The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-07-24

vote In congress on the Liftlefield bill
and only recently he has explained
10 the writer the reasons Of his vote
| This article Is not written II his re-
quest. nor with his knowledge. but
that the public may understand the
position Of its representative in con
gress upon a question that has been
made 4 subject Of discussion IN this
canvass.
The Littieheld bill proposes 10
abolish coast-wise pilo,age on all sail
Ing vessels throughout the United
States. This. congress has = right To
do Il has exercised the right.
but uniformly its policy has been to
cay the matter 10 be regulated BY
the respective states where ports are
situated.
The Chamber Of Commerce endorsed
the Litlefeld Bill In = series Of reso-
buttons and asked Il representatives
in congress 10 support II. II a6yo-
Gated il on the ground that the port
OF Wilmington had been relieved IF
the heavy huTden upon its imports and
exports. without increasing the dan
ger TO shipping. as a result Of the
abolition Of compulsory pilotace by the
legislature OF this state. and that an
hampered intercourse between the diff
Lerelt sections 81 The United States.
ii congress would abolish all pilotage.
would cheaper transportation. These
resolutions We're sent 10 Mr.. Patte--
son In addition thereto. MIR, ]. Allen
Taylor. Mr.. William Gilchrist. Mr.. G.
H. Smith and Mr.. W. II. Malloy wired
him requesting the support Of the Bill
Mr.. Taylor likewise wrote Mr.. Pat
terson asking him to support the Bill
and suggested that it would be good
politics" Mr.. Patterson replied TO
these gentlemen that he had committed
himself to oppose the bill before he
received their communications. He
was willing to obIge rs trends or con-
stitutents whenever he could without
a sacrifice of his personal convictions
upon any public measure. Mr.. Patter-
son is perfectly willing that Mr.. Tay-
lor's letter 10 him and his answer
thereto may be published in order that
his position may be thoroughly under
stood. He is a emD of the Com
mittee on Merchant Marine and Fish
pElpS. MS DIll "dS til0Cl IA
bv that committee. Mr.. Patterson at
the time OF the receipt had committed
himself to vote against its favorable
report for two reasons: first. because
he believed that ii was democratic doc
trine to permit the legislators of each
state to regulate the pllOtage IN the
ports of their own domain, secondly.
he had been earnestly requested bN
four members Of the HarDOrS ana
! Rivers Committee, who represented
the states of Florida. Georgia II
Louisiana to vote in committee against
the bill. He a again requested 10
do so b. other members Of congress
who were on the committee Tor the
appropriation Of moneys for pubic
buildings. These gentlemen were
{ prominent members of the Rivers ana
Harbors Committee, each Of whom had
actively helped Mr.. Patterson IN Sc
curing appropriations Tor TINS river
and for the D~ostOffice site and building
at FAYETTEVILLE. One of these gentle
men when his pOstofficc appropriation
for Fayetteville was questioned, insist
/ ed and secured its final adoption in the
Conference Committee between the
housn and senate. Mr.. Patterson. as pl-
lOtaee had been abolished at the only
mort in his district. did not see tina
the port of Wilmington could be either
injured or benefited BY the passage
OF the Littlefeld Bill. On the contrary
il the pilOtage were a burden upon
the of the ports. 1t had oeeh
taken off Of thai of Wilmington by
the legislature. and Wilmington
would have the advantage over her
sister ports. As a question. therefore,
of principle, he did not support 'he
bill and as a question OF pFactlcdl
notifies. in responding to the request oI
members of congress who had aldeu
him in responding 10 the request ol
this district. particularly the appropil--
alton for Ii river bar. ne comnIIleo
himself to oppose the OIL.
This is Mr.. PattersoE's position, as
in response 20 our inquiries he recent
l. stated tn MS The writer IA ask
cd for an explanation Of his position
hecause there had been sent papers TO
This CITY BY Capt. Fields ;. Pendie-
ton comics Of the Majority and Mi
norify reports OF the Merchant u
Marine and Fisheries Committee upon
This bill. Captain Pen0leton Is a large
| shin owner anu lFftS~EA~NN~
committee the New England snip
owners association or interests The
ma oritv report Of the committee re-
farred TO the abolition Of pilotage al
.ha mort Of Wilmington. y {. The
minority report. commenting upon th'S
reference TO Wilmington. makes II
statement. tina: The statistics from
the report Of the Department 81 Coh.
merce and labor establish Beyond
question the profound injury done IN.
mort Of Wilmington b. the remoFa!
Of pilotage and the figures here given
Tell O eloquent!v Of that loss. q
report then gives the figures Of tn
receipts OF pine lumber at New T
for the nine months ending September
y 1904, and for the nine months end-
T, ing September -, 1875. a follows:
From Charleston. IN 1904, sls.slf.-