Evening journal., 1899-02-17
FRIDAY. FEB. II, 1889
pTOTs ,ArND yEG1sIlATTON

Lawes two conflicting interests. One
lis the pilots, and the other those who
wish to become pilots. The pilots.
who have most remunerative thing
OF it under conditions as they at pres
emit exist, are naturally averse to any
change; while those who desire TO
share in their good fortune are urging
the General Assembly to make radical
changes which will enable them to do
50. 1t is these differences which the
General Assembly must reconcile, and
the weight OF the burden ought not TO
be permitted TO fall upon Senator
NIaull
This is not a Fifth district matter
in any sense. The entire state is in
teresited In 1t. There Is no written or
unwritten law which gives to Ldwes
and Its Immediate vicinity the exclu-
siye right to the emolumenus of the
pilotage service. That such monop-
oily exists is due largely Ito the natural
condition Of environments, and to GER
tain artificial conditions which have
served to deter men from ether parts
of the state from making any effort
TO earn livelihood in such a profess
sion. The whole endeavor Of the
Lewes pilots has been to make the
thing a close corporation. For long
slime they worked independently. and a
stung rivalry sprung up among them.
Stories of the big money they made in
spired Others to wish to become pilots.
until at last those who were already
pilots were forced to sink their own
differences and band themselves to-
gether for protection against outsiders.
The number OF pilots and apprentices
was limited the pilots pooled their in
tereses, did away with the cld sohoon-
er-rlgged pilot boats. purchased a
powerful steam craft, fitted her up in
handsome manner. and there we see
them 'uo-day, ready to defend them
selves against an comers. Last month
the pool yielded to eadh pilot SINE
thing like S2S5 for -four or FIVE days
Of actual service. Such big money nat
urally arouses the desire of Others t5
embark in the calling, and hence to-
day we find hhe ins and the outs at
Dover struggling for favorable legisla-
tion.
Some Of the pi,ots are desircus OF
having the number Of pilots increased
from forty to fifty This is net due
20 libernlity Of mind. buk to the fact
that favcrltlam has begotten licenses
nor men who are not lawfully entitled
10 Them. and THE increase OF eieht
Will cover this Illegal action, and leave
small margin for further favoritism.
Other persons want legislation which
will revoke all sudh illegal licenses and
aeave ten new places to he filled by
merit and not By official or family
influence. Not that alone. but they
desire that pilots. who are personally
and pecuniari.y Interested. shan be
kept of The Board of Pilot C,mmis-
sloners, and the matters Of the ex-
animation OF applicants and the ad-
miniskration Of the service be leat to
persons who have no pecuniary or fam
iiy interest in the matter. AS the mat
ter stands to-day. three Of the five
commissioners are pi.cH; and, by
standing together, they can do any
tlhing.
IL these men have deaed the law by
issuing licenses in excess Of the num-
Der prescribed we do not think that
the General Assembly should cendone
the offense by passing a biz which
practically gives legislative sanction
to a lawless act. and at the same time
enables the forty pilots who are now
malzing s285 a month to still further
tax the shipping which comes into the
Delaware and Increase their earnings
to that extent.
The Board Of Pilot Commissioners
should be a dlsintereSted body. 1t Is
not right 10 permit pilots TO sit in
Judgment on themselves. A man in
that position either serves a friend or
a grudge and neither should have
place where merit and impartiamty
should be the features OF dellberation.
This is not a Lewes matter. II in
terests the entire state II injustice
has been done in the name OF favorit-
ism or nepooiGm, it should be nlghted
at this session and the Bard Of Pilot
Commissioners p.aced on a proper
footing by the elimination Of an men
who have a personal and private in
terest IN the Diiotage service. II any
pilcss are to serve on the board let
them lbe those who have retired from
active participation in the duties and
emoluments Of the service and let
Them he in the minority. In no other
manner can either the public or the
pii5ts, or tb1se Who desire to be pill