New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-11-12
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Tare on Louisiana sugar,

even q saccharine question failed 70 call
out more than a score Of members. Those
who attended took considerable interest in
the proceedings.
The meeting was for the purpose Of hear
ing a report from committee appointed to
investigate the question of tare on I-0uisi
ana sugar, and reads as follows:
To the Honorable President and Members OF the
Chamber of Commerce:
Your committee, appointed to investigate
the question Of tare on Louisiana sugar,
respectfully report that they have given it
their most careful attention, and used every
exerti0n to obtain all the facts to enable
them TO place the whole subject before you
in the most impartial manner. The only
law on the subject is as follows:
The parochlal authorities OF said parish
of Orleans are authorized to pass regula-
tions OF ordinances relative to the police Of
weights and measures to insure within the
said parish of Orleans, right bank. the exc
cutiOn Of this law relative TO weights and
measures. "-Reyised Statutes 1870, page
76j, section 1898.
Two hundred and fifty copies of the fol-
lowing circular were issued TO the grOcers,
dealers, sugar factors and brokers OF this
and other cities, and published in the New
Orleans Price Current, Sunday Times and
PtcuQtue attention called to it and an
swers requested of all interested, whether
they had received it personally or net, as it
was impossible to send it to every one: and
personal calls were made upon several Of
the leading houses, who, up TO a late date,
had not noticed it, though three sugar fac
tors, two sugar brokers. and five grOcers Of
this city, thirtythree grOceTs OF CIncin-
natl, twelve of Mobile, three OF st.
Louis, one Of Montgomery, one Of Louis
vile, one of Nashville, one of Chicago
and one refner of Philadelphia, have
replied With the exception OF the sugar
factors and brokers of this city, all
have opened considerable quantities Of Lon
isiana sugars, none report any gain on them,
few that they hold out, but the majority
loss ranging from twelve to twenty-five
pounds and over, much the largest number
reporting twenty-five pounds and over; III
or two instances as much AZ sixty pounds
late in the season.
One firm Of sugar factors says its planter
constituents generally oppose the change;
another saws. as factor and planter it would
favor actual tare; another that the Western
buyer who sells at twelve per cent tare
realizes the difference in the price al which
they sell. With these exceptions all others
advocate actual or twelve per cent tare, and
the majority favor the latter custom, be-
lieving that under either custom Louisiana
sugar will command cOrresp0ndingly more
DTICe. W nave dlSO IGCtiNEu Il COPY u
resolutions OF the Cincinnati Chamber of
Commerce, expressing satisfaction at the
attempt Of this chamber "tO correct the rate
Of tara and respectfully but urgently recon-
mend the contamination Of so desirable a
reform"
We have had a number Of new and old
empty hogsheads weighed, and have OBJ
tanned from the principal public w2ighers
average weights of different lots Of sugar
L - 49, No.. b.,
February, 1872, and Of this seasons crop,
weighed in October and November
Mr. Putnam here read the certificates to
the chamber.
It is very evident that though many fac
tors and buyers of sugar in other markets,
where twelve per cent governs, may not
know whether or not ten per cent covers
tue tare, the difference Of two per cent
against them causes such distrust as TO in
duce them to avoid this market, which the
equalization Of tare would remove. aud the
planters would have no difficulty III having
their hogsheads manufactured to meet the
new standard, and do justice to all buyers.
Therefore, we would recommend TO your
honorable chamber actual taTe tor LOuisi-
ana sugar as the most equitable, Il i could
be made practicable, but consider It quite
impracticable. as the most honest planter,
who would weigh his hogsleads correctly
before having them filed, would appear to
be dishonest, as, after having been filed
with raw sugar and then emPtleG, che same
hogsheads would be found 80 weigh much
more, this increase in weight having been
caused w the absorption Of mol4sses. It
would lead 20 daily reciamati0ns on Che part
OF those who would empty che hogsbeads or
the bona tide shippers, who would expe-
rience inDulnerable and inSucmOuntable DIT
fcUities in obtaining reimbursement f0r
their claims, as the factors Or sellers OF
sugar would almost invariably have rem
dered their account sales, such beng the
case on claims foI cotton, a. you" honorable
chamber IS fully aware; therefore we can
rot advise actual tare.
Though, when buying OF selling sugar,
Che difference OF Two per cent taTe is an IN
portaut consideration in making orr calcu-
lacohs as to the price to be paid for sugar
for other markets, we would respectfully
recommend the adoption Ot twelve per cent
tare as being most in accordance with the
wishes Of buyers for the different markets,
as ic il allowed on all foreign D0gs1ead
sugar IL those markets. We would also re
commend that the planters should adopt
one universal standard for the size OF their
hOgsheads, say thirty-four bE fOrty-siX, with
sufficient thickness Of slaves and heading
to bear any transhipment in this country
and honestly meet the regulation of tare,
and that the said tare of twelve per cent
W
is too far advanced to enable factors to
persuade planters to change a custom Of so
long standing, though confident they would
not experience any loss by the proposed
change, as they would obtain better prices
for their sugar.
We can not close our reporS without ex-
pressing tie opinion that lhe Louisiana
sugar planters, as d class, are as honorable
and honest as any other class Of men, and
that the differences in tare are not the re
suit of design in the very large majority Of
instances, but Of old established customs as
to tare and the manufacture Of their pack
ages. We have the honor to be, very re
specially. YOUR obedient servants.
JAMES N. PUTNAM, Chairman.
This report brought forth some discussion,
several Of the members giving :heir views
on the subject.
II was suggested that the committee be
granted further time and requested 20 re-
port favorable 80 actual tare. This action
was recommended by the committee in its
report. but being unable 70 see the practi-
cabiity Of that course, recommended the
twelve per cent.
A resolution. IN lieu Of the :epore. sug-
gested that actua! tare De maze she rule, 20
apply after this season: q law 20 be egentu'
ally made 90 punish attractions o. the
brands.
: member Enough: she proposition