Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-11-21

Pilota1e Comes Wholly From OUT
side The State, And Whatever The
Amount Goes To The Grocer
Clothier, Doctor, Farmer And The
Mechanics OF All Branches, AS Well
AS To Public Enterprises.
Nine out of ten steamship agent.
and characterers who Dring thei! YES
sells 10 our ports certify over the!
signatures that the Virginia Pllo'>
rates bear favorable those OF riVi'
ports, and that they want 10 les!s!a.
ton on the subject. What better tes'
timony is desired than that OF those
who are so direcly in;erested-eyen 10
the exten. OF paying the money?
The unusually liberal compensation
of the pilots during tka war pefio"
came about through a quick turn,
over Ga large number OF vessels. III"
not By virtue of high rate asaiAs
a few, AS a matter OF fact. there
has not been the least increase IN
pilotage rates since 1908. although me
war period of high prices tof every
hing else has left its mark in all other
channels. y
During the war period colnpehSa'
ton vas greater than before. It's true
no, on account of any increase III
rates. however; but. because OF the
i
great number of ships handled IN
given time: and II we are 10 discus
All compare this at all, why not COM
pare It with member o! the lesa4
profession, who because during some
particular period has beer the recil1l-
en-, OF many fees; or the farmer be-
cause Of one or TWO prosperous years
out of dozen or more poor ones!
Where is there to be found in TINS
country any. other set OF men-trade,
calling or profession--whose actua'
rates OF pay for a given service IN
given time-have not greatly Increased
since 908-especally during the "aS
period?
The pilots have not increased one
nenny on the same service since l9O6
The only way in which their compeh
sation has been increased was by IN
creased service on their part-lan1-
ling more ships in given t!lne-~a
much greater volume Of service ct the
same old rate.
Suppose every merchant, manutac-
turer, professional man, mechanic and
day laborer, had followed out this
plan ell through the World Wal
period: Had such beer :he case this
country would not today be facing the
manifold knotty, threatening problems
which bob UP at every hands turn.
Many ports Of the United States
beirg but FIVE to nine miles from sea,
have higher rates of p!lotagc than
Virginia. Pilotage for the port oi
Baltimore is very much higher than
with the Virginia Pilots. The maxi
mum rate there begins on thirteen
feet draft. while the maximum charge
at the Virginia ports is not reached
until the vessel draws twenty ie";.
Baltimore has only TWO rates. while
Virginia has six Besides. the Bait.
more pilots operate with only one
boat. whereas. Of necessity. u" VI:
ginia ui!ots maintain four, with on
hundred men on their pay :o,l. al 4
cost CT operation perhaps three times
as great.
During four years Of war this as.
ISOLATION cared for the shipping @.
Hampton Roads, though the demands
upon that body were extraordinary
testimonials of high Goyeramslt Of
ficials 10 this fact are ava!'a-.e) wall
the association has enough pilots il
the making 20 care 70" over on" hun
dred per cent. increase in commerce,
there are Al present twenty-five i.
training which is more than Ne"
York and New Jersey combined have.
Pride Of The State.
The equipmen; Of the Virginia
Pilots Association is one OF whtc:
the State may well be justly proud
as it equals that Of New York an@
New Jersey combined
The Virginia law on pilotase Is the
same in principle as in eyc:g Scanof.
of the United States. That is, til
:ra,. a., Ill ,,or.c C-nratp trufar s.u;r
laws. which in the main provide tha;
there shall be a Board OF Pilot Com
missioners, penalties for derol:c.ion q.
duty. fixing rates, Apprenticeship, etc.
the pilots in every instance ownin
their equipment and running the bus.
ness themselves. consistent with Il
law, and free from demogogic inf
ence.