The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-04-28


THE ToBACCo-BILL CONTEsT-MEETING
OF THE "SELLERS" YEsTERDAY.-A meet
ling Of the commission merchants (toDacco-
scllers), members of the Richmond Tobacco
Association. was held in the Exchange yes
terday evening.
The meeting was called to order by MIR.
7. ". Fisher, and, on his motion, Mr.. w.
| d. Gibson invited to preside, and Mr.. w.
! IT, TYLER requested to act rs secretary.
JTnon taking the chair 9Ir. Gibson explain
cd that the action of the Legislature rem
dered if necessary that the sellers should
meet and endeavor to adopt some plan 10
harmonize conflicting views OF the trade on
the subject OF the recent tobacco law. 1t
would be very delicate and difficult matter
not to act IN manner that Will be repuS-
nant to law which does not 60 into effect
for some time to come, but it was necessary
that some plan for the government OF the
trade should be adopted.
On motion OF Mr.. w. NJ. Cary, 1t was
ordered that committee be appointed to
consider this subject.
The Chair appointed Messrs. X. Is. Somer-
Vile. =. 4. Sublett, J. w. Fisher, and Z.
ID. Hill, and the committee retired.
| Colonel Spencer, while the committee was
ont. addressing the Chair, said that in view
OF the action taken by the inspectors he
thought it would probably be best to wait
until n general meeting OF the trade on
Monday.
Before Colonel Spencer's proposition was
considered, however, the committee pre-
sented the following report:
ave. majority OF commission mer-
chants Of the Tobacco Association, deem it
very unwise and injurious to the interest OF
all departments OF this trade-embraclng
manufacturers, shippers, and commission
| merchants-that there should be any con-
tention or clashlng OF interest, especially at
this time.
.As an association OF gentlemen there
| should be community OF interest, and any
disposition OF a faction to be oppressive ana
exacting always meets with resistance from
the opposite side, and results injuriouSly to
both.
"We think the recent action OF the buy
ers OF this trade, and the measures adopted
for their protection, was, in the manner OF
proceeding, discourteous to us, who repre-
sent in 80 large degree the commerce in
this staple in this city.
"All radical changes involving the In
terest of both buyers and sellers should only
be discussed in open meeting, where all the
members of the trade shall have an oppor-
tunity OF discussing the measures proposed
before adoption, and we regard the eXactlng
laws and regulations respecting weighing
and sampling, as proposed by the buyers
uurenerous, and presuppose that, rs sellers,
we have objected to and been instrumental
in keeping them out Of their just rights.
"We maintain, and can establish beyond
controversy, that rs sellers we have always
met the buyers more than halfway IN
all that would tend to their interest
and the general welfare of the whole
trade, even according guarantees as 10
samples which we were warranted IN re-
fusing under existing State laws. The ma
iority OF the trade for years past have been
endeavoring to obtain such leglsiatlon as
would enable us to regulate ourselves; and
now when, by negligence on the part OF
our last Legislature, we have granted us
for at least a time all we have ever asked IN
this respect, il should be the earnest effort
OF every member of the trade to abstain
from anything that will give offence and en-
deayor to so order our business relations
affecting all classes interested IN the staple
that when our lawmakers assemble they
may not be able to say with any degree OF
| truthfulness we are not capable OF regu-
Iating our trade-laws without oppression to
planters or other parties interested who may
! bring to bear influences to enact stringent
compulsory inspection laws again. The
great objects to be attained by the buyer,
as set forth in their published proceedings,
seems to be some guarantee as to conformity
with sample drawn and package it repre-
sents, and the weight OF the package. as
called for by the notes issued at the ware
house.
"These grievances, whether real or ina
] of
and place, to meet and endeavor to adjust.
"CHARLEs D. HILL,
"J. w. FISHER,
'tR. 3. SoMERvlLLE,
stP. y. SUBLETT."
The report having been read, Mr.. SOM
erville presented the following:
Resolued, That it shall be the duty OF the
INSPECTORS or samplers to make good to the
purchasers OF any tobacco at their respec-
tive warehouses for any loss arising from
a mistake IN weighing, and also to Suaran-
tee correspondence between the hogshead
and the sample.
Mr.. Somerville explained that although
he had signed the report he would offer the
resolution as q substitute for the report.
The resolution was rejected.
Mr.. Hill said he did not object to the re-
solution passed by the buyers at their meet
ing, tut 1t was the manner IN "hich the
action had been taken. He thought that
| the three representative classes OF the trade
should act together. He desired, SO lar as
he was concerned. TO 60 before the general
meeting to be held on Monday with clean
hands, and there have some concert OF ac-
ton.
Mr.. Cary moved to adjourn; which was
lost.
MIR. A. D. Chockley, a representative OF
the buyers, being present, explained TO the
meeting that there was not the least inten-
ton on the part Of the buyers to be dls-
courteous to the sellers, but that they had q
perfect right to meet and legislate for them.
selves.
Mr. Hill admitted that was true, but
thought the buyers should not have held
meeting alone. 1t had created bad I'M
preston.
The report was modified and then adopt
ed, and, on motion Of Dir. Bill, the meeting
adjourned.