Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-19

and loan association savings and paid
Donnell $4,000.
Mention is made of the fact that
captains who ply the seas do not re-
celve half as much pay rs pilots. We
are glad that they mention that and
welcome the opportunity of saying
that If there exists any evidence OF
foreign Observation-Disclosures in regard to
compensation, it is fully demonstrate
ed in the case OF captains of tramp
steamers GENERALLY men of intelli-
gence), whose relation to the owners
OF vessels is little short OF Serfdom
in the matter OF privileges. and in the
matter of compensation about equi-
valent to that of 4 hod- carrier. We
are only too glad to say word OF
sympathy for these mariners whose
services are so poorly appreciated.
We know these conditions well, ana
know that many foreign masters, in
charge of vessels and cargoes valued
at from 100000 TO 100000. receive
generally between s75 and 1926 per
month; and this is the scale upon
which the pilots of this country might
be placed IL tho foreign owners or
NoFutS SOuiu itblSi1tlOu ia
this grand old Commonwealth.
During all these years of conten-
ton over coastwise pilotage. tho for
eign shippers and steam coal agents
have found no fault. They have ever
recognized in the Virginia Pilot AS
ISOLATION a system well nigh perfect.
No serious complaints have ever ema-
mated from them.
During the past quarter OF a cen
turn the coastwise plotaee has justi-
fled low rates on cargo vessels, half
rates on bunker steamers, and cut
rates on veeseIs seeking; but now
that it is proposed 70 no longer sub
sidize the foreign vessels through the
collection of piIotage from American
bottoms, the ossruntlcd plea is set up
that the pilots could do without the
coast~lse pilotage without the in
crease on the foreign.
Do they want to see how little the
pilots can get along on?
(From 1.-THE Market Place." Wall
Street, New York City.)
Seemingly the only opposition that
has developed against the measure
now before the Legislature at Rich
mond comes from the asents of for
eign steamship companies, and this,
while natural, is based on the mar
row ground of dslnciination TO
pay reasonable piotaee charge
even though il is SO carefully graded
as to entail no hardship on any class
Of shipping and which places the bur.
den where 1t can be least irksomeIy
borne. 1t is scarcely likely, however,
that so narrow and selfish an aruu.
ment will influence the minds Of leels-
lators taking clear view of the sub
iect.
1.-THE present situation, briefly, ia
this: Both foreign and coastwIse vee.
sells pay piiotase. The pending bill
proposes to abolish plIotaee on the
home vessels, with a slant increase
Of rates on the foreign bottoms. The
increased rates on the forclan bot
toms, however, leave the ports OF vIr-
slnia with as low a pilotaqe rate as
can be found in any port In tho Unit.
ed States"
And further, in regard to Increase.
at is so slight that the opposition
It has aroused has no tenablc Ground
on which tol base its arguments excebt
selfish disincilnaton TO help to sus-
tain pllotage system. which lie the
buiwark Of marine stability; a disin-
elinatlon based on no higher prirci-
pie than that enunciated by Plstol in
his startling aphorlam that Base is
the slave that paysl"
BY the provisions of the pendina
bill, bunker steamers will have from
81 to $1.5o less per foot than the reau.
lar rates.
1t would seem that the aaents en-.
Gagged in furnishing steam coal, to
foreign vessels should be moro than
satisfied with the 81 and $3.50 less
per foot on ouch vessels, which re.
ductlon is nearly one third of the
regular rates.
1t is understood that the price Of
steam coal during part of 1905 was
s235. During 1907, we are informed
that the price of steam coal wac 1895.
Since the first Of the year it 10 re-
ported that It has been advanced 10
$3.50 per ton trimming in bunkern.
10 cente extra), or very modeat In.
crease Of $t.15 since 1905.
Does II cost S1.15 more to MINI that
coal thia year than in 1905?
During the year 1907 the total
valuation OF vessels and cargoes under
the care Of the Virginia pilots w,a
S649, 100000, without one dollar. Ice
w. r. BOUTWELL,,
President Virginia PiIotss Asaocts.
ton. adv.