Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1871-01-07
The New Tobacco Inspection Law.

energy exercised.
The New Tobacco Inspection Law.
EDITORS CHRONICLE As the ac-
tion, of the Board Of Trade of the city
of Clarksville, in regard to the pro-
posed change i'm the Tobacco Inspec-
ton law, Is creating a good deal of
interest in our county, we ask space
and indulgence, to offer a few sugges-
tions. And ms many planters, who
are directly interested in this matter,
are not c%onversant with the subject,
we W i'll give a short u of the
arguments of the advocates of the
new bill, as well as that of its oppo-
nents. The essential difference be-
tween the new bill and the old law,
is, that the new bill proposes to do
away with the Office of Inspectors, as
now provided by law, and confer the
office and emoluments thereof, upon
the warehouse men.
The warehouse men favor the
change for many reasons. First, that
the trade of our tobacco market has
80 largely increased, that II is utterly
impossible for any three Inspectors to
perform the duties of the office, as
precribed by law, and that in order
to expedite business, they have nee
cessarily been compelled to perform
eight tenths that should have been
performed by the Inspectors, and that
at a heavy expense to them selves.
They hold that the "laborer Is worthy
ofhis hire" and that it Is but equity
and justice, for them to receive pay
for their labor. The Inspectors in
view Of the largely increased trade,
acknowledge their inability to per
form all their duties. After II ware
house man is kept waiting n halliday
or more, with a large number of
hands, for an Inspector, much to
their Inconvenience and at their eX-
p"nse. They maintain that they are
equally (if not better qualified for
the ofiice-and hold that if the Icy
bill shall become n law it will result
to the convenience of the trade, and
that their individual interest, as
agent, Of the planter, as well as their
bond and oath, will secure a prompt
and impartial discharge of their du-
ties. Coupled with the new bill, is
Il recommendation from the Board of
Trade, that the present board Of In
spectors he retained until the lst of
September 1871. On this question
the warehouse men are divided In
sentiments. Three of the firms, are
opposed to the recommendation Of
the Board of Trade, to retain the
present Board of Inspection. The
rest accept the provisions OF the bill,
and the recommendation of the
Board of Trade, as Il compromise.
The Board of Inspectors, do not favor
the new law, because there is no
money in it to them, but to do them
justice, they are willing to yield their
opposition, provided they retain their
fees until September LIST, 1871. The
magistrates of the county, in their
individual capacity, have sent up n
memorial to the Legislature, protest.
ing against any change in the law.
Many farmers, object TO any change
because they contend that they
should have an agent of their own
choosing, to watch and guard their
interest. In some of our rival mark
cts, it is the custom of the warehouse
men, to charge the buyer, II weight,
and report the account Of sale of the
same h%ogshead, to the planter at an
other, scaling him from 20 to 40 lbs
per hogshead. TO prevent such q
swindle, from being eve perpetrated
in our mark ct, they wish to retain
Inspectors, that are directly response
bile to them, moreover many of them,
desire to I'LL the office. These are
briefly, the main arguments used,
pro and con. Now to satisfy all par
ties, | suggest that the old law re
main as it is, with the addition OF
three more Inspectors, giving us six
In all, and requiring the six lnspec-
tors to perform all the duties imposed
on them by law.
The buyers are indifferent, provi-
ded the law is fully obeyed. The
Warehouse men will grumble no
longer; the present Board of Inspec.
|, tors, will willingly take n half n LOAF
in preference to none. The magis
trates will smile, and future candi-
dates grin with delight, and planters
be satisfied. Harmony will he restor'
ed and the trade of the city generally
; satisfied.
, Seriously we are i'm earnest In the
above suggestion, 1t is estimated
> that there will he inspected in thi,
: market over 10000 hhds. Of Tobacco
, this season. No three men can dc
the work, but six can, and the fee'
will pay them n good salary, or |
! the legislature deems it right ant
{ just, the fees, of the six Inspectors
/ may he increased to sixty cents pc
/, hogshead. Their labor will be sure.
J and they will be held by all parties