New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-10
PILOTAGE BILL DEFEATED.
AN UNJUST DISCRIMINATION UPHELD BY
THE HOUSE

SAILING VESSELS NOT RELIEVED FOR PAYING
FOR SERVICES NOT RENDERED-rHE DIS
TR1CT OF COLUMBIA BILL PASSED.
tBY TELEGRAPH THE rRIBuNE.l
Washington, April BY vote Of 50 yeas to III
nays the House OF Representatives to-day refused
10 order to third reading the bill exempt sail
Ing vessels engaged in the coastwise trade from the
payment of compulsory pilot fees That this meas
ure was just and wise every intelligent and
impartial man will admit who will read the state
ments submitted for and against II before the Com
mittee on Merchant Marine, from which the bill was
reported or who listened to the debate in the House.
Under the existing system, sailing vessels in the
coastwise trade, which enter or clear from any
South Atlantic Gulf port. from Virginia to Texas
are compelled to pay pilot fees whether they employ
the services OF pilot or not. and exempt from
such compulsory payment In every other port in
the United States. Steam vessels engaged in the
coastwise trade compelled to pay such fees.
In other words. in nine States of the Union sailing
vessels are required to pay tax from which steam
vessels in the trade entering and clearing
from the same ports, exempt.
No argument would seem to he needed 10 convince
any unprejudced man that the biz which proposed
to remove this unfair and unjust discrimination
and 20 relieve vessels from the necessity Of paying
for services not rendered and desired ought to
have met better fate. In the course OF the debate
Mr.. Cummings. of New-York made Il violent attack
upon the Commissioner of Navigation. whom he
accused Of lobbying" In behalf OF the bill Per-
haps II Mr.. Cummings had been aware OF the per-
sistent lobbying against the bill. which has been
active for weeks past he might have been less sharp
and severe In his censure OF the Commissioner Of
Navigation. During all that time the pilots. who
are the benefciari,s Of the existing systeD have
maintained half dozen OF their number in Wash
ington. who have mportuned members night and
day. personally and by letter. 10 vote against the
bill. Four OF these men occupied seats in one OF the
public galleries OF the House to-day when the vote
was taken. and they led the applause when the
suit was announced and then rushed from the gal
lery in dsorderly manner.
bill for the year ending June So 1897. passed
after brief debate The most notable incident
OF the debate was bitter attack by Mr.. Fitzgerald
CDem Mass) upon the \. p a. for It's attack In the
dark as he expressed ii. on the Roman Catholic
Church. OF which he is member which resulted
conducted under the auspices Of the Church OF what
was justly and legally theirs. No response was
made to Mr.. Fitzgerald beyond a bare denial by M.
GTout Rep. VII, In charge OF the bill that II con
stituted IN any sense an attack on the Catholic
Church The vote on the bill was 1874 to 2l and only
twenty members. an insufficient number. Joined with
Mr.. Sulzer dem. y. V in a demand for a vote By
yeas and nays
conference was ordered the Senate amend
ments 20 the Postofce Appropriation bill
Consideration was begun OF the filled cheese bill
imposing tax on its manufacture and sac. and II
-yill be continued tomorrow. Mr. Cook G}ep.. Wis).
author OF one OF the bills for which the pending bill
journment. which took place at 5o5 p. M