The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-13
The PrsveHtl0n OF Cotton Stealing.

The House Committee on Agriculture have
reported favorably upon GA bill TO regulate
"the sale ofcotton." with recommendation
that it DO pass, and the bill now lies over for
second reading.
Protection for cotton growers against theft
is 8 pressing want, and it has been the opin-
ion of the farmers, as reflected in the columns
of the country press, that the readiest way
OF preventing stealing was to make the traf-
fic in stolen cotton both loathsome and dan
gerous. When the booty cannot be sold
without imminent risk OF detection, the fear
OF punishment combats the hope OF gain,
and robbery decreases in extent and fire.
quency, if it does not stop altogether. A
plain, simple and severe law, prohibiting the
purchase or sale OF seed cotton at night,
under penalty OF fine and imprisonment,
might meet the caser and would certainly
90 further toward represslng theis than the
bill now before the Legislature.
The first objection to the bill "to regulate
"the sale OF cotton" is that it provides for the
creation OF new swarm Of ofacials-com-
missioners and deputy commissioners. which
last may be appointed "when the public re-
"quirements demand it." on the recommend
stion OF ten citizens. Admitting shat the
commissioners and deputy commissioners
would all be honest, and that fee OF ten
cents bale would induce competent men
to undertake the work, and that they would
have the facilities for weighing the cotton
Cor "all merchants or traders" the persons
who usually have scales and other CONVEX
iencies arc disqualified from acting as CON-
missioners or deputies.) aai that the deputy
commissioners will be go placed that Who
ever may desire to sell cotton may have it
weighed without great inconTenience and
loss of tina and exposure in hauling to the
Official MISUNDERSTANDING all this,
there is nothing in the bill.
The irst section makes it the duty Of the
commissioners to weigh "ull cotton sold
ther loose, or packed in bales or in the
seed" This cotton is to he recorded, with
the names Of tho sellers, and, if practicable,
OF the purchaser or ccnsignee, the seller re-
csiving a certificate Of The weight of the pack
age. No attempt is made TO compel the sci,
Ter of cotton to have it weighed The COM
missioner Is tn. IRE, and will weigh tho cotton
and give certificate OF the flct; but there
is no penalty fornat having the cotton weighed
and recorded. Nor does the bill tell Us
whether the cotton will be weighed, aud the
certificate granted. at any time. or whether
this Is on J done when buyer and soller close
their bargain. I: s to bc presumed that Tie
cotton would be inspects at any timo. but
what is there to prevent "a loss OF weight
between the day OF Inspection and day Of
salei There is n provision for marking the
packages OF cotton, but it muy be intended
to compel all cotton inspected and unSod TO
be stored in warehouse Owned by the CON-
missioner and deputy commissioner until
such time as 1t may bs disposed Of This
first section OF tho bill is 2 terrible jumb e,
and it is not N led by the third section,
which contains clause at ANY person
"or persons found purchas NJ CO ton without
I" the eeztlicste Of the conmia-ioner or ono