Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-05-12
COMMUNICATIONS.

been brought from Fredericksburg, in Virginia,
and loaded on board the ship from the craft that
brought it, without having been landed on the
wharf, or re-lnspected here, has been supposed to
come in conflict with our Flour Law. My pre-
sent object is to examine that question.
Previous to September, 1924, the inspection
of Flour in Alexandria was regulated by law OF
Virginia. passed in 1892, under which act the
right of shipping Flour from Alexandria, thathad
been inspected in Virginia, without re-inspec-
ton, had never been questioned.
May :, 1924, Congress passed an act g FUR
Their to regulate the inspection of Flour in the
Town of Alexandria" the second section OF
which provides g That the said Common Coun-
Gil be, and thew are hereby, empowered to pro-
vide for re-inspeciion of Flour IN store, when
ever. in their opinion, it may require it, and TO
regulate the expectation aud shipment thereof: to
pass laws for the punishmeht of all persons who
Shall be guilty of fraud. otherwise violate their
regulations; and TO alter and amend the present
inspection laws, so far as may be necessary to eff
feet that object.'
July, 1924, the Common Council passed a
law, the l4th section of which is the only part
that is supposed to bear immediately on our SUBJ
ject-there we find the following proyisiOn:-
- That it shall not be lawful to export, or to at
tempt to export. from the Town or Port of Alex
andria, to any port or place whatever, any Flour,
in casks. not inspected and branded according to
this laws
From the aforegoing Summary, two questions
present themselves
1st. Does the law of Congress of May, 1924,
authorize the Common Council Of Alexandria to
repeal the Virginia law of December, 1892, so
far as to prohibit Flouriuspectcd in Virginia, and
brought to Alexandria. from being exported with
out re-inspecticns
In 1892 Congress passed law, the 18th sec
ton of which is aS follows: - That articles in
spected at one port in said District meaning the
District of Columbia shall not be subject to a Sc
cond inspection at any other port in the Dis
trict"
Does the 18th section Of the Corporation Law
of Alexandria, as before quoted, repeal the afore-
said l2th section of the Act of Congress in 1902
The I'd questionis: When purchase of Flour
IN Virginia is brought to this port to make up
cargo for foreign market, and is transhpped
without being landed, does the transaction come
within the provisions of the Corporation law?
To this question we very promptly answer in
the negative. merchant has ship at Frede-
ricksbu.s loading with Flour for Liverpool; the
burthen Of the ship is 5000 barrels. he can only
procure 1000, and is compelled to bring his ship
into the Potomac. and finish her lading at Alex
andria: In this case will it be contended that the
900 barrels taken in at Fredericksburg mast
be landed AMI re-inspec;ed in Alexandria? The
idea is prepOsterous; and vet this case cited aud
the one alluded TO is perfectly similar.
In truth the fair and rational const; uction of
the law is this-Whenever lot of Flour is pur-
chased in Virginia, having passed through the
inspection there, and is brought to this port to
aid in making up a cargo for a foreign market and
10 IaHa Ern1n tha tutn fha oh ~
ing landed on the wharf. or in any way entering
into the general circulating property of the place,
the export should be considered as having taken
place at the port of shipment in Virginia, and is
mere only, IN transfer, or on its passage to for
eign market, and as such, could not be brought
under the regulation Of the Corporation Law of
Alexandria.--And such, | am warranted in say
ing. is the actual mode Of procedure in Balti-
more, and probably in other ports of the United
States.
An argument has been attempted 70 be set up
against our construction of the law, to wit: That
Flour shipped from the Port of Alexandria, be it
inspected wherever it may, will be considered as
Alexandria Flour; and if of lower grade. will
so far iaiure the character of the Alexandria in
spection. If Sere is any truth in this argument.
Iwould ask, why have we taken so much pains to
fence orr Flour round with brands, and weights,
and marks. and numbers and dates, if it was not
TO keepit separate and distinct, and to protect it
from being mistaken for Flour from other ports.
EXUS.
-aSe-
Mr. Sno,cdae--Permit me to call the attention
of our citizens to subject of vital Importance to
every individual, although hitherto Strangely ne
glscted,-l allude to the Clerks Office and Office
of the Orphans Court for the Town and County
of Alexandria:-I'he titles of upwards of three
millions of dollars value Of real estate, besides
the doings of the United States Court held in
this county, are recorded in the one. and the dis
position Of all personal property of the deceased
in the other;-yet the former, with its invaluable
contents, is kept in apartments of the Market
House, not fire proof and liable to accident from
two fires in It's own rooms and several others ne
cessarily kept ia the same bnilding.-the latter
in miserable building. the upper part of which
is used for town meetings, both BY day and can