The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-08
P|L0TAGE BILL
HEARD TONIGHT
Wilmingtonians are in
Raleigh in Force.
TIT n0AlrFAlrGn
THE CONVENTIONS
One Side Claims New Law will Oh
viate State Of Affairs Keeping
Wilmington From Progress,
the Other That it Will
Rob Men of Livelihood.

The House of Representatives over
flowed yesterday afternoon with the
rival camps of the Wilmington and
Southport pilots and the representa-
tives of the Chamber of Commerce of
Wilmington, who are here in advocacy
OF the Bonev hill changing the present
law as to pilots 50 as to make the port
free" with the exception of foreign
Incoming vessels.
While there was a bare majority of
the House Committee on hand, it was
finally decided to postpone the matter
and attempt to obtain a full joint COM
mittee meeting this afternoon, thus
disposing of the question in one sit
ting.
AS the Senate Committee on ProDo-
S;tioDs and Grievances had just pre-
viously tried to get a quorum for the
consideration of the reformatory bill,
however, and had since decided TO
meet this afternoon, the meeting de-
sired cannot in any probability be held
at the desired time, but will doubtless
be arranged for tonight.
A bill Identical With the one of Mr..
Boney was introduced in the Senate
yesterday by Mr.. Empie. by request.
and there is therefore every reason
for the matter to bc considered i'll
joint session of the two committees.
While Mr.. Empie introduced tho
bill. it is understood that he is oppos-
ed 10 its provisions and pnt it forward
only for the purpose of getting the
matter suuarely before the LegiSla-
ture. The bill will in all probability
he strenuously opposed by Mr.. Empie
when it comes up on the floor of the
Senate he desiring only a slight
change in the law on the pilotage mat
ter as it is ut present constituted.
At the meeting in the house yester-
day afternoon there were present as
representatives of the Chamber Of
Commerce, Messrs. J. a. Taylor Pres
ident. s. p. McNair, C. C. Covington,
\. p. Shelton. T. \. Parsley. j. A. Ar
rington. f. II. Silliman and other cit
lens of Wilmington interested in the
passage of the bill. and also lredell
Neares, Of Wilmington, and c M. Bus
bee. of Raleigh, who appear for the
Chamber of Commerce.
OF the pilots there were present
Capte S. F. Craigc. J. ". craige. j. j.
adkins. of the pilots, Messrs. NJ G..
Guthrie and Hood, Of Southport Rev.
Sasser Of Southport and Messrs. J. o.
Carr and Herbert McClammy. who APP
pear as attorneys on the pilots side
Of the proposition.
Provisions os tue Bill.
The object of the tBonie measure is
to revise the pilotage laws which have
been often amended and re-amended
aud some of which have been rendered
,3ugatory by revised statutes of the
United States on the subject. The
pill however. with slight exceptions is
made up of certain statutes now in
force, the basis Of change arising by
the repeal of other statutes rather than
the insertion of pow provisions in the
law. The license of pilots is increas-
cd from one to ten dollars and instead
of the long apprenticeship now reauir-
cd it IS only requisite that the Board
of Commissioners in granting license
shall satisfy themselves as TO the skill
and competency of the applicants.
The bill also limits the number of IL
cenSeS TO DC granted to fifteen. proNid-
ing that the preference shalt be given
TO the present pilots. of whom there
are now thirty-eight. reduction is
made i'm the charges Of pilotage and
the bill provides that the surplus funds
shall go TO the funds provided for the
widows and children of deceased pilots.
AIR Bcncy. Of New Hanover. raG
started to address the committee when
he was advised Of the sentiment Tor
putting the matter off until today, he
az once colCufi1nS VIII lac is.iS' ~
pressed both by Mr.. BuSbee and Mr..
McCiammy. representing the two fac
lions of citizens and pilots.
Mr.. Bonic stated that he thought the
bin was just to all parties and that it
would promote the interests of both
Wilmington and Southport. Thirty
years ago he said. there was Only
twelve feet Of water in the BAR while
now that condition had been so
changed rs to render the present laws
Unnecessary. At that time there were
:,iXty-fve pilots and they were requir-
ed to seek for vessels. AS the law nov
stands they do not have 20 seek for YES
sells: vessel has To stop and rua UP hGi