The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-19
THE PILOTAGE QUESTION.
(New York Journal of Commerco)

New York Journal of Commerce.)
At the hearing before the House Comfy
mittce on Merchant Marine and Fishe
les. or tho bill for abolishing compula
pilotage upon sailing vessels engag
the coastwise trade, nobody 81
have appeared in opposition exq
resentatives of the pilots whilS
sive and varied business interestN
represented in support of the measS
The pilots naturally object TO havinN
their profitable occupation curtailed.
Men engaged in coastWise transporta
tion and traffic do not like to have it
subjected to a charge that eats up
large share of the profits, but on the
other hand they do not wish to have 1t
liable to serious losses from accidents
that are avoidable They would gain
nothing by escape from pilotage charges
that were necessary for the safety OF
their vessels and cargoes.
The fact OF the matter is that COM
pulsory pllotage along our coast is no
longer necessary or defensible upon any
class of vessels engaged in trade, and it
constitutes burden that concerns not
only these directly engaged in the coast
wise traffic, but all business into whose
calculations the cost of transportation
enters One of the greatest needs of our
seaports is to reduce the cost of using
their facilities of entering and landing
by eliminating every unnecessary charge
and a serious item to be got rid OF is
this for pilotage, where the crews OF ID
coming vessels are entirely competent
to bring them in safely All our htian-
tic and Gulf ports are now so thorouRolN
and carefully charted that the ola heeu
no longer exists The navgators OF
coastwise vessels not only nave the
charts at their command, but most OF
them are so familiar with the ports they
visit that they are as capable as the
official and offcious pilots of bringing
their craft safely in Relieving the ser
vice of its COMPULSORY character would by
no means abolish the professional pilot.
He would still he in business in sufficient
force for oil requirements and would be
called uron when his services were need
cd Neither the owners nor officers of
sailing vessels desire to take risks 10
save piIotage charges and if they did
tbav would come under the check of the
insurance companies. The latter arc
uyatchful Of their own interests and Of
the WAYS of navigators. and if unneces-
sary risks were taken the Insurance rates
would go up. 1t is only the unnecessary
charge for pilotage that anyone wishes
to get rid Of and there is no better
Judge of when n special pilot is needed
in entering port than the officer who
has the responsibility for tho safety of
the vessel and cargo placed in his keep
ing. 1t is not for his interest Or that Of
his employers to take chances, but in a
majority of cases they know that a pro-
fessiOnal pilot adds absolutely nothing
to their security while his fees are
serious tax upon their business venture
This tax has become burden that
should be removed. II is no longer ap-
piled to coastwise steamers. 1t is an
imposition even upon TRANSATLANTIC
steamers; but upon coastwise vessels it
is discrimination which is discouraged
to an important branch of traffic capa-
bic of keeping up 2 very wholesome COM
petition in water transportation There,
is nothing to be said in it's favor except
that it keeps in employment at the ex-
pense OF commerce. q much larger num-
hers of port pilots with their equipment
than there is any need of.