Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-06-16
Daily S'iroiaian.
Report on Commercial Usages. as Adop-
ted by tho Board OF Trade for tho City
Lynchburg, Juno 10th, 1850,
10 The President and Board ot' Directors
nf' III. J.,n.lto,., D,.,.{ af IT,,

Of Tie Lyachbry Board Of Trade;
Your committee on Commercial Usagcs, while
there are doubtless several branches of trade,
which will demand their pction and attention,
have thought proper to takc up none in their TO-
purt to-dy. excep, that Of establishing uniform
rate of commission for selling all articles of pro
ducc, and other articles aud the further duty ot
taking up and reporting upon that branch Of tho
trade in tho Article Of Tobacco. ~ far IA tho modo
of conducting the sales of this article is concerned,
Mt public auction.
We learn that upon some articles Of pr duce
there is wnnt Of uniformity of charge in COM
missions, while in other articles, particularly in
the article OF Tobacco. tho commission now
charged is inadequate as II fair compensation inr
the service performed in selling, and loss than is
| charged upon this article in other markets,
We understand that tho present Tariff Of Chnr-
ges Tor selling Tobacco. is SD much per llogshend
aud parcel; say 81 ~ for all llDeshcmls. 81 %
for all parcels uf loose 81 geo lbs, so cents
for all between 500 and 900 ih>., and % eents
for al under 800 ibs, regardless Of value, or the
amount that ouch hogshcnd or parcel may pro-
lucc. We SEQ too. that tho proportion of parcels
IL loase Tobacco under 500 lbs, is about 10 per
cent of the whole loose whie il is just as much
trouble to sell and collect one size parcel ~ il N
another. This specific mode Of charging commits
sons acts uniusty not only to the Commission
Merchants but the planter. 1t j. unequal toward.
the planter, because il makes tho proportion oi tho
smaller amounts in value pay just as much ms tho
greater pmuunt in value, which ~ frequently strl-
kingly eNcmphhed
In order then, To secure mn established. uniform
rnte, TINT will inir conn rcnsution ono Tint
nets equal upon the planter. aud the same charged
in all other market. thus placing all tho Com.
mission Merchants supon the same footing. and
upon an equality with merchants of other places,
aud the possibility Tor want vi established usage
Of preventing cxturtion. We recommend that the
Tariff of Commissions for selling NIL articles of
produce, nnd other articles, hc fixed at "a per cen.
tum, and this rate to he II maNimnm nnd MINI
mum rate, We recommend tina, this rate and this
mode of charging commissions shall go into effect
irom and nltcr the LIST day of Jul y next.
In calling your attention tu that hrareh Of the
trade of Tobacco. far as the auction sules are
concerned it is evident, nnd must hc evident To
NIL who have been observers. that it IL IN II most
dcplorablc condition and needs your prompt nc
tion in bringing nbou, correction
And it is really singular aud strange, that there
should be any difference otopinon about n: yet,
such is the fact, and You may expect any action
of your body, upon tins subject, / be strongly
opposed. II is then the mode and mannc1 ns at
present, Of conducting sales 10y public auction,
which We call your attention. mud ondcnvored to
point out such remedies ~ we think will tend Ia
correct the evils and dsnd, antages under which
all parties, Plnn,cg- Commission Merchants, y
spectors and Buyers, ARE under the present mode
subjected to.
Without beneiting my body to tho ineonycni
Of all, and very frequently to the dctriment
Of the planters interest. there is too much time
and labor consumed by all parties, by The present
mode Of conducting the auction sales. 1t ~. ply
sically. too lnborioes for good health md inkes
entirely too much IF the time ot all parties. that
should aud would be devoted To other branches OF
their business. This state of things ia admitted.
and admitted even by those wh""ppose ans action
of your association. This state Of things. in our
opinion, is many y brought about by the compei-
tion between the Commission Merchants, in their
zeaous cxertlons aud efforts to secure business
by what is evidently "A mistaken and hnd policy,
together with nm occasoual want OF activity on
the part ofthc buyers. hy being indnlged too
much 10y the Commission Merchants Willie san-
ducting the auction.
Thc evil II, it exists il crying ono, and re-
proacl t. Lynchburg. II has existed too long; 80
long that We have become. to our shame, n by
word and laughing stock. ut HON" and abroad,
aud demands at Your hands, an effort To correct
1t. Various efforts have been made, and plans
tried, all unsucccs,fully. We would not recon-
mend anything that we thought would in the least
damage the planter. the commission merchant, or
the trade of Lynchburg. but On the other hand be
conducive to the interests Of all parties concern
ed.
In what we shall recommend yod will be mot
with the sort Of scarecrow argument. that it II IL
adopted and carried into operation, Lynchbnrg
divert the Tobacco away-to Hichmond for in
stance, where they have. not only all the time
charged "a per cent. but actually last year. car
rcd innovation ~ far rs to establish n Tobacco
Exchange with public nuctionecr. Yet instend
OF Richmond losing Tobacco, she has been steadi-
ly increasing her receipts from all directions. Is
il because she is the best market ? Certainly not
for upper Virginia Tobacco's. if for any. Then it
is about reasonable to say, that il is account
of Rchmonds charging higher commissions md
selling through apublic auetonccr. at an exchange
TINT her receipts nis increasing ny 1t is say, that
your adopting not an exchange, but simplya plan
adapted to the interest and cnicncc Of all, in
facilitating business. will have the effect to produce
dissatisfaction on the part Of the planters, aud
drive them to Richmond with their Tobaccos.-
Why is il then, that so much time is consumed.
and labor wasted under the present mode of con-
ducting the auction sales !? 1t is mainly because
the cryer, n commission merchant, with some
exceptions, consumes entirely too much time, IN
one way or another, very oficn by making unne
cessary and out Of place remarks, producing CEN
fusion in busines and annoyance to the trade
How is this state Of things to be remcdied p
There is but one remedy that ~c can conceive Of
after having tried and seen the failure Of all that
has been tried and that is, to take the auction
eering out of the hands of tho Commission Mer
chants, nd put it into the hands OF good auction
cryers to be appointed by your body, who shall
be pla ,ed in an Independent disinerestcd position
aud untrammcled by any influence except that in
dependence that will enable them to conduct the
sales fairly pleasantly and correctly. looking to
the interest Of all parties concerned.
Your committee recommend then, that the pres
ent mode Of conducting auction sales Of Tobacco
be abolished, and in is stead the mode indicated
above he substituted, WHICH we think is clearly
within the province of the Board to do, and in its
power il the members of its organization will do
their duty and we regard it as one of the most
tn he tnk in Ol