The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-02-26
PnOTAGE BILL IN SENATE
Was Passed With Practically No
Opposition
Hearing VIII Probably be Given by
House Committee on Monday Night
Account of Hearing Before the Sen
ate Committee.

a
The pilotage bill, which was acted
on favorably by the senate committee
at it's hearing on Friday, was reported
to the senate yesterday and passed
practically without opposition.
1t is probable that the house juGici-
airy committee will give a hearing on
the bill on Monday afternoon. Wheth-
er the opponents OF the measure will
make any fight before that committee
is no known, but it is thought prob
able hat they will. The delegation
who went from Wilmington t appear
before the senate committee have not
yet returned to the city, but they are
expected to arrive on the train from
the north this morning.
Concerning the hearing before the
senate committee the News and Oh
server Of yesterday has the following
account:
"By d vote of five to one the senate
committee on judiciary yesterday aztec
noon gave a favorable report on
the pilOtage bill of Senator Bellamy,
thus opening again in a modified form
the fight which has recurrently origi-
mated in New Hanover and Brunswick
counties and been fought out in the
Legislature on fields innumerablc.
by the new bill boats must have
pilots to come over the bar; and. in
the matter of selecting the pilots, there
is provided a committee, two of whom
shall be citizens of Southport and Three
Of Wilmington. Old pilots are licensed
until their number is reduced to fit
teen and then the new pilots are con
tinued at that number by the commit
tee provided for in the act.
"The bill replaces the action taken
by the last legislature in abolishing all
pilotage requirements whatever as re-
CARDS the port of Wilmington. At the
last Legislature a measure was intro
duced in large part a%bolishing the an
dent privileges of the pilots, and.
after a fight, the pilots suddenly agreed
to a much more drastic bill than that
which was pending.
|"The measure now introduced is less
advantageous to the pilots than the
bill introduced at the last session. At
principle of the compulsory pilotaGe
and thus re-opens the fight.
"Last night the pilots and their
friends were happy Over the senate
victory.
'rThe question involved is one which
lends itself to the dramatic. Under the
old law there were forty pilots, Who
conducted the business among them
selves, superintendent their apprentice
ship, and had, in effect, a practical sys-
tenn of succession. The association was
a close one and it's operation such as
to create a distinct class, no to say
caste. Then the pilotage was abolished
las a result there are men who have
crown old in the performance of one
1hing who are practically without ocon-
patton. They are sea-faring men, uscc
Ito risks. with a history of danger.
Their calling is in the interests of hui
manity. In it is the innate nobility Of
service for man at the risk Of life.
"Comes into the calculation the busl-
ness question which has protested for
years against the pilot being permit
ted to charge a fee for a task which
any master of a vessel might perform
for himself. The business man has
called the pilot a m%onopolist and his
association a trust. He has argued that
the coast-wise trade in particular, was
hampered by the pilotage exactions. To
this the pilots and their friends have
replied.
sYou cannot in equity onfne our
work to those occasions when it must
be performed at risk Of life. If we are
protected we are willing to take The
risk; if not, you cannot expect us &c
take risk alone. Yesterdays discussion
took somewhat these familiar lines.
The meeting had been called VIII
the idea of having a joint meeting WIFE
that of the house, but Mr.. Morton, WHO
is opposed to the bill protested tina
any action taken should not bind ID
house committee. Mr.. Morton spck'
for Just a few minutes at the END Q
the session and was interrupted by
suggestion as to the bearing Of IN
pilotage question on New HanCVe
politics.
t@The committee at about Z o'cl )cl
went into executive session and after
wards were in the good graces Of al
good pilots. The bill>will probably D
fought, if it's shall ultimately pass, zig
orously in either house.