The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-15

Port Townsend. Nov. H.-SpeciaL-Irou-
BILE among the pilots is brewing, ana an
interesting controversy will soon DO
launched, which will prove highly enter
tanning to the marine interests OF Puget
sound. Before the board Of pilot commits
sioners today complaint was filed by two
active pilots. said to be Capts. Powers ana
Nichols, that other than regularly exam.
ined and duly qualified pilots were engaged
In the business Of plotting vessels. The
compliments further allege that there are
certain pilots who passed the examina-
ton and agreed to abide by the rules OF
the board that now refuse to assume their
share OF the responsibility Of going on
duty at Cape Flattery. and contributing
to the support Of the pilot boat. The pi-
lots who have performed Cape service say
that per cent. of their earnings Is with
held by the board. which the actively en-
gagged pilots, as they call themselves, say
entities them to the protection of the law.
and that the board should see that their
rights are guarded.
The commissioners. composed OF Capt.
E. Biondi, Capt. c. H. Jones and Mr.. F.
Al Bartlett. limited the number OF pilots
to six, and refused to allow others to take
the examination. claiming that there was
not more than enough work to support
that number. Nichols and Powers took
the examination and In good faith at
tempted to perform the duties required by
law and by the board. Then. as one Of
the commissioners and afterwards one OF
the pilots said to Post-Intellieencer COR
respondent. Capt. Cater, pilot for the
Northern Pacific steamship line Capt.
Gilmore, pilot for the Nippon Yusen
Kaisha, Capt. DeLano. q merchant of Ia
coma, and Capt. Jordison, OF the steamer
Flyer, pa ssed the examination. leading the
board, 1t is said, to understand that they
Cape Fla;tery. DeLano and Jordison did
put in two or three weeks at the Cape
during the summer, but they say that
neither Gilmore nor Cater deigned to go
down TO the Cape and pilot vessels to their
respective destinations. Cater meets his
steamers at Vistoria. and Gilmore comes
to Port Townsend to board the Japanese
liners. Powers and Nichols are trying to
cen pei these two men TO assume part OF
the expense and dangers Incidental to
Cape Flattery rilotage.
TAen comes another phase. The pilots
aver that other than regularly licensed
pilots have taken vessels In and out OF
the Sound. The board called for verified
complaints, saying action toward enforc-
ms the law would be instituted at once.
Reference. 1t Is said. is made to one Of the
exploit commissioners. whose resignation
was called for by Gov. McGraw. and to
speaking of the matter tonight one OF the
commissioners said:
IF upon investigation we find that the
licensed pilots are not living up to the
laws and regulations. We VIII In all prob
s aoiiity revoke their licenses; and SHOULD
we viii prosecute them TO the full ex-
tent OF the law. We are endeavoring to
perfect an efficient pilot service OF the
entrance TO the Straits Of Juan de Fuca,
and every licensed pilot must assume part
OF the duties. /, Is the duty OF the board
10 remove any pilot who refuses to per-
form tina, service. 1t Is unfair that four
of the pilots should reap the cream of
the business and discriminate against the
other two by compelling them 10 remain
at the Cape and not allowing them to
board or pilot the steamers which the
others board later on somewhere up the
Straits, after all the dangers Incidental
TO navigation are passed, There IS fair
living for six good men, but two pilots al
the Cape. as was demonstrated several
times last summer. are insufficient when
feet OF vessels arrives In the vicinity
of the entrance to the Straits. Then IL
often happens that when the two pilots en-
gage vessels there are no others to at
tend 70 the remainder of the fleet When
a man takes the examination ne must
easy jobs and keep others from doing
likewise"
Foreign shipmssters IN particular are
anxious TO have a good pilot service es-
tablixhed at the Cape. The service last
summer was highly appreciated by the
masters. owners and insurance compa-
rses. The dangers and hsrdships Incl
dental 20 tie serwi~e are rot 81 ne
sneezed at; consequently not many OF the
yllotss = > ann i, Al kine 4 zefv-
ice. When any plotting Is 10 be done up
Sound. these Cape pilots are discriminate
ed against. IL Is claimed. ana the work
goes to what the Cape pilots term the
Kid gioved brigade
The board Is TO meet again next Sasur-
day. and probably determine whether any
licenses should be revoked or prosecu-
tons commenced The opponents 20 the
service say that the law Is invalid and
unconstitutional and that the supreme
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