in the price Of charters. II they
are increased, charters go up. This in
creases the deduction to be made from
the London price, and the interior price
goes down. 1t is matter of simple
arithmetic.
The person most vitality inter ested in
the compulsory pilotage law, except the
pilot beneficiaries, is the wheat grower.
The towage company is interested some
what, because it will sacrifice enough
Of its legitimate revenue from hand.
ling wheat to prevent the trade from
going to some other port; but it can
not sacrifice enough to save the farmer
years. The Union Pacific has re.
duced towage charges this year, and the
port of Portland commission has abol.
ished lighterage. Nevertheless, figures
printed the other day showed that it cost
$500 more to bring certain ship into port
and take her out than it did two years
ago.
This 5000 comes out Of the pocket OF
the farmer. Part OF the price he should
have received for his wheat this year il
put by this law into the pockets of the
Astoria pilots. This is the situation, and
he has no remedy except to send to
Salem representatives who will repea
this law.
The increased charges of this law are
in no way needful to the safety OF navi
cation. Under the old law, vessels went in
and out of port from the sea to Portland
using pilets only when and wher,
needed and paying for them only wheI
used. Now pilots must be taken ano
paid all the way from the sc,
up to Portland aud back. The,
are not needed in the river, where the
tugboat captain can do all the piotin,
needed. There are times when q
tugboat captain can take ship GU
to sea, even, without pilot
Moreover, the new law increases tn,
cost by separating functions that can b.
performed more cheaply together Wher
the Union Pacific performed both for &
lump sum, the charge for towsge ant
pilotage was actually less than for tow
age alone now-to which must be added
pilot ices. Being denied the legitimat
revenue for necessary piletage, the com
psny has had to increase towage charges
while the pilotage charge is nearl
doubled by making compulsory rive
pilots, which are not necessary. Tn
legislature has levied a wheat tax t
make needless work for the Astoria pile
guild.