Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-29
CHAMBER REAFFIRNs
STAND ON PlLOTACE
Only One Negative v0le On RpliOR
to Stand by Action Token
Last Week.
TELEGRAM INCIDENT EXPLAINED
Secretary Flowers Says He Bought
Messages to Attention Of President,
Blu, MIR. Upshur Does Not Rcmem-
mcr-Resolution Setting Forth Facts
in Case to be Made Pubic.

1
J last night rcanirmcd It's action taken
} on the night Of February |. in adopt
! Ing resolutions favoring the abolition
of compulsory coast wise pilotage: ad-
vocatng the passage of law COM
polling the Virginia Pilots Association
to incorporate and come under the
regulations of the state corporation
commissions: declaring against the
} Cox Edwards pilotagc bill and urging
the local representatives, in the legis-
lnturc to use every honorable means
TO compass the defeat of that meas
| urC.
| This action was taken after certain
kilograms which were not read at the
former meeting had been listened to.
! after Former President w. S. Upshur
/ and Secretary A. $. Flowers had OK
planned why the kilograms were not
| read. and after the entire matter had
been discussed nj considerable length.
| There were about % members pre-
sent when the vote was taken. and
Mr.. II. G. Bickford was the one mem
! Dor TO vote against tho motion to re-
aflirm the previous action
| The special meeting was called by
tho president. Dr.. Clarence Porter
/ cR'NTs Nt iH' IttlutHt VI MtSSTE. III.
B. Holmes. O. d. Batchelor ana J. T..
H. Stuart. Tho call set forth that
tho object of the meeting was to fur
lhcr discuss the plotagc question and
u was generally understood that the
telegram incident would be brought
up.
MIR. 5atchelor's Resolution.
Mr.. o. d. Bachelor read a lengthy
/ set OF resolutions. In which tho tcic
! gram incident was dealt with and 1.
| was set forth that the reading OF tho
| kilograms In question could not have
changed the attitude OF the chamber.
because the senders of the kilograms
especially desired the abolition of
coastwisc pilotagc. anu this the
chamber went on record as favoring:
that the failure TO read the telegrams
wns an unintcntional oversight: and
proponndlng to The Richmond News
Leader ana the Richmond Chamlrr
of Commerce a number OF questions,
designed TO show that the newspaper
! and organization mentioned had fav-
ored the Cox Edwards pilotagc bill
and criticized the local chamber with
ont knowing anything about the facts
In the case.
Attacks Upon Chamber.
IN connection with his resolution.
Mr. Bachelor read an editorial from
the News-Leadcr In which was re
printed an editorial from the New
York Marine journal. The Marine
| Journal comcntcd upon the much
. discussed telegram incident. and pro-
ceclcd to ,lcnnnrc this as one of the
| questionable methods used by for
eisn influences in lighting the pilot
age bill. The News Leader drew Il
comparison between these methods"
and the conduct of tho pilots In
making their fight, declaring mat the
pilots had used honorable and upright
methods only.
The kilograms Read.
Mr.. Roscnbaum asked tina, the
| chamber have some light OH the qucs-
ton OF why the kilograms were not
read. Another member asked that they
be read Mt once for the enliehtmcnt OF
The chamber. Secretary Flower rea d!
Inc telcerams. ana then made i state
mcnt. The messages. fourteen IN
number. one bearing six signatures.
were from owners OF vessels plying
Tile coasiwisc trade and ali OF mem
urged action in favor Of abolition of
coastwisc compulsory piiotagc Sew
eral OF them favored moderate in
crease in pllotaGc charges against
foreign vessels. ana one or two spcci-
hcolly endorsed the bill nov pend
ing"
Mr.. Flowers statement.
Mr. Flowers said that he had the
teleerams cnfis desk before the last
meeting was called TO order. and that
several members of the association
were aware Of this fact. He went
no to say that he brought the mes
sagcs TO the attention of MIR. Upshur.
| who was president at the time. and
that he held them on his desk. wait
Tag FOR Mr.. Upshur 10 call for their
reading In the meantime the ar
Snmcnt went on. and finally q vote
was taken without the kilograms hay
ing been called for
Mr.. Upshur's Statement
Mr.. tpshur stated positively that
10 his knowledge he had never seen
INC kilograms, and did not know of
their contents until they were read
rev minutes before. He saw some
kilograms In Mr., II. u. Holmes bands.
nut supposed they had been sent at
inc request OF those opposing the
p'lotasc bill and had no idea that they
were addressed TO the chamber lie
went on to say that although he was
opposed to the pilotagc bill. he had
desired 10 give all parties concerned
lull and fair hearing. and that If he
hou kncwn OF Tho tolearams he should
| csrtoinlr have had them read
! fhounht They Favored Resolution. |
MI Holmes said that he regarded