I maintain. is in conflict with that provision of the Constitution which says: No State shall. without the consent of Congress. lay any duty of tonnage. (Section 9. Article I. Constitution of the United States.) The law remained substantially as passed in 1789 until 1837. when New York pilots had a complete monopoly. and they became both so exacting and negligent that because of the loss of the emigrant ships Bristol and Mexico on Long Island public attention *as drawn to them and the State of New Jersey established a pilot system. broke up the New York monopoly. and Congress passed a law empowering the master to take a pilot from either State when going to a port situated on waters constituting the boundary between States. (Revised Statutes United States. section 4236.) In 1871 Congress again intervened and again assumed partial control of the subject by enacting a law abolishing compulsory pilotage as to all coasting vessels propelled by steam. (Revised Statutes United States. section 4438 et seq.) Having reviewed the historical and legal aspect of this subject. let us now consider exactly what this bill seeks to do and the justice of. and reasons for. doing it. This bill simply provides that coastwise sailing vessels shall be put on the same basis as our steam vessels. by allowing the licensing of their masters or mates to pilot their own vessels when found competent by the local inspectors. as contained in section 4442 of the Revised Statutes of the United States. and by exempting them from the payment of State pilotage when not used and when their vessels are towed by tugs under the charge of United States pilots. This bill in effect provides that an American coastwise sailing vessel already adequately piloted by a United States pilot shall not be obliged to pay a State pilot who has performed no service for the vessel. and whose services are not needed.
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emigrant