The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-05-24

Shipper" I'm Communication Prepar-
CATION and Pilotage Bill Again.

The following communication pre-
pared for this mornings Star has been
handed The Messenger with the re-
quest that il be published
Editor Star
The communication in sour issue of
ger OF that date-is rather amusing
Whoever said anything about the
integrity of the governor, or question
ed the personal character Of the mem
bers OF the so-called board of naviga-
ton and pilotage, or d~iscredited the
reputable shippers OF this port? Ger
tainly, | did not. If these gentlemen
need or think they need a certificate
OF personal character, | will undertake
to head the list and get several hun
dred reputable anne TO Ii, instead u
the dozen or more that signed the COM
munication above referred TO: and I!
! will promise, further, not TO have Oh
my list any benefciaries OF the I'M!
Cuitious features OF he so-called Jaw
pilotage law. ! desire, also, to say
that | will cordially support in the
proper administration of their official
duties any legally constituted board
of commissioners, possessing official
integrity.
But what has the governor 10 do
with it Why is he brought into tn
matter? Because il sounds good to
write down the names of big. broad,
n prominent men? Why was not
something said of King Edward am
the Prince of Wales, and the Emperor
of Germany? Governor Glenn had
nothing whatever to do with the mat
ter, further than to appoint five men
to serve as commissioners under the
so-callcd law. which he is required TO
do by Section l of the act. No m
doubts that His EXcellency used his
very best judgment. with the lights
before him. 1t was not his business TO
pass upon the integrity of The law or
question the act of the Legislature.
If he had had the veto power-as we
should have in this state-it would
her have been his duty to review tho
bill; in which case, I have little doutt
that ~viciousness would have met
a d 1erved veto and this G~isgraceful
pre-tIse at law would probably not
now deface the North Carolina books.
The f-ness of the governors appoint
ees remS- 5 o be seen aud, IL the COM
missioners y were to be taken Sc
riously, his discretion might be ques-
toned. At least one commissioner CD
has already made a brilliant start,
My article r"hlished in the morning
papers of the 9th. distinctly did not
assai' he y. sonal character of the
commissioners CD. 1t did assail
the official character of the
would-be board. and / desire here to
repeat the assault. Especially do I as
sail the Official character of the com
J missioner CO Who found it convenient
to furnish to he messenger" Of tAe
18th information that he knew was
false. and who Is yet TO father the
statement, publicly its fall
sity, and clear the official characters
Of the other four members. ] repeat
what was said in my article of the 14th
published the 18TH that this commits
sioner CC-whoever he may be-is I'M
fit "for membership on even a So
called board | charge this advisedly
and because I am reliably Informed
that on April 18th, when the commits
sioners CD first assembled (the full
membership being presently, they were
formally notified that their official
character or integrity was questioned
and that the legality of the act uuCer
which they claimed authority would
be tested. Again, it is a matter of
record in the public press that the
Wilmington chamber of commerce, at
its annual meeting on May End, unan-
imOusly condemned the new pilotase
act, upon the main grounds
1st. That it contemplated an IN
necessary and burdensome tax upon
commerce.
End. That it attempts class legisla-
ton of the worst form.
3rd. That it proposes public taxa
ton without assurance or sane evil
dence CT public service.
Again at this same meeting. says
the press of the following days, the
public was notified that the so-cai'ed
pilotage law would be tected by a num-
Der Of shippers. AS to those present
at this meeting, the papers record the
names of Messrs. Vim. E. Worth, l.. r.
/, Rogers, of D.. L. Gore Co, VIM Fl.
Sprunt. Of Alexander Sprunt & Son.
.Jno. S. McEachern, of d. McEachern
Co. and others who. | am glad TO see,
are signatory to the certificate Of per-
sonal character aforesaid.