The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-03-12

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Efiisrs Dsudsfat.e S.atesnan-I de.ire
through your valuable paper, to say few |
words in,regard TO the bill now before the
Legislature, proposing to create the Office OF
public weigher of cotton, to answer some
objections raised BY the Galveston KSsct.
the "wOaidsbe dictator in all matters of leg
acknowledging on the part Of commits
sion merchants and weighers, now already
established in the business at Galveston.
That the last named class should ssrenuouslv
oppose the bill, am not surprised, as they
get from fifteen to twenty cents for each
bale weighed, while this law provides ten
cents as the compensation to the public
weigher, who gives q large bond for the
faithful discharge of his duties, and Is re-
sponsible for the acts of his subordinates.
They have, as class, made fortunes out of
the business, and it is no great wonder that
they should desire to retain their position,
and am not surprised that they should
have called to their aid that puissant daily.
| the Galveston AeteS, paying for every rood
word spoken In their behalf, at advertise
ment rates. Nor am surprised to find
a communication in the last issue of
the Nelos from that graceful and ready
writer, The Young Tribune.n the
| friend and lover of the dear peOple
Hon. r. G. Street. violently sssaiiing
the bin, the author of it, etc. but his com,
municatiOn looks too much like the work of
paid attorney who thought his client
ought to be hanged no argument, nothing
to base one upon, a copiousness of words,
buncombe, etc, as II he thought he was ad-
dressing petit jury. We Changers will
give him credit for his effort, but rural as
we,are, we are not green.
/ THE pOunniccihu r.
oppose the bin, as hey sav, because II ere
ates a monopoly (where or how we can't
see.) In the second place, because the pres
ent system gives satisfaction Ito them
that cotton is weighed correctly (which
we country people deny); and in the third
place they oppose its passage VERY virtu-
ously) because it will be detrimental to the
farmers, because, under it, the Governor
can appoint weigher in any place he may
think proper, consequently causing the
farmer or planter to have to pay ten cents
on all cotton sold at these various points.
Now, In answer to this objection, am
authorized, by all honest merchants and
cotton buyers at this point, to say that they
will willingly pay this tax on the farmer,
etc., tn all cotton sold in this city, for the
benefits that will accrue to them, by get
ting rid Of the dishonest merchants and
others who buy and weigh cOtton-they
i feeling assured that these parties will not
buy cotton that has to be weighed by an
honest public weigher.
speak from actual knowledge, Mr.. Edi-
4 tor, and assert that know of no honest
4 factor, merchant OF farmer who does not
desire the passage of Mr.. Simpsons bill.
4 The honest merchant desires its passage
because swindlers do not come in eompeti-
ton with him; the farmers, because, un-
1 der the new law, they get just weights.
But the Galveston commission merchant
fails to- give his true reason for
bis opposition. They all pass as honest
men, as doubtless they are. But I am
placed in possession of secret that ac-
counts in measure, for their opposition.
l am reliably Informed that the Galveston
factors after charging their patrons fifteen
cents a bale, receive back from the weigher
from three to five cents a bale on all cotton
weighed. This, Mr.. Editor, 1 believe to
be the great cause eff the strenuous oppo-
sition of cotton factors and the Calves
ton 0eoos. to. this wholesome and just
measure, The Galveston Netcs seems to be
so heavily feed In this measure, that it can
afford to hire correspondents all over the
State to write articles denuneiatofy Of the
bill and its author. One showing so.much
Ignorance of the subject as to tell the farm
er that the present bill gave to the weigher
the power to charge ten cents for every
hundred pounds. ~ 30
Il hope, sir, that on this bill, as all others
intended to advance the public veal, that
our Senators and Representatives will act
mindful OF the great trust reposed in them,
and will give no heed TO the ntterances of
anewspnper that published defense Of e.
j. Davis and Jacob De Gress. but a few
days before our last election, even if it did
appear in the form or an advertisement.
Yours, truly, ETC., A GRANGER.