The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-28
MI1ED. COTTON.

The large amount of mixed cotton received
at the Southern ports during The present cot
ton wear is subject of serious complaint on
the part OF buyers, and demands early refor-
nation. The New Orleans Times In late
Issue makes the following remarks IN refer
snce to this subject:
Our attention has frequently been called 10
the unueual proportion OF mixed cotton IN Inc
recalpts this season, and We beg leave 10 pres
this natter upon our friends In Inc country as
obs which Is seriously detrimental 10 their
CIVIL, Interests, as well as annoying 10 both
brokers' and factors, and prejudicial 10 the
trade of the port. In some cast 8 entire isis
have been properly rejected as mixed-!nciud'
ing one recently OF about two hundred ana
fifty bales. In other cases the mixed bales II
list which the brokers are compelled to re-
ject comprise from ona-tenth to one-lnlrd OF
The whole. The mixed bales present various
degrees of negligence or fraud 10 lew
cases the bale is composed OF various quail
ities, without any indication OF a deliper-
ate intent TO deceive. In others, and We
regret to say the majority OF cases, the
poor cotton is. packed In lhe central
part Of the bale, whence 1t cannot be drawn
by the usual sampliDg, but Ia readily detected
when opened and subjected 10 more rigid
scrutiny. The packing of inferior 10 ordinary
grades in the centre of the bale, the exterior
OF WHICH COQ5l6lS VI ~" iuluulluS VI blioohh6S
cannot be accounted for Otherwise than by
deliberate attempt on the part OF the packer
to cheat the buyer. In more aggravated
cases. pieces of wood, old iron, parts oil
ploughs and wagon fixtures. and other like
trash are packed In the very middle OF the
bale, showing depth OF rasca:ity That should
be punished by protracted imprisonment ID
the State penitenliary. In some fow cases
the frauds are not detected here, and only
discovered on opening the bales abroad, when
reclamaiions are made upon the shipper, and
BY him, In turn, upon the fac!or, causing no
little annoyance and ill-feeling among all
parties. But generally they are discovered
10 the New Orleans presses, so that the loss
falls on the planter, or the country merchant
In relation to these matters the trade Is gov
erned by rule II OF lhe Cotton Exchange,
which reeds as follows:
.'After cotton has been examined, received
and passed upon by The broker or agent Oh the
buyer, no claim shall be nude against the
seller except for. fraudulent pucktng. When
claims IRE made they shall be made In writ
Ing, stating the particulars OF The frauonleht
packing, and the same shall be verified oy
oath or affirmation. The claim shall then oe
deemed prlms facle valid In favor OIL tne
claimant, and 1t can only be defeated by the
decision of an Of bltralion committee or OF the
packing, giving The marks by which The cot.
Ton was sold. and all other leaiole marks and
numbers shall be good against all Sellers for
six months from date of sale and without
limit OF time against the original packer, pro-
vided mixed packed, II sound. shall not be
considered fraudulent. unless plated"
Now We wieh to call the attention OF our
friends in the country 10 the consequences OF
false packing. The planter or country mer-
chant almost invariably loses from The false
packing, which deterlorates the market value
OF the rest Of the bale or mark. II the fraud
be occasionally successful, the gain In such
cases amounts to 8 very trifing percentage
on the losses caused by ils being detected. In
The aggregate the planter loses pecunlarily as
well as In reputation. The factor is often pre-
vented from working of lists which afler-
wards prove uusalaole uni ss at reduced
prices. The buyer ie disappointed IN the exe-
cu,ion of his order. The trade Is disorgan-
lied and unsatisfactory, and buyers are driven
to send their orders 10 other markets. 10 all
such cases planters and country merchants
suffer- as well as buyers and factors. Bence
community Of interest and honor imperatlVely
demand that efficient measures shall be
adopted to prevent such frauds, and the most
rigid scrutiny applied to the packing on every
plantation. The Iaoorer who does The pack
ing may be interested against both planter
and country merchant, but whether the fraud
Is chargeaole TO him or to others, the Interests
OF the planters as well ss their fair fame, and
the repclation Of our cotton abroad, require
that this nuisance shall be abated, these frauds
be punished, and proper preventive means be
adopted against their repetition.