Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-22
PILOTAGE SYSTEM
FOR PHILADELPHIA
PORT INCOMPETENT
Shipping Circles Here Agree
With Navy Officials in
Charge of Mismanagement,
Some Weird Workings.

| Maritime circles in general agree with
the charges of navy officials that the
rIlotage system Of the Delaware River
| and Bay is poorly managed and that
some of the pilots are united physically
and otherwise to navigate vessels in or
out Of this port. But because of some
strange fear. steamship agents and
owners refrain from committing them
selves publicly against the system.
The power OF tho pilots. which seals
the lips Of those deeply interested in the
affairs of the ports, has been obvious to
the observing for many years.
The Pennsylvania and Delaware Pilots
Association. composed OF nearly 100 men.
has supreme power over the moving OF
vessels in and out Of the harbor This
power is vested in them by the States o:
Pennsylvania and Delaware, which make
it compulsory for vessels coming from or
bound for a foreign port to take on board
pilot. even though the master of the
vessel knows the channel and is capabls
Of navigating his own craft.
Should the master leave or enter tie
port without the pilot he would be com
PEELED under the laws To pay the pilot
ase fee. This is hardship imposed Upon
sailing vessels which depend chiefly upon
towboats. The pilot usually sits and em-
Joys himself during the 10 or p hours
run IN or down the river while the tow
boat does the work Both the pilot and
the towboat collect fees.
Exemption is permitted from pilotaEe
y IN" vessel is CARRYING coal TO Porto
RICO. Unless favoritism was shown the
railroads, the object in oXemptng coal
carEoos can't be- explained
OFFICIALS HANDS BOUND.
The Commissioners Of Navigation COM
posed OF Director Norris. chairman. J.
5, " Holton, g. Coleman sellers. Jr.. II.
II II Pool and J. Craig Jr.. : the body
appointed by the state with Jurisdiction
owe tho pilots But their power amounts
to little. The commissioners have lie
ri-ht TO -rHnt, suspend or revoke the
license Of uiots under certain conditions.
These conditions i'm reality bind the hands
%. Nh" commissioners
a bill fu give the Commissioners mara
power was killed iH the last Legislature
The strange power of the pilots was
again m evidence I'm killing this measure
hriofr tu'Wttlng the htl. 20 the G.cEls-
IatGI0 the Commissioners held a public
meeting which vas attended bv repre-
sentauvcs OF nearly AN the big shipping
interests ~ the port They apparently
favored the bin as drafted. At least. IL
was unopposcd With the exception of
some minor details Vet when tho hill
was presented tn the Legislature these
same men who had silently accepted IL
before the Commissioners. pooled their in
terestS employ ed lawyer and sent him
10 harrisburg 10 bring about It's defeat
NAVY TAKES UP FIGHT.
Norris B. smith, the pilot against whom
Captain knapp. of th,. oattleship con
neeticut lodged his complaint of incom-
oetence. admitted al. Of ti~ charges made
against MIN, but objected 10 a statement
That the weather WAS hazy on tine dav
u question. This objection had not the
slightest bearing ON mn. case auI b.
lmpliucd he charges oF the navy officers
Captain Knapp declared that aside from
Inc monetary risk in placing a battleshfu
In the hands 0f am incompetent man. the
navy was likely 10 lose valuable ad-
.unot that gould not be replaced Al a
moments notice.
IHa ,har=es preferred ty CautsI,
N-app are foreruuuers of others tbat ayiu
1' made by naval authorities Wherever
ucompeEent Pilots are placed on BOARD
naval vessels, II Is the intention of the
naval authorities 20 obtain the hiEbsst
,Iaa9Ld Or protection f9e vessels u tie