The Brunswick daily news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1903-1906, 1905-02-18
Littlefield Bill Has Made
Some Progress in
Congress
MAY PASS AT NEXT SESSION
System Declared to be seyas7s
striction on coastwise shipping. I
Masses of Testimony Concern
ing the Ports Taken.

Elong drawn out controversy before
congress over the compulsory pilot
rye laws Of a few southern states
seems now, says The Washington Post
uearing an end, Recently after a light.
that he has conducted ever since
entering congress, Representative Lit
teneld secured favorable report
from the house committee on mer-
chant marine and fisheries on a bill
removing determinations against Amer
4oan sailing essels. Over twenty
Years ago congress exempted steam
vessels in the eoastwise trade from
the compulsory employment Of state
Pilots whed commanded by pilot duly
licensed by the United States inspec-
tors Of steam vessels. Sailing vessels
rave been struggling against the ad.
vantage alleged to be most unfair,
ever since Many of them come from
Mr.. Iittledelds own state. and their
owners nave cried out with great en-
Eass agains. what is called the ex-
actions Of a few southern states. That
IS the reason for Mr.. Littlehelds actIv
ily for the b. 1. But there are Also
many owners of sailing vessels from
cher Atlantic coast states that are ia
ierested in the proposed legislation
Although the contention has been
ag such small magnitude. comparative.
ly as to attract little attention here.
Goth sides have hung to 1t tenaclously.
he southern state pilots, numbering
about 1870, shrewdly formed an organt
zation a few years ago and became al
ned with the American Federation q;
labor They sent a capable ana aIerl
representative, Capt. J. Ed OBrien
40 Washington to look out for their IN
iarests. Congressmen these days arel
shy about violating against any
iIanch Of labor organization. Capt
@ Bren has been at the capital ses.
slon in and session out for years ana
- began to look as though Mr. Little
neld would have to surrender.
lie kent pegging away and gaia
ibg data snd information about the
shipping Of southern ports. which end
ca IN his victory before the house
merchant marine committee a few
Gays ago. 1t is not expected. at this
session Of congress but it has now
Seen advance to such stage chat it
probably can be pressed to a passage
IN the next congress. All the demo
ctats OF the committee. except Mr..
McDermott, Of New Jersey, have sign
Cd a minority report. Mr. BirdsaIl, OF
iowa, a regul lican, has also jolned
with these democrats.
Hundreds Of pages of testimony
have been taken pro and con before
the committee. Some of this Mr. Lit
tcdeld utilize in his report He says
that the safety OF life and property
win be greatly enhanced by the pro-
POSED legislation and cites how sail
ing vessels south OF the Virginia capes
rem in stress or in danger or leaking
seek to remain at sea and face the
Of dest uction of life and pro-
rerty rather taan seek shelter in south
EN- Gorts, wnele the pilotage fees "oi
or extortionate character for entirely
services" would con-
sumo the entire gross earnings OF The
voyage and tend to bankrupt the own
sIs
Mr. Littlefeld cites several cases to
snow ire working OF the state pilotage
laws. A sailing vessel entering Ches
areake bay via the capes bound to a.
Virginia port must Smpjoy state pi-
lot or purchase license. A sailing
vessel proceeding by the side Of the
one bound for Virginia port, and 20.
Te over exactly the same course, bul
1ound for a Maryland port is exempt
essels bound for the District OF Co.
ifmbia are exempt from the employ
ment OF local pilots OF any kind
The United States government,
says Mr.. Lrttleaeld, has not found
taat navigation is SO dangerous or SO
Wficult as to compel vessels in the
coast wise trade to employ pilots FOR
the waters Of the Potomac river, ana
such vessels bound Tor ports on the
Potomac in the District Of Columbia
Sre exempt, both on the Potomac ano
ot the Capes OF Virginia, whereas yes
scis bound 10 Alexandria, lying across
the Potomac from the Dictrict Of 90.
lumbia are compelled by the laws OF
Virginia to either empny Ciiot OF
purchase a license
The report claims that IN harbors
Of Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia
snd o'her southern cities sailing YES
pIs often employ tugs 10 pun them I,