The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-13
The Rrsvention os Cotton Stealing.

The House Committee OH Agriculture have
reported favorably upon "A bill 10 regulate
"the sale ofcotton." with q recommendation
that it do pass. and the bill now lies over for
Il second reading.
Protection for cotton growers against theft
is pressing want, and it has been the opin-
ion OF the farmers as reflected in the columns
OF the country press, That tho roadiest way
of preventing stealing wn7 to make the traf'
fic in stolen cotton 10th loathsomo and dan
gerous. When the booty cannot he sold
without imminent risk OF detection, the fear
of punishment combats the hope OF gain,
and robbery decreases in extent and fire.
qncncy, II 1t does not atop altogether. A
plain, simple and severe law, prohibiting tho
purchase or sale Of seed cotton ut night,
under penalty OF fine and imprisonment,
might meet the case, and would certainly
go further toward REFRESHING theft than the
! lii now before the Legislature
The first objection IN tho hill "to regulate
"the sale OF cotton" Is that II provides for the
creation OF q new swarm of 0fficials-com-
missioners and deputy commissioners which
last may he appointed when the pnblic re-
"quirements demand IT," on the recommend
alton of ten citizens. Admitting that tho
commissioners and deputy commissioners
would all lie honest, and that fee OF ten
cents bale would induce competent mon
to undertake. the work, and that they would
have tho facilities for Weighing the cotton
| Qor all merchants or traders" the persons
who usually have scales and other conven-
icncies arc disqualified from acting as CON-
| missloncrs or deputies.) and that The deputy
| commissioners will DO so placed that 40.
ever may desire to sell cotton may have il
weighed without great Inconvenience and
loss OF time and exposure in hauling to the
Official headquarters ors-admitting oil this,
there is nothing iu the bill.
| Tho 8rit section makos it the duty of Ihr
commissioners TO weigh "all cotton GOLD
either loose, or packed in bales or in tho
seed" fhiS cotton Is to he recorded, will
the names OF the sellers, and, if practicable
OF tho purchaser or consiynee, tho scer rc
ceiyinga certificate Of The weight OF the pack
age. No attempt is made TO compel The sci
ler OF cotton 10 have it weighed. The com
missioner is there, and will weigh the cotton
and givo n certificate of the fact but there
lsnopenalty for not having the cotton weighed
and recorded. Nor docs the bill toll III
whether the cotton will bo weighed, and thu
certificate granted, at any time, or whether
this is on J done when buyer and seller close
L
their bargain. IL iE 20 DO presumed That tht
cotton would bo inspected ut uny time, bu
what is there 10 prevent "a loss OF weight
between the day OF inspection and day O
salcf There is provision for marking thu
packages OF cotton, but i may bn intended
to compel oil cotton inspected anI unsoId I,
be stored in warehouse (own"d Ivy tho com
missioner and deputy commissionsr) unli
such timo as 1t may he disposed Of Thil
FIRST section OF tho bill IL terrible jumb Q
and 1t Is not m n led by the third suction
which contains a clause t at ANY pursor
"or peraons found purchas ns co ton without
"the certificate Of tha connlasIonsr or on,