The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-12-12
FLORIDA DELEGATION ON
THE ANTl-PtLOTAGE BILL

with us, is constantly changing on
account of the shifting sands. They
are not like the ports of rock-ribbed
New England, that remain the same
all the time, and it is absolutely es-
sential that pilots thoroughly familiar
with the channel should be on hand
to guide these vessels safely into and
out of our ports. 1t is necessary in
the interest of human life, it is neces-
sary in the interest of the preserva-
ton of property. ..,
This pilotage system as we have it,
! is a great aid to us in matters of
quarantine. The pilot is always out
side. He is the first man who comes
into contact with vessel seeking en-
trance into our ports. III there be
any disease on board he discovers the
fact before the vessels enters our
port He discovers and reports that
fact, and 1t is valuable to the quaran-
tine system.
The overwhelming sentiment OF
the people of my state is in opposition
! to this bill | say there is no de-
mand there for It, The only demand
comes from the shipOwner of Maine,
The only demand comes from him, and
only to save few dollars. regardless
Of the danger to human lie, regard.
less of the danger in the destruction
of property, and regardless of the
rights of labor in this country"
Mr.. Clark was interrupted by Mr..
Humphrey. of Washington, who stated
that evidence had been introduced be.
fore the committee which showed that
the pilot at Norfolk never left the
shore but sat in his office and collec.
ted piIotage and that there had not
been a pilot on sailing vessel In
that port in eighteen years. To this
Mr.. Clark replied:
Il presume the gentleman who rep,
resents the Norfolk district can take
care of that | am speaking solely
for my own constituency, and | know
that at the port of Jacksonville and
Pensacola and Other Florida ports
there is a body of pilots inferior to
none in all this country and true to
their trust. They do not sit in car
peted Offices and draw a salary, but
in sunshine and in storm the Florida
pilot is outside of the bar seeking
only to assure to property and life a
safe guidance into the port; and | say
to the gentleman again that | know
that so far as our own pilots are con-
cerned-the Pensacola pilot and the
Jacksonville pilot and the other Flor
ida pilots-they know more about our
| own ports In minute than the pilots
on one of these Maine schooners will
know about those ports in forty years,
because they stay out there.
LIttiefieId Butts In.
Mr.. Littlefield, the author of the bill,
interrupted the Florida congressman
and said:
1T appeared before the committee
that acts of injustice and discrimina-
ton were repeated and continuous,
and that as matter of fact there was
more discrimination than there was
regular treatment. Now, why not
Join with us in wiping out the. system
that renders that kind OF conduct pos
sible?" r
Mr.. Clark replied: IF the gentle
man wants to wipe out systems that
are Objectionable, where injustice
, creeps in and wrong is triumphant.
then why does not the gentleman join
with me to adjust the inequalities OF
the Dingley bill?" This sharp retort
brought forth round of applause
from the democratic side of the cham
Der. Mr.. Clark concluded his speech
ms follows:
Il say to the gentleman from Maine
that am ready TO do my part in aid
ing him to wipe out any inequality
that may exist. but I am not willing
to destroy system that has done
so much for us and promises so much
for us in the future. This congress
ought not to treat us differently from
the way In which they have treated
the other states of the Union. They