New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1877-03-30


fact, it would seem that those who claim
to represent the labor Of the land should
inquire into its operation. In our opin-
ion, the charge of factorage on cotton
sales is-frst, unnecessary; second, in
furious to the welfare of the city; third,
injurious TO the interests of the capital
and labor employed in production.
/. The cotton factor formerly furnished
the planter with the capital necessary to
purchase labor and supplies. He was the
best adviser the planter could have as to
prospective prices. At present the plant
er neither needs nor can expect such ad-
yances upon the collateral security of his
crop expectations. The instantaneous
and universal knowledge of prices in all
markets advises the planter in common
with others and leaves him to exercise
his own judgment. The facilities of
credit given by the local merchants re-
heve greatly the dependence of the pro-
Queer upon the factor. We infer from
this reasoning that the intermediate agen-
cy of factorage between the producer and
purchaser of cotton is unnecessary.
2. The imposition of this tax and delay
is injurious to the commerce of the city.
Those who will look at the effort of a sim
liar interest in New York 10 arrest the
through movement of goods will see the
estimate placed on such transit tax by
the progressive men of that city. 1t may
be stated in a few paragraphs taken from
recent proceedings upon an application to
the dock commissioners by the White
Star line for permission to lay tracks on
its pier connecting with the Belt railroad ::
Mr.. A. B. Miller, secretary of the Cheap
Transportation Association, said he was
not working 10 the interests of the railroad
or steamship companies, but in the inter-
ests of the commerce of the city.
He said:
A great diversion of commerce to other
cities has been steadily going on for the
past few years, and it was due to the wis
dom and foresight oil the merchants of BOs-
ton, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Portland and
other seaports, where they found it pOssi-
BILE to discharge cargo directly from the
cars TO the steamships sailing from their
ports.
Several gentlemen appeared Gin the
interests of commerce generally" and
among them
Mr.. Seth Low spoke on behalf of the
Chamber of Commerce. He said he heart
lily seconded Mr.. Miiler's remarks When
the question Of the diversion of trade was
considered, it could only be accounted for
in one way, Daring the past three years
New York had lost 1928 ,000, 900 through the
imperfect terminal facilities existing.
Mr.. Lees, in the same interest
Went into statistics showing the loss to
which the city was subjected by not having
proper terminal facilities, and said that
Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and other
cities, by running their cars alongside the
steamers, had practically removed New
York $50 miles into the sea"
Whatsoever, then, delays the importa-
ton or expectation of whatsoever
expense may be imposed on one route
that may be escaped on another-must
affect New Orleans as it has done New
York. 1t has tended to turn q good part
of the commerce once due this port in
monopoly to other outlets. The objec-
ton arose in New York as in New Or
leans as to the effect on carriage, 1t was
frankly said by Mr., Miller:
The introduction Of the railroad had been
fatal to the interests of the old fashioned
stage coach. and he had 10 doubt that the
introduction of the railroad along our river
front would be equally fatal to the carting
business
1t might have been added that the de-
mand for drivers and horses has been in
creased by the railroads. In the case of
New Orleans all the force of men and
animals now employed in the transfer of
cotton might be transferred to the coun-
try and employed in the production of adj
ditional cotton. The expedition of this
shipment, with the reduction of local
charges, would increase the receipts and
the values of exchange in greater ratio
perhaps than the loss to the factors.
g. The advantage Of sales without COM
mission, to the planter and laborer re-
quires no argument It all turns upon
the practicability of getting the market
prices for cotton, as is done for corn. The
mode Of effecting this would be, first, to
establish warehouses and presses upon or
near the leyee, SO as to dispense with
hauling and handling IS far as possible,
and to put cotton through on the rolling
freight elevator principle as elsewhere.
All eottons might be classified and graded
by voluntary inspection, as is corn and
tobacco, aud orders might be filed and
forwarded with the same dispatch here as
other commodities are elsewhere. We
are compelled to call the attention Of
those who represent the labor Of the land
to the singular subjugation Of these con-
stituents TO the factors who subsist on
this labor. A meeting Of those factors
and others dependent somewhat upon
this cotton product
Solemnlg declare that ii Is our firm and
deliberate purpose u uphold, BY Gll means
Ia our power, the legel Governor OF this
State, Francis 7. Nichols.
IhQs the hepuchcan lao0rerss VINO Iuf-
nish the means whereby the factors live,
now find themselves furnishing the cam
paign fund BY which in part the Repub-
lean government which these laboreIs
have voted TO establish and which they
deem essential to the protection Of theiE
lives and rights, is 10 be defeated. They
-. ,,,,4v s..hsn4il,sro, fror, evo IL sav.,,