The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-05-01
zHE RICE rIERcE QUESTION "a AIN

0. 1O IdE EOlIOh OF The NEWS.
Charleston and Savannah have been COM
nercial centres for the sale Of the rice crops of
South Carolina and Georgia for at least GEN.
tury. Both these cities have drawn hand
Eome support from the rice growers Of the two
States, and many factors have grown rich upon
incomes derived almost exclusively from this
source, As business centres their established
local usages have hitherto governed entirely in
the sails Of this particular grain. These local
the influence Of common law. They have been
considered the teI lOct, and as such, have ex-
ercised the force and digolty Of the ler scrtptd;
and merchants and factors have conformed
thereto without reference to the local customs
OF other cities or large commercial centres,
just as they have conformed to other usuages
differing in Charleston from those Of New
York, Boston or New Orleans.
1t has but recently been discovered that
charge for the tierces in which rice is sold is
prejudicial to the commerce OF Charleston
Strange that a custom which has obtained for
one hundred years should just ct this particu-
ton. More strange that the rice buyers should
now find it necessary to combine together and
positively refuse tc purchase IT their demands
are are not complied With, viz: If the factors de-
is cold. Each tierce costs the planter 81 SO,
which must be given away to secure pnrchas-
or OF his rice; for all the buyers are committed
as league to stand by this strike against the
planter, The factor, as agent has either to
-succumb Or ship under instructions to Anoth-
or marh et., No matter at what cost to the
poor struggling plar ter, the commerce OF
Charleston requires the fostering care of o new
~ fedged Board OF Trade, which it would seem
iaYeady. to dray the very life blood of the poor
rice grower, but Is blind to the discrepancy in
the rates OF commissions in Charleston as
compared with those Of Northern and Western
cities. There was time when this strike OF
r. m o11n ri
ly by the planters themselves, and their factors
would scarcely have hesitated as to their duty,
aoting solely as y. agents IN IN the premises; g.
from one particular section or neighborhood
in the hands Of the growers, such combina-
tion among the buyers could not possibly have
been effected. They know full well that It
would have driven nearly every tierce from
,Charl son TO other markets, and that the in
Serests of the city would have been compro-
missed by such action. But now that the plan
prostrate and dependent for the small means
necessary to carry on his planting operations,
his factor too poor to back him against this
innovation, the blow is struck, and he has to
hundred tierces Of rice sent to the Charleston
market, or lose the privilege OF a sale. To talk
about paying more for the rice il the tierce is
thrown IN for nothing, 10 idle, for no one be-
ieves 1t.
Doubtless the full effect Of this change has
been we'll considered by tn ose who suggested
it. At'frst it was o mere sMggea.aosa from the
rice buyers to the rice factors. Nothing was
positively determined upon, and oy some it
was limited that the success OF the movement
was dependent chiefly upon the mill owners Of
Charleston. There was little fear that the
planters could or would combine against 1t.
Possibly the interests OF the city had found
antagonism in the pounding mills Of the
country, and that more rough rice was neces-
sary for the city mills. The planter who OBJ
jected to paying one dollar and fifty cents to
the mllers for tierces, had the option Of selling
IN the rough, and the millers who do make n
Pres: On their barrels could very we'll afford to
lose something for monopoly in pounding.
But, be this as it may, it is pretty well estab-
lished that, with present ndeb4 edness to Rao
tors in Charleston, the growing crop cannot
very well be shipped elsewhere. This estab-
lished, and the new system fairly inaugurated.
no reaotion Is likely to benefit the pIan3er. The
Chamber of Commerce have taken the buyers
upon their shoulders, and, thus M united. their
card is out positively declining, aftel the lat
OF May next, to purchase any rice where
charge is made for the terces. The acti m Of
the Chamber Ia mere expression of o pinion,
and may be considered Gdu,soyy-the action Of
the rice merchants is uncomprOnising and
0osnpusory. Have the factors nothing to say
IN the matter2 Do the plan ers acaulesoo, CT
have they no right to q voice? These are qres.