Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-02-08

your committee discovered that its attention had
been directed to subjects, interesting to large por
ZION OF the Commonwealth, of no small delicacy
a.d about winch there existed, lively sensiby.
Inc inspection of fl ,nr the CITY of Richmond,
uitectiv interests the Uicrs ond wheat growers,
Only vi all The James river country above the head of
TIDE water and ITS branches, but portion OF the
country embracing the head-watcrs of PamuDkey
kSppalianmock, Shenandoah, Cireenbrar, New river
ana Roanoke The number Of barrels inspected last
year considerably exceeded two hundred thnusa nj;
valued at more than million OF doiars aad the IN
spection returns for series of years exhibits the
gratifying fact, that there has been progressive
and rapid increase Hence. your committee was in.
duccd to apply for the extra power of scnlinr for
persons to ties iy before it.
In the exercise of the power with which i, was
invested oy the House, your committee caused TO
ne summoned to appear before it, number of gen
',ehen, whose statements and opinions were cn.i-
ded To- weight aud credit, from their loa.r cxoer.
-~<sce III the wheat and -four business ana from
their general intelligence and probi,y; witnesse.
who promptly and checrtully attended tho commit. co
from day to day, until the investigation was closed
as to them.
An earnest desire appears to be entertained by
persons deeply concerned III the matter, that the
County court of Ienrco should not retain The uacon
trolied power of appointing the Inspector; because
that body is quoadhoc, irresponsible; because the cit
lzaus of Henrico have greater interest in the fitness
aud competency of that officer than the citizens of
various other counties; and because complaints have
afison, us may well 30 imagined, against officers SO
appointed. But no evidence has beon given before
IL
~, skill or diligence of the present Inspector or of
his deputy: on the contrary, all the witnesses bore
strong testimony in favour ofthsr high qualifications
and official conduct. Yet, as large portion of The
Commonwealth is interested in The manner in which
the duties Of this office discharged, and as the an
pointmen of public officer should be made by those
10 be benefited injured by his good i'll conduct
in Office, by those emcnablc them, it is deemed
advisable to invest the Governor with some agency
or control over the appointment of tho Inspector:
AND, for that purpose to require the of Hen
plit In.
two ut and competent persons, of whom the Govern
or should select one. Such alteration of tho law
will be satisfactory TO the ublic; Will provide safe
check to h1sty and inludctoas appointments and
will guard against the Consequences of a possible
delay of some week. for the appointment of a sue
cessor, in the event of an Inspectors death.
Ehc committee does not deem il advisable to an
point two principal Inspectors, whether to act
Jointly or seVerally The Inconvenience and iniu-
ry resulting from division of responsibity row
resting on one would probably exceed the bene-
hts derived from the services sf two PRINCIPAL In
spectors; and the mode Of appeal from he Inspec-
tors Judgment, affords easy and cheap remedy
Tor errors of opinion motive.
The amount of compensation received by this of
tcer, depends the Qulntum OF produce inspected
which varies in greater less degree every wear;
and Is, therefore, justly propnrtioned the duty re-
CURED The sum allowed by la is two cents for
each ''cask" inspected, being the same fer half bar
rela for ba which, with the perquisites, equal
TO about a Cents per cask. The number inspec-
ted last year was according to the testimony of tbe
Inspector, two hundred and thirty three thousand
five hundred and twcnty-nIne; making his compensa-
ton about S5,253 In addition TO his own services
he employs deputy at 5000 per annum, and three
grown male slaves, and there contingent expen-
SEES This estimate of the expense and COMPENSATION
shows that the latter may be reduced, without de-
2riving the officer of adequate return for his
services. The number of casks inspected last wear
though exceeding the inspections of former years
probably forms just basis of calculation, as the
business has increased and is likely to increase.
II was in proof to your committee, that some of
- Il I'm of pSI6u tIUn hiram RI
marks, one for their superior, and the other their
inferior foar that one Of those brands and the one
usually marked on Inferior flour, is Canal" and
anolher the name OF mill up the river But there
Is no reason to believe that those particular brands
were selected with view 10 the depression of the |
character OF -four coming down the canal, that
manufactured at the mill aboye 1t is obvious that I
such not the intention The facts are noticed
only to slew tina. the prdciice of using two brand
marks Is liable to abuse, and cause even unin-
territorial injury. But 1t was also proven, that in
case few years past, the brand of a coun-
try mill erased, and hat of city mill marked
on parcel of -four purchased TO complete u car
go.
The fifth section OF TIE law under consideration is
in the following words: Every miller and manufac-
turer OF flour and Indian meal and every baker of
bread for expectation, sra provide and keep dis
ElDguishable brand mark, with which he shat brand
every cask offour, indian meal and bread, and mark
thereontfc tarc and nett weight" &c 1t does not
appear from the phraseolosy employed that it vas
contemplated to all1w mJIiers to use two or moro
by whom the flour was mrn nlactured; but its plain
import is torestrlct them to al Interpretation
well warranted by considerations Of pubic policy and
Justice.
In favour of the privilege ofusing two brand marks,
for the superior, and the other for The inferior
-FOUR il is contcnded that this is essential to enable
the miller to maintain, in foreign markets, high
character for his brand that, each mill necessarily
manufactures portion OF common inferior flour
IFS occupant isdeprived, by confinement one brand
OF the advantages of brand of established character
ar of the opportunity of acquiring fer his brand high
character; that other mers have cause of COM
plant on this account, because they may
brands; and that the privilege is used only when
the Hour exported, it is but fair allow the mers
brand 10 confirm and augment the estimate placed on
the inspectors brand. On the other band, it is arpu-
ell that public policy requires that the character
article undergoing public inspection, should be estab
iished by the Judgment of the public officer; that the
advantages OF two more brands more imaginary
than real if fairly used; that the privilege peculiarly
liable TO abuse, and must lead such abuses as to DIES
troy their supposed actual advantages; all the
benefits justly to be derived from the character Of the
miller or MILL will from the use of one AS well
as of two brands: that their advantages, if any, are