The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-05

would continue to pass unnoticed, also
other well-known fact. viz: that it matters
not how excellent the condition of the plant
ers' packages may be in upon their arriva
here, they must again be taxed with cooperage
to suit the caprice OF the buyer, whether the
packages require it or not.
l might even consent to overlook tha
odious law, the franchises of which are sucl
the planters sugar can only remain now
twenty-four hours on the levee before he is
again subjected to q tax in the way OF storage
when, formerly, his sugar wss permitted te
remain On the levee from four to six days
and that too, when the sugar crop of oul
State amounted annually to from three hun
bred to four hundred and fifty thousand hogs.
heads, instead of one hundred and twenty
five thousand, and when the levee was more
en- numbered than at present.
I might continue still to recognize the use
of the straight gauge in the measurement oil
molases, instead of the caliper, now univer-
sally used throughout the North, whereby the
planter looses at least five per cent, and the
result is that molasses purchased here and
transported efter the loss from transportation,
leakage, etc., gains at least two gallons on
each barrel.
1 will overlook, also, the usual custom OF
tu0 RIOCOIo dCuuCsAAR Ohfy - pOuuuo AOI CbCu
barrel of sugar sold by them, when the barrel
in reality weighs from % to "a pounds, there.
by obtaining from sixty to seventy cents for
each of their barrels.
I might shut my eyes, also, TO the well
known custom of the dry goods, hardware,
crockery, and other merchants, of charging
for their packages
A favorite argument used by the friends OF
this report is that IL per cent is the tare
recognized and adopted throughout the
N Northern States, and that we of Louisiana,
who furnish only one-ffth of the sugar con-
sumed, should not presume fol- a moment to
dictate the rate Of tare for our product; that
the whole world and every one but ourselves
are in favor of - per cent tare; that unless
we make this concession, Northern and West
ern buyers will not purchase our sugar, and
we will consequently have no purchasers here
to compete with each other, and will OF
course get much lower prices for our sugar
than we would otherwise do.
The fallacy of this argument is apparent.
For as I have before remarked, the first ques-
tons which present thems elves to purchaser
when about to purchase are:
l. The grade of the sugar.
g. The condition of the packages.
3. The price, and this is always regulated in
accor dance Herewith.
Again, Louisiana sugar and molasses con-
tains more saccharine matter, possess pecu-
liar flavor suited to the trade, and are used in
large quantities here andelsewhere for mixing
with foreign importations, the grain and
flavor of which are not so good; and thei 9
never has nor never will be period, in ny
opinion, when they will not be eagerly sought
for and perfectly able to stand upon their o IN
merit. There need be no fear but what we
bouo Y,lnpfu Of t1uor, For oil fho
and molasses we can produce.
Our limited space forbids further report OF
the speech, circumstance which we regret.
But in conclusion, Mr.. Wyche dwelt upon
the effect that it would have upon the COM
merce and trade of our city, closing with an
eloquent comparison of the condition of the
State at present and the past.
s. Mr.. Dolhonde said:
Mr.. President think it is my place to an
swer, if can, the arguments which the gen.
tleman has just advanced
Mr.. President, the committee was special
one. I did not ask to be placed upon it, but
I was and while was on that committee
considered the interest of both the buyer and
seller and at the same time the interest of
Louisiana.
The gentleman who has preceded me, has
spoken frankly and eloouently, but he has
advanced nothing for action.
The question is one which has been pend
ing for seven years, and the time has come
when it should be decided.
The gentleman who has just spoken is
broker of one years standing. He was for
merly sugar planter, and l will say, right
here, that the question was once submitted to
a convention OF planters and it was ignored,
and now that it has come that we should de-
eide it, I do not think it fair that we should
be asked to postpone it.
He referred to the West.
He said that Louisiana was greatly depend
ent on the West for purchasers. Louisiana
made but a small amount of the sugar con-
sumed in this country. it had been argued.
This was true but LOUISIANA was progress
ing and the sugar interest increasing. For
eign sugars were being imported, and should
Louisiana for the paltry sum of two per cent
be debarred from competing with them
What the buyers asked was just tare. He
did not ask hasty action, but he thought
prompt action was necessary. New Orleans
had no sugar exchange, and he was in favor
Of one to establish rules and regulations.
The speaker read letter from r. Fl. Allen,
Esq who he characterized as one of tie
largest planters in the State and an honest
man. Mr.. Allen expressed himself in favor
Of actual tare.
Actual tare, the speaker said, was what was
desired; twelve per cent was merely nominal
tare; frauds could be commi ted with it as
we'll as with ten per cent.
The speaker read series of resolutions
adopted at meeting of planters of ST. Mary
parish, protesting against interference of
he Chamber of Com nerce with the present
.ate of tare, and calling attention to the facts
hat other markets -Galveston and New York
by way of Morgan's steamers, were open to
hem.
He said that the planters had stuck to the
2 per cent tsre and had ignored the ques-
ion of actual tare. AS to other markets, he
Wished some of the planters would try them.
a New York and Galveston the tare was IL
Ter cent, and sugar was sold on from 80 to
70 days time.
J. M. Putnam Esq, took the floor and
aid 4:
lr. President and Members of the Chamber of
Commerce, and all others interested in this
subject:
Dzg. Il III, T. IL