The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1875-09-09

crafty young ambition.
You may be right about the 1ntcndant
having power to vote in other cases than
tie. 1t has not been customary, | am sure,
and / need not endeavor to instruct you Or
enter into discussion of the nice points of
law and precedent involved with man so
luminous in constitutional and all other spc
cies of lar, even to the parliamentary. You
practically accuse me of implying that our
merchants are dishonest, and then repeat
me more pointcdly yourself by suggesting
that the merchants take the cotton at the
farmers weights to meet my views have
no objection to the use of scales, and none,
certainly, to the laws of business generally.
wet to be taken off arbitrarily by u weigh
er, while l think it should be left entirely
between the seller and buyer. l have not
questioned the merchants weights nor have
assumed, like you. that the "ginner's
weights are frequently inaccurate" The
trouble about your statement, that the wet
is always part of the contract between
seller and buyer, is that lthe farmer sells his
cotton, and the wet is deducted after the
bargain is closed and the cotton delivered at
the depot, without any chance of appeal,
and in most cases, believe, without being
informed of the amount deducted. As to
my remark that the wet is oppressive to
the seller and injurious to the merchant,
mean to say that it Injuries the merchant be-
cause it drives away trade. The action Of
the two Councils very reasonably appears
"qute different to you rs it should. The
old required the seller to pay for weighing,
and the new the buyer; the old allowed the
"wct" to be arbitrarily deducted, the new
forbids it; the old was passed without au-
1 .ln,- -,,1n NF
1866, when, if the Charter Of the Town was
Gil to regulate the market, the new, under
constitutional government, was passed under
the amended charter, which gives the Coun-
Gil authority, by ordinance, to regulate the
market. Your opinion of my shallow
brains grcatfully received 'tsay whctll-
er l might be able to sustain my sclf-rcspcct
if you should happen to change it, nevcrthc-
less, I have sufficient brains to see that the
merchant can afford to take the same risk,
balel and bale, as it comes along, that the
farmer can, and if the cotton is honestly
weighed, l can't see that it makes any differ
ence whether one "sells ten,.' or "buys fifteen
| hundred"
AS to filings at the Messrs. FAINT, I made
none. merely stated facts. IsuppOse they
can take care of themselves, therefore spare
your gotdcn Opinions.
You beliere the idea of reducing the weigh
| ing to five cents twas caught from the mer
chants" Allow me te correct you. Within
three days after the Council election, and
before any action was taken by the merchants,
on Mr.. Reese softer to do the weighing at
| five cents per bale, he, at my request, signed
certificate to the effect that five cents was
| ample compensation, and afterwards pre-
sented it tn the Messrs. FAINT, who also
signed it. The original hold, which is in
my own handwriting. / herewith give you
4 copy:
ANDERSON, August 18th, 1878.
This is to certify that We, the undersigned,
after close observation and experience, and
taking into consideration the large amount
of cotton sold in Anderson, and the labor
performed, consider five cents per bale ample
and sufficient compensation.
J. REESE FAINT.
o. H. p. FAINT.
q. +. kEEsE.
On the same day circulated petition to
| Council requesting that the price be thus re-
| duced, which was signed by many of four iner-
chants. As to the petition sent through the
County, you are mistaken about the clause
requiring payment by the "seNer," Lest you
doubt longer, subjoin literal copy Of the
petition
PETITION.
ANDERSON, August 1st, 1915.
| To the Honorable the Senate and House Of
Representatives of the State Of South
Carolina:
The petition of the undersigned cit
liens of the Country of Anderson ir
State, respectfully sheweth:
That, inasmuch as the tendency Of
trade now is to regulate sales and pur-
chases Of all kinds of produce in our
markets, the office of a public Weigher
becomes of manifest Importance to all
classes of citizens.
According to present law and usage,
these officers arc appointed by the au-
election of such authorities, the buyers
of our produce are largely represented
by their votes and influence, whilst the
producer is scarcely represented at all.
Again, the compensation and charges
for weighing cotton are fixed by said
authorities thus elected, and required to
be paid entirely by the producer.
In the opinion of your petitioners this
does not seem to be fair and equitable;
but that the producer, being much the
largest class interested in this matter,
should have a just and proportionate
voice in the selection OF such officers.
Taking the Town of Anderson, which
is the great and leading market for cotton
in our County, rs an illustration, there
the Town Council is elected by the reg
nearly, tho leading business men are
and using their influence in such cleo
ton, whilst the producer has no voice or
vote.
We arc, also, of the opinion that the
compensation is entirely too great and
disaproportioned considering the amount
of labor and attention necessary, and
should be reduced.
Your petitioners, therefore, request
your Honorable Bodies to Interfere by
proper Legislation, so as to mako all
public weighers, (at least in our County,,
county officers, and that their duties,
powers and privileges be strictly defined
by law, NTH q fair and just rate of COM
penSatiOn not to erceed fve cents per bale:
and such other legislation as will secure
fair and impartial discharge of such
duties, by bond, oath of office, etc. etc.
And your petitioners will ever pray.
Now, sir, ! can't help thinking that this
business has occupied enough of public
attention If you can find no other road
to notoricty, 1 don't mind your pitching in,
to any extent. respect the press and, in
their proper calling, its representatives, and
it is my duty at present to give the public
all reasonable satisfaction when any of my
acts are questioned. My "aubbornness' has
no doubt caused all the unnecessary feeling"
by my opposing few "scheming politi-
clans" Now, sir, if you ever rise beyond
the political alphabet, amidst which You are
Mt present foundering, greatly to the edilica-
tiOn of Yourself no doubt, but to the serious
detriment of the public, you will learn that