The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-23
From the Cincinnati Price Current.
Uniformity OF Tares.

wish, through the columns of the Price Current,
to call the attention of our merchants to the inn
portance OF and necessity of having uniform Ia
upon all articles of merchandise disposed of in the
United States, and TO accomplish desirable a
suit would beg leave to suggest the Propriety Of
calling Congress Of Delegates from all the Cham
bers OF Commerce in the United States
With regard to the importanceo Of q reformation
in the present system OF tareing not only in this
city, but in the United States, it is hardly neces
| sary to cay word. We have referred to the sub.
ject on several occasions, and spoken Of the injus
tce OF he system in very plain terms No intelli-
| gent correct business imam will, for a moment t.,
contend that it is risht-that it is honest-in selling
tobacco, to charge its price, which may be forty
cents per pound for ten, twenty, thirty pounds
of good oak rood; Or in selling candles to call elk
a pound which weigh only fourteen, or may be
thirteen ounces, and charge accordingly; or. in
sugar. to charge five or seven cents per pound for
portion OF the wood Of the barrel hogshead, the
slaves of which may be purchased in any quantity
at our landing at twelve to twenty dollars per
in the sale Of which fraud is practiced ad nit,s
or,Rt least, until VIC should have embraced every
article which Ia tared at ALT but, suffice it to say,
that the whole system Of tareing is wrong. The
| mercantile community that it is 30. The
Chamber OF Commerce OF this city, ut its last meet
ing, 80 reported in the following emphatic lam
guage:
ANY and all systens of are have led to fraud
even among those standing high in commercial
circles, and loss to all operators; therefore this
Chamber recommend the establishment of a eye
tenn OF actual tare on every article usually tared
Here we have the result OF the present system
briefly stated, and the remedy-the only remedy,
which is actual tnre-recommended. But the ques
ton arises, how ia this system to be adopted? If
the merchants Of Cincinnati adopt and adhere TO
1t, they, az commercial community, stand singly
and alone in this great country. In trade there
would be an apparent difference against us.
If in other cities sugar is tared ten or twelve per
cent, while here actual tdre ia allowed the price
per pound must be relatively higher in the latter
than in t former. And if our candles weigh ak
teen ounces to the pound, manufacturers who give
two or three ounces less can, of course afford to
sell their fourteen ounce pounds for less than
s'Ifeen ounce pounds And consumers are die
posed to look at appearances rather than reality
and thus they allow themselves to be deceived
They do not seem care to know that every arti-
Gle has its value, and when any commodity ia uni
formy cold for less than the cost of production,
| there must be something wrong
But while We are satisfied that the merchants of
this city should not Tor a moment hesitate to take
their stand on the side OF honesty, and encourage
fair dealing, even should they be compelled to
contend alone against system which,, though
polished over and 30 reduced by custom that hon
and straight forward business men practice it,
is nevertheless fraudulent. Yet think that
united action on the part OF all principal com
mercial cities may be had, and q uniformity Of
! tares adopted.
As means to accomplish this object, we entirely
approve Of Congress of Representatives of the
| Chamber OF Commerce of the several commercial
cities. as recommended by our correspondent
move in this matter, and we hope that at its next
meeting proposition relative thereto will be made
| and acted upon, and when the subject is brought
before this body all who feel interest in the mat
ter will come out and exert themselves to secure
a full meeting. Let the action not be of that luke
warm kind which can have little or no effect Cor
respondence was had last winter with the Cham
bers Of Commerce Of the principal cities, and we
satisfied that there is but one feeling this
subject. and that is in favor of thorough reforma-
| ton.
| Another subject which should, we think, be
sidered in connection with that relating to ares, ia
a uniformity in the standard Of weights and mea
cures. II is perhaps generally known that Mt pre-
sent each State has it's own standard, and, 80 far
know, few, if any of them, entirely alike.
| The result is that n bushel Of any commodity in
Ohio 10 either more less than bushe in New
York, or other States. in weights there 10 also q
discrepancy, The existence Of this state Of things
causes much inconvenience in trade. and il only
can be remedied, suppose, by an act Of Congress
establishing uniform standard. The subject was
brought to the attention of the Hon. d. T. Disney
representative from this county, last winter, and
we lea ned from him that the Committee on Com
merce were considering the matter, and had pro-
mised to report. 1t was permitted to slecp, how
eyer, with other subjects of interest, and il may
auire some action on the part OF the commercial
community 10 secure for il the consideration Of
Congress at the approaching session.