New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-10-27
The Shipmasters and the Cotton Ex.
change.

of cotton before or after it was on the ship
or levee. In the course of his performance
of his duties one of the inspectors visited
Captain I.angdon's ship, the Mary E. Riggs.
and such misunderstanding came about
that the inspector was put off the vessel.
The Cotton Exchange, thereupon, passed
series of resolutions, October 20, declaring
that the inspectors should report the names
of all masters who refused to furnish daily
reports of cotton received, or furnish facili-
ties; that the names of those complained of
be posted on the boards of the Exchange,
and that any one interfering with inspect
ors should be prosecuted.
On this Captain Langdon wrote a sharp
letter, which is published in the Price Cur
rent of the twenty-third instant. In it he
says the inspector was rendered every fa-
cility, but failed to report damaged bale
to which his attention was called, and was
then told he could do no more inspecting
there. He then twitted the captain, whose
vessel was chartered for full cargo, that
cotton shippers would not export by his
vessel. The captain calls the attention of
the Exchange to the fact that cotton on his
vessel is not in it's custody, but his, and
that it has no jurisdiction over people who
do not belong to it, nor have access to it's
rooms. The only safety Of the master is to
receive cotton in good order. Captain
Langdon says:
We shipmasters are desirous of cooper.
ating with any respectable body that will
assist in correcting abuses in the cotton
trade-abuses which have, probably fallen
heavier on the ship and with greater injus.
tlce than upon any other party; but we
want to be made an element in the delibera-
tions and vehemeRtly. protest against the
insulting treatment that has been meted out
to US by this board Of your Exchange in
their resolutions. In them we are slurred
with suspicion and denied the right of keep
ing to ourselves the ships business, when In
truth We have been 'intrusted by the ships
owners with valuable piece Of property,
because they have faith in our ability and
integrity.
Your resolutions would appear despotic,
if it we're not so we'll appreciated that the
Cotton Exchange is utterly powerless to
put them into execution.
A few courteous expressions of regret at
the controversy follow, and Captain Lang
don's course is indorsed by the signatures
of eighteen shipmasters and the approval of
many others.
Some action on the part Of the Cotton Ex.
| change being considered necessary, the
president was instructed to write to Cap
tain Langdon, and the letter, together with
Captain Langdon's reply, are given below:
New ORLEANS, October 25, 1875.
Captain Henry Langdon, Master Of Ship Mary E.
Riggs:
DEAR SrR-Your communication of the
twenty-frst instant has been referred to me
by the directors OF the Exchange, that
might reply to the same.
In doing so l shall overlook certain ex-
pressions which assume would have been
stricken out by you had you written less
hastily.
You have entirely misconceived the real
intent of the Cotton Exchange in establish.
ing the system of levee inspection. The
| object of that system is to correct as far as
possible certain ABUSES which are of serious
| injury to all concerned in the cotton trade.
We are we'll aware that any rules govern
| ing an important branch Of trade, to be
effective, must be founded upon principles
OF strict equity to all parties, and in iram-
| ing the rules for government of levee in.
spection it was our intention to protect the
interests OF shipswners and shipmasters as
we'll as those OF shippers. II you will care
| fully read the regulations, of which hand
you q copy, think you will admit that if
properly carried out, such will be their prac-
ticsl effect.
It is true at the outset both inspectors
and shipmssters are Liable to misconceive
the true intent OF the rules, and the one by
over Jealous discharge of their duties and
the other by hastily conceiviDg their rights
to be infringed upon, may lead to disputes
and contritiOns.
freely admit that our inspector can only
60 Cn board of vessel with the consent of
the master, and there is no necessity for his
going on board except possibly to take an
account OF cotton carried on deck.
l can conceive OF NO case which would
render it necessary for him to go into the
hold of ship. Upon the ether hand the
members of the Exchange claim that they
have the right to send inspectors upon the
levee for the purposes set forth in the rule 9,
and if they send them there they must pro-
tect them in the proper discharge of their
Duties
In the case specially referred to by you it
would seem that your true course would
have been to refuse to receive the bale
that WAS alleged to have been damaged.
An inspector or any one else may err in
judgment in deciding whether bale of cot
ton is damaged or not. The master or
stticer Of ship receiving cargo must be the
good condition or not, and no law exists, or
could be enforced compelling him to re-
ceive damaged gnOds and receipt for them
as sound. The objects are plainly set forth
in the rules and may be summed up as fol-
lows:
l. To protect from theft. 2. To see that
cotton is properly protected from injury BY
the weather, or BY being rolled through the
mud. 3. To keep record showing whether
cotton was wet or dry when received, or
whether it was wet or dry when taken on
board.
The practical effect Of . proper enforce.
ment Of these rules will, it is hoped, greatly
reduce the losses from what is called "coun-
try damage" In ca4es where cotton is
sent down to q chip in q wet condition, the
certificate of the Exchange will protect the
ship. In cases where cotton is exposed to
rain on the levee, or is rolled through the
mud, the certificate will protect the shipper
against loss clearly due to the neglect Of the
shipmaster.
would avail myself of thu opportunity
to call your attention and that Of other
shippers to the danger of damaging
dry. cotton by slowing wet cotton in contact |
with it. In all such cases the shipper OF the |
dry cotton would have valid claim for the |
injury done his property.
In conclusion, l would assure you that |
while the Cotton Exchange will ut all times |
hold itself in readiness to give careful con-
sideration to any objections that may be |
urged against it's rules, end will do ali in |
striotest principles of equity and fair deal
ing, it will not hesitate to adopt all neces.
sarv measures TO enforce them.
JOHN PHELPS, President.