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

session of the Fifty-ninth Congress.
the vote being 165 10 100.
We can assure DIR present oppon-
ents that on that score there was no
cause whatever for nervousness; but
we did think that the release of the
home vessel from pilo,age charge
would la acceptable to tho people OF
this Commonwealth. and we did not
think that all the foreign inetrests at
Newport News and Norfolk would be
aligned in such bitter opposition TO n
measure whose provisions are not
hurtful to the foreign while beneficial
to the American vessel.
House Bill No. rs was introduced
in order TO place the ports OF virai-
MIA upon the same basis as the ports
north of us, and not with view to
increase enoluments. The idea ma
turned through the belief that It would
receive the commentator of Ameri-
can friends and American interests
and We We're not mistaken. These
home interests have Endorsed 1t. and
are not in the least swayed by the
conveniently seductive arguments of
foreign shippers.
In the readjustment OF rates, our
central idea was ever kept in view,
and that was to leave the ports Of
Virginia with pilotaee rates as low as
existed at any of the ports of the
, United States regardless of whether
there was an increase of decrease of
emolnments. This has been done,
and there are but two ports whose
rates are near to the rates proposed
in House Bill No. rs viz; New York
and Boston.
We did not think. If a merchant, an
express company. railroad or a
farmer. or even 4 pilot organization,
could do well SO long as their charges
Tor service or wares We're upon q
competitive basis with other like bo-
dies and conditions. that the princi-
pie involved anything contrary to
American ideas or broad and healthy
economies.
Specifically replying to some of the
arguments of the circus-iike ad., pre-
sumably from foreign shippers and
steam coal barons. whose prices mo
matter how high) are to be considered
no hardship to any vessel. whether
foreign or American, We shall quote
their own figures, as follows, and
draw deductions therefrom:
Amount of pilotage paid
by foreign shipping in
1907 ......., 800. $4,000
Amount of pilotage to be
paid by foreign ship
ping in 1908 ~. -. $4,000
Increase. according
TO their statement $4,000
In displaying this increase, they die
not do the case the simple justice OF
showing that the final difference Ito
an association of "thirty-six msn" is
not $4,000. but. after tho deduction
of $4,000 coastwise pilotage. an in
crease Thy their own figures) of only
$4,000.
They seem absolutely ignorant OF
the expense incident 70 maintaining
the equipment OF a pilot organization.
and We shall have tofnform them thar
whiie accordingly TO their fgures)
me pilo'age in 1867 by the proposed
rates would have been $4,000. there
should be deducted for that years ex-
pense s9O.12o.
snail We consider this amount n
princely income to the members OF an
association who maintain a $4,000
equipment under hazardous conditions
to such Investment?
Shall we consider this amount n
princely,inco TO those who not only
lace the dangers incident to cruising
In The Path OF shipping and boarding
vessels Under all conditions OF wealth
er. butt who also are frequently in
chargef of vessels reeking with con-
tasioulk or infectious disease?
Our bopponents have taken an ex--
ceptlohally prosperous year of ship
ping upon which TO base their argu-
menib. We have gone further than
this back during the past nine years
OF d luctuating commerce. and find