New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-29
Tobacco Inspection.

Hon. ". H. Decker. Representative from
! the tenth district. has called our attention
| to the bill recently introduced by him in
the House and now pending. relative to the
inspection OF tobacco. As soon as it was
known that a project looking TO the control
| Of the tobacco trade was on foot. all the
dealers at once took alarm. and With the
haste which characterizes persons Of hasty
temperament who are enjoy ing good
thing in the shape of a monopoly. assumed
that some Of their rights As American citi-
zens were threatened. They took alarm at
what they heard was the compulsory Tea.
lures of the bill. and published protest
accordingly. We have examined the SUBJ
iect with some care, and find there is little
if any change from the old law proposed by
Mr.. Decker's bill. The compulsory inspec.
ton of tobacco is not one of its features, nor
does it appear to be the intent. One or two
clauses look tr.de that way, but they can
be easily amended il such be the sense Of
the House.
The following notes to the editor Of thi 10
paper and the tobacco dealers, contain i'm
poytant information which seems not to have
been in the possession Of the signers Of the
memorials recently published:
New ORLEANS, January %. 1874.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN,:
In your paper OF yesterday see pub.
lished card containing a petition to the
Legislature in regard to the bill introduced
by me, relative to the inspection of tobacco.
and signed by several merchants.
Said petition having been submitted TO me
for perusal before its introduction, beg
that you will give publicity to the answer l
made to these gentlemen, copy OF which
! herewith inclOse.
Very respectfully yours.
WILLIAM II. DECKER.
Representative Tenth Wards Parish Of Or.
leans.
New ORLEANS, January 80 1874.
TO Messrs. L. 7. Torian 4 Son, John E. King, and
Others
GENTLEMEN-The document drawn up by
you, and signed by various merchants, tor
presentation to the Legislature, and which,
through your kindness, has been first trans
mitted to me for perusal, has received the
utmos, attention at my hands, since ! have
in common with every good citizen of this
State but one great desire. viz: the promo.
ton OF its commerce anu industries, and
would be the last man in the State of Louis
lana to countenance, much less to promote
any scheme which would injuriOusly affect
either of these branches in the least
Had you, gentlemen, taken the trouble to
read my reply to an article published in
the Picayotne of the sixteenth instant,
headed Zine Tobacco Trade" and which,
by request, was published in full for the
benefit of those who have an interest in the
tobacco business, you would have at once
perceived how entirely unfounded your
present alarm is. since my act, now before
the Legislature. does not contemplate any
changes in the manner of inspecting to.
baccO. but on the contrary, TO establish by
legislative action what now is law by mer.
camille usage only. therefore take pleas
ure in transmitting to you a copy Of my
speech, wherein you can find my views more
clearly detailed. BY it you will perceive
that my bill does not, as have remarked
before, in the least change the existing
mode Of inspection, the only point Of differ.
ence being that the inspectors would be
made entirely Independent of the tobacco
receiver, instead of being dependent upon
him for their business. Such change,
every unbiased person will admit, is Ger.
tanly not intended, nor can it be in any
manner construed, to effect an injury to
your trade.
Az far as compulsion is concerned, there
is far less' in my proposed bill than
there 10 IN tne present mOde OF pre-
ceeding, whereby the tobacco receivers
compel the buyer TO buy his tobacco
by the samples drawn by the men they
have selected for that purpose. In fact, by
attentively perusing the law as framed by
me. and my remarks made thereon before !
the House III its yindicatiOn, you will per-
ceiye that this is not a political, but a
purely commercial measure. and in cases of
that kind it would be in your power to re.
commend TO his excellency the Governor |
men whom you would think most capable
to be entrusted with these responsible
offices. and have no doubt, from his known
desire to further the interests of every /
citizen Of this city and State, that in his APP.
pointment he would be, in great measure.
If not entirely. guided by your recon-. !
mendation and those Of the Chamber Of |
Commerce. !
Thanking you 70. the consideration shown
me. MOVE in return. beg to express to J
you my willingness 20 serve you at any
time. and to pay due attention to any valid !!
reason you may advance asainst the passage |
Of my proposed act.
remain, gentlemen. your most obstlient !
WILLIAM II. DECKER.