Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-04-19


Editors Appeal: 1t has been suggested
that efforts viii be made to take from the
table Of the Board of Counoilmen, the
proposition adopted by the Board of Aid
ermen to constitute a city weigher, with
scales on the landing, to weigh grain and
all other merchandise sold by weight at
that part Of the city. The COuncilmen
very properly thought that with a City
Inspector, part Of who's regular duty is
TO weigh everything submitted to the city
standard, was amply sufficient, and if for
public convenience balances were wanted
on the Landing, and those purchasing de-
sired the weights Of articles to be tested
there, 1t could be lone by the City Inspec-
tor and weigher, without creating another
Office, and thereby dividing the ~perquis-
ties which are at present scarcely suf1-
cient to sustain the Inspector and assist
ant. The petition, signed by seventeen
firms, which inspired the Board of Aid
ermen, but which diu not inspire the
Councilman, has not been published
among the proceedings; why is merely
matter of conjecture; but here il Is:
''TO the Honorable the Mayor, Aldermen
and COuncilmen of the city of Mem
phis:
1--WE the undersigned, merchants of the
city Of Memphis, would respectful draw
your attention to the great necessity
which exists for the passage of an ordi-
nance by your honorable Boards-thst it
shall be imperative on all persons selling
grain of all kinds, or Q fEOther descrip-
ton Of merchandise sol by weight which
may be hereafter sofd on the Memphis
landing, to have the said produce weighed
by a competent weigher, appointed by
your honorable Boards for that purpoae,
whose duty it shall be to weigh al pro-
duoe sold "a the landing, receiving the
same compensation e. weighers of grain.
etc, as established in St. Louis, Cincin-
natl, or other city, as may DO deemed
proper by your honorahlo Boards-the
charge made far such service on the part
Of the weigher 70 be paid uniformly by
the seller OF the produce weighed. the
weigher to furnish scales, etc, ofthe most
approved pattern for the careful weighing
of the same, and furnish g certificate 70
the seller of the separate drafts of all
produce weighed, the weigher to give
such security for the faithful performances
of his duty as may be considered right
by your honorable Boards. We would
furthermore suggest that the Weigher be
sworn 10 a talta11l discharge of the duties
of his Office.
Your petitioners would respectfully
state that the appointment of a fully com
petent man for the performances of said
otdoe would tend greatly to facilitate bust
ness operations on u landing-doing
away with all disputes as to weight be-
tween buyer and seller, and giving ship
pers of produce full assurance that their
various shipments have been correctly
weighed, and removing u prejudice which
exists against Memphis arising from the
want of a correct system of weighing,
which ali other cities of any Importance
have long since successfully adopted.
1--WE trust your honorable Boards will
give this matter your earliest attention,
and your petitioners will ever pray
This is an extraordinary document. It
asks the General Council, with the CO.
operation of the Mayor, to re enact a
measure rendered void by the Supreme
Court of the State, which has declared
there shall be no Involuntary inspection.
What is this proposition but a return to
an obsolete and illegal ~proceading, which
would again be quaahed by the CourtsH
What says this petition (signed by seven
teen arms, all of whom could not have
read and certainly did not understand it,
but that 1t should be Imperative on ali
persons selling grain, etc, ito have the
same weighed at the landing by a eompe-
tent weigher," and that the charge for
this service shall "be paid uniformly by
the seller" who may have nc object in
re-weighing the article7 Besides, may
there not De a difficulty in the prospective
that 'any other description Of merchan-
disc soid by weight" may include coal
and such other articles - now are sub
mitted to the scales Of the City Inspector
If this bs a mere dodge to supplant the
City Inspector and render his Office value
less, 1t could not be more sdroitly de-
vised.
There are other points in this extraor-
binary proposition that might be ex-
planned without disadvantage, but as the
thing Is on the table where II should nave
a long sleep, it is thought this brief aIlu-
sion to the matter will be ample.
AU REVOIR.