The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-10

VIII not seek TO locate where such an
Injurious and unjustifable practical
obtains The public have the matter,
in their own hands, for, obviously,
contingent fees are not a very relia-
bic resource.
COMPULSORY PILOTAGE.
IN January, 1903. n Chamber
adopted resolutions condemnatory of
the pilotage laws OF North Carolina m
so far as they related to the Capei
Fear River and Bar. and appointed a
m TO prosecute the matter
before h Genera Assembly. The
committee appeared before the Legis-
lature and urged the enactment of
just and necessary notifications OF
these laws, but without success. and
only because senatorial courtesy was.
stronger han right. It nay be Of
interest TO note in this connection that
the maritime interests Of the country
are pressing Congress for REMEDIAL
legislation, n that the commercial.
interests of Norfolk are fighting these
laws in a local way. All of the Attain
tic Seaboard states north of Virginia
repealed these laws long since, and
the Southern states are the only me
that retain these relics of colonialI
conditions. The very reasons which,
originally justified these laws now
condemn them. In the early days of
our national existence knowledge of
DOIS Was ii local pOSSeSSlOH, anu
compulsory pilotage laws were enacted
TO protect the men h spent their
lives in acquiring knowledge of bars
and channels, and thus the states.
while giving just protection to this
class of citizens, at the same time con-
served the commercial interests of
the ports. These conditions no longer
exist. for with the policy Of internal
improvements adopted by the Federal
Government all important harbors
have been developed and accurateI
charts thereof provided for the bene-I
fit of shipping. With these charts
any intelligent navigator can enter
the waters of the Cape Fear River.
with entire safety, and with the pass
ing of the need OF compulsory pilotage.
the laws making possible these exac-
tons should be repealed or amended
TO meet the changed conditions.
Any fundamentally of commerce
must stand the economic test, and if
it cannot be sustained by necessity
Is thrown aside as not only useless
but injurious. Competition admits of
no necessary burdens. If there
were present need of pilotage service,
compulsory laws would not be neces-
sary. and if these is no need for the
service, the law should not permit
commerce to be preyed upon to sup
port a vocation obsolete and useless.
There is no single incident in the
business life IF Wilmington which so
initiates against our development as
compulsory pilotage, which Lays a tax
on every individual in the community
and xacts tribute without equivalent.
These laws will fall as soon as public
sentiment is enlightened, and it is our
duty as a commercial community to
agitate for relief until it is gained.
This is an issue which will not be set
tied until it is settled right.
MEMBERSHIP.
Our membership is now ninety-one.
and in his number are represented
our principal business houses. The
oft repeated adage that in numbers
there is strength is applicable alike
to moral forces and physical facts.
n voice of a community speaks
with force only through organization.
and this influence is largely measured
by numerical strength. Our gradual
ed scale of annual dues puts member
ship in the reach of the smallest bust
ness interest. and our professional
men would find it to their advantage
to become members under the class
that gives the privilege of the floor at
the lowest cost.
An institution representing in its
membership the collective commercial
and financial of the COM
munity eXerts an influence both Of
ILL Slid 4 Ss III lId 10 DIP
pears to perform is only a part of the
service it accomplishes, for it's influ-
ence to restrain is not less than it's
ability to agrees.
1 desire to pear testimony to the
efficient services Of the Secretary, and
to express appreciation OF the uniform
courtesy extended me by the members
of the Executive Committee.
Respectfully submitted,
J.. ALLEN TAYLOR.
After the reading of the presidents
report Secretary Kyle read his report
which went into detail and gave some
interesting information concerning the
amount of business lone in this city.
The report was as follows:
Gentlemen:
l beg to submit below my annual re-
port for the year ending March 81, 1904
Aside from statistical data, I shall
only mention the matters of Importance
acted on during the year as recorded in
our minutes.
The membership OF the chamber is
row 81: consisting OF SO Class A, As
Glass B.. and 5 Glass c., representing
a book income of s., 150 annually.
Business during the year 1908 was
generally satisfactory, and the figures
which We have obtained indicate ar
average increase Of .25 per cent. over
1902. The detailed statement is giver
herewith.
1902 1909
Cotton ...........1 Is 900, 900 y, 900. 0O(
Groceries ......... 1000. 900 5000. 0Ot
Dry Goods ...... 2,G00,0 coo $3.50, 00(
Fertilizers ....... 1,ST5, 900 1000, 00(
Lumber .......... $500 600 1000. 00(
Naval Stores 49,. SO0,0 G0 500. OO(
Cotton Mills ..... 600, 900 600. OO(
Shoes ............. 100000 $751; 0t
1890. 100000 500, 00l
Liquors .......... 5000 325. 00(
Ur,,,a1- ON mn ? nny