Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-15

compass The defeat OF that fea-
ture of the pending measure
tIIonse Bill No. 75.J
Resolved further. That we ia
vor the abolition OF compulsory
coaatwlse pilotnge.
Resolved further, That we ra-
ycr the pending bill having as It's
object the placing of the Virginia
Pilots Association under the s,-
peryislqn of,the state corporation
commission.
After listening for three hours to
arguments for aud against the Cox
4 Edwards pilotage hill, which is
passed the House of Delegates and Ia
now pending lin the State Senate,
the Chamber of Commerce last night
ndopted the above resolution. a
recorded vote was taken. II members
voting for the resolution AMI three
voting against it.
MI. ii, II. Holmes offered the reso.
luton and. speaking MS the repre-
sentative OF all the shipping compan-
les and coal agencies doing business at
this port, made mn exhaustive state.
ment OF reasons for opposition to the
proposed new pilo,age law. He gave
Facts and figures In great volume.
and earnestly set forth the belief on
the part Of the shipping interests that
the t,isnthss OF this port and Of Nor
folk would be seriously injured II the
& Cox Edwards bill should become a
las. In brief. the principal features
Of his argument We're as followws.
The Virginia Pilots Association gives
up about $4,000 annually In sur
rendering the compulsory coastwIsc
} pnotage, and adds about $4,000 To
K Its revenues by increasing pilotage
rates on certain cllsses of foreign
steamers; the pilots are now well
pspld, and have for years been COL
iecting fees from the coastwlse yes
seis to which. In justice, they we're
not entitled
CAPTAIN Boutwell,.
CAPTAIN w. r.. BOUTWELL,. president
OF the Virginia Piloa' Associatoin
replied TO Mr.. Holmes, speaking at
2 length. lie did not deny the truth oil
Mr.. Holmes assertions In regard to
tie Increase in revenue which would
he made by the proposed rate on
foreign steamers, but said that S27,-
Z 600 was too low figure at which ia
place the amount received last wear
from coastwise pilotage The captain
coDtended th1i the proposed fees
would not he hurdensome to foreign
silipS. and tnat no one shoulA com
plS.n II the pilots did receive sub
Btnntiai compensation for their work
He spoke of the pilot steamer cost
Ing about $4,000 which Is main
fnined on the Oaaes by the associ-
alton; referred to the hazardous ma
fnfe OF the pilots calling, and en-
pressed the conviction that the ser
rice rendered by the Virginia pilots
was equal to that rendered by any
other ports in the world He went
ou.to say that the pIlotage rates here
s were lower than at any other port
IN the country
Mr. John A. Curtis of Richmond.
who 10 interested in the abolition OF
compulsory coastwise pilotage. spoke
In opposition to the resolution. He
claimed that the increase In rates on
Z foreign ships would not be burden
some, and that the abolition of com.
pulsory coastwlse, pilotage would be
great boon to Virginia ports.
Mr. p M. bennington, local agent
for the United States Shipping Com
siany. Mr.. r. r.. Blood. representing
the Berwind7 White Coal Company,
and Mr.. O.D. Bachelor spoke brief
W In support OF the resolution.
Mr. r. G.. Bickford urged that the
chamber had not had time to prop
4 crly investigate the question. and
suggested that action be postponed
until such time as all the facts in
the case could be brought out and
z diSestel.
Arguments Were Lengthy.
Mr. Holmes and Captain Boutwell,
;luastionel an answered each other
ar such length that it would take
many columns 10 set forth all of the
facts and arguments presented by
them. 1t was after IL o'clock and
many members had left the hail be-
fore a vote was taken.
When the president called for
YES and noes. there were many ayes
sna Mr. Bicliord was the only, mem